VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Position Announcement

Transcription

1 Barbourville, KY VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Position Announcement Union College invites applications for the position of. The Vice President will work closely with a visionary President, experienced leadership team, committed advancement staff, and a Board of Trustees focused on ensuring that Union College has sufficient resources to carry out its mission and pursue its vision with distinction. About Union College Founded in 1879 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Union College is recognized as an important part of southeastern Kentucky s rich history and impressive Appalachian landscape. Located in Barbourville, a rural community of about 3,600 residents, Union has provided high quality education to the region for over 130 years.

2 Union College s Mission Statement To serve the academic needs of a diverse community of undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students in a dynamic, personal environment that promotes intellectual, spiritual, and physical enrichment of students, faculty, and staff and the economic growth and health of our Appalachian region. Vision Union College is a nationally known community of learners whose graduates are distinguished contributors to the well-being of the individual, the economy and the environment. Each year, just before the fall semester begins, freshmen are introduced to Union s core values in a representative ceremony called CIRCLES: Celebration, Integrity, Responsibility, Civility, Lifelong Learning, Engagement, and Spirituality. In Conway Boatman Chapel, students vow to uphold these principles, while the Union College community promises to help them succeed in this endeavor. Union is historically committed to its local and regional communities. Seventy-six percent of Union students are from Kentucky, with most of them originating from southeastern Kentucky (52% of the total are from Appalachia). However, it is important to note that the College is also quite diverse in its student population and attracts students from 30 states and 13 foreign countries. Union College is grounded in a core liberal arts curriculum that fosters critical thinking, writing and reading skills. Union offers 33 majors and 28 minor degree programs. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Union s total enrollment is approximately 1,400, including full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students. More than half of the undergraduate student body are first generation college students, and they benefit from an attentive faculty and an intimate student-faculty ratio of 12:1. 2 Union College

3 The Campus Union College is located on a small and growing campus in the heart of Appalachia. It features expansive lawns and many historic buildings including the 1919 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Gymnasium (beautifully revitalized as an intramural center). Other notable buildings include the Sharp Academic Center a smartly-renovated and expanded historic building that houses a teaching and administrative space. A major development was the recent acquisition and renovation of the former Knox County Hospital which has allowed for nursing program expansion (including a new four-year program). Finally, the academic science building Miller Hall is newly renovated as well, placing Union in the forefront of STEM education with stateof-the art laboratories and classroom space. The new $15 million Stivers Aquatic and Wellness Center is a comprehensive community center housing an Olympic-sized competition pool, fitness facilities, and event space. Service Learning Co-curricular opportunities are abundant at Union. From internships to community service engagement, students at Union receive unusual opportunities to enhance classroom learning. A significant commitment has always been to provide students with service opportunities that provide the region with needed services while amplifying student s skill sets. Union College students, faculty and staff contribute a yearly average of 15,000 hours to community service. The Center for Civic Engagement the central community service organization matches students with volunteer and learning opportunities, and matches the local community with quality student volunteers to fill its needs. Students receive practical experience while growing an appreciation for the needs of the world around them. Athletics With 24 intercollegiate varsity teams and several intramural activities on campus, athletics plays a vital role at Union. Union s state-of-the-art facilities including an aquatic center that houses an Olympic-sized competition pool are among the best in the state and beyond. Union athletes have amassed an impressive list of successes in the past decade. National titles in cycling, swimming and track & field have made recent headlines, while women s soccer and 3 Union College

4 women s basketball consistently rise to the national competition level. The baseball team has been nationally competitive as well. Union Bulldogs compete in the Appalachian Athletic Conference, the Mid-South Conference, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Region While campus features abundant beauty, the world beyond the campus is an extraordinary adventure. The College is in southeastern Kentucky, a destination playground for many vacationers. It includes 25-acre Laurel Lake, the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain range along the famous Wilderness Road, and many national and state parks including Cumberland Gap National Park only 30 miles away. Exquisite outdoor opportunities abound: rafting, rappelling, fishing, boating, hunting, caving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and much more. For those who love nature, this region is surely a paradise. When the urban itch arises, Barbourville is proximate to significant cities: it s an easy 100 mile interstate drive to Knoxville, Tennessee, or Lexington, Kentucky, where there are ample cultural, athletic, shopping and dining opportunities. Closer to home, the many small towns in between and close to Barbourville offer distinctive arts and music festivals, culinary discoveries, and interesting shopping opportunities. Complementing the area s many aesthetic charms, Barbourville and surrounding towns feature good educational options, affordable real estate, and a low cost-of-living and easy lifestyle. 4 Union College

5 Union Leadership Union College is governed by a thirty-five member Board of Trustees populated with regional and national leaders and many alumni who are deeply committed to the College s prosperity. Having just completed its previous five-year strategic plan, the Board is organizing for a new strategic planning process that will focus on key objectives such as academic excellence, recruitment and enrollment growth, facilities planning, financial stewardship, and increased fund raising capability. President Marcia Hawkins, Ph.D., came to Union from Fort Worth, Texas. As the proud granddaughter and great granddaughter of West Virginia coal miners, she has strong roots in Appalachia. Dr. Hawkins was the first in her family to pursue a college degree, so higher education is something she takes very seriously. Her undergraduate degree was earned non-traditionally. Dr. Hawkins was studying part-time at a community college, and followed that by evening classes for several years, all while working full time and taking care of her home and family. She earned her undergraduate degree, a BBA in Finance, in She went back to school a few years later to pursue a Masters of Science in Education, and followed that with a Doctor of Philosophy in Transatlantic History. Dr. Hawkins has extensive experience in higher education. She held various positions of authority at Texas Wesleyan University from 1989 to 2001; was president of the Texas Independent College Foundation from 2003 until 2010; and served as head of advancement for the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education from 2010 to March Her experience also includes ten years with Texas Commerce Bank, now Chase Bank, and two years as assistant director of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. She became 19th president of Union College on July 1, The Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the President s Administrative Council, the provides leadership and direction for Union College s advancement program. The Vice President will design and execute strategies for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, closing and stewardship of annual and major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations. It is expected that the Vice President will be an engaging and effective mentor to the Advancement staff. Major gift development will constitute more than half of the Vice President s time and require strong working relationships with the President and Trustees. 5 Union College

6 The College seeks an advancement professional who has successfully undertaken increasinglyresponsible leadership roles. The successful candidate should display the following characteristics: Passion for the mission Personable - puts people at ease Willing to take time to build trust with key constituents Tells success stories in a compelling way Familiarity with the dynamics of the region but not creatively constrained by them A self-starter who is comfortable initiating activity Capable of meaningfully engaging board members, faculty leaders, alumni, volunteers, parents, business leaders and all key constituents Willingness to be active in the community and region and exhibits dedication to its people For more information, and to view the detailed description, go to: Vice President for Advancement Salary and benefits are competitive for the Appalachian region. Confidentiality will be maintained and no references will be contacted without prior notification. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants should electronically send a letter of application, résumé or curriculum vita, and the names and contact information of five (5) persons who could serve as references to Robert Driver, Senior Consultant, Gonser Gerber LLP, 1776 Legacy Circle Drive, Suite 100, Naperville, IL Submissions by are encouraged: rdriver@gonsergerber.com. Union College is an Equal Opportunity Employer 6 Union College