Job description
Michigan State University (MSU) seeks a creative, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as the next Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education (VPUE). Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest are invited.
Michigan State is the nation’s premier land-grant university and one of the top research universities in the world. As a member of both the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Big Ten Academic Alliance, MSU is nationally recognized for its academic excellence, impactful research, and global outreach. It is also known for its Spartan grit and resilience. MSU is stronger because of its community, which includes more than 51,000 students, 5,600 faculty and staff, and a network of over half a million living alumni who are extremely loyal supporters and cheerleaders for the university.
The MSU Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education (VPUE) will be a transformative academic leader, providing vision, strategic guidance and advocacy for undergraduate academic programs, policies, and institution wide student success initiatives. Reporting to Provost and Executive Vice President Laura Lee McIntyre, the Vice Provost and Dean will advance a comprehensive approach to undergraduate education that ensures all students are valued, supported, and positioned to learn, thrive, and graduate.
The VPUE will lead a mature portfolio that has expanded significantly over the past eight years and is responsive to current trends in higher education as well as the needs and aspirations of MSU’s students and faculty. MSU has deliberately shifted from a student deficit model to an institutional deficit model, emphasizing the institution’s responsibility to support every student MSU admits towards continuous improvement and success. The Office of Undergraduate Education includes:
- University Advising
- Academic Initiatives
- Curriculum Learning & Academic Student Success
- Farmworker Student Services
- Undergraduate Student Success
- Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
The VPUE will oversee an organization of approximately 180 faculty and staff dedicated to undergraduate education and student success, many supported through a combination of general funds, grants, philanthropy, and revenue sharing models. The VPUE will also work with a collaborative and dedicated senior leadership team. A key near term opportunity will be supporting the launch and integration of the new Spartan Success Center, which will serve as a highly visible, student facing hub and a physical manifestation of MSU’s commitment to student success. The VPUE will also support the implementation of a new General Education Curriculum expected to be finalized and approved for implementation in Fall 2026.
Serving simultaneously as an academic dean and a vice provost, the VPUE will be both a peer to academic deans and a leader across the university. The role will require credibility with faculty, strong partnerships with academic and student affairs leaders, and the ability to collaborate effectively across schools, colleges, and central units. From the outset, the VPDUE will be looked to for leadership around undergraduate education and student success priorities that are aligned with MSU’s aspiration to support every admitted student through graduation.
The next VPUE will be required to hold an earned terminal degree and possess a record of academic accomplishment sufficient for appointment as a tenured associate or full professor at MSU, as well as progressive senior leadership experience in undergraduate education, student success, or academic affairs within a research intensive university. Beyond these requirements, the ideal candidate will demonstrate transformative, institution shaping leadership; strong fiscal and operational stewardship; and the ability to engage effectively with internal and external partners. The ideal candidate will have a proven record of collaboration with faculty, staff, and academic advisors to advance undergraduate learning; inclusive and transparent leadership marked by clear communication and trust building; and a deep commitment to equity, access, and MSU’s land grant mission.
All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile. WittKieffer is assisting Michigan State University in this search.
For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by July 29, 2026.
How to apply
Please submit all applications, nominations, and inquiries to the WittKieffer consultants, Jessica Herrington, Ashlee Musser, Tyler Workman, through WittKieffer’s candidate portal.
Outreach can also be directed to the WittKieffer consultants via e-mail at [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected].
< center>As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission. With this commitment, the University will conduct a professional misconduct review of individuals seeking employment in Academic Management (i.e. Deans) and Executive Management searches.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
