Assistant Dean of Students

Location: Hickory, North Carolina 

Position Summary

The Assistant Dean of Students serves as a key leader within the Student Experience Leadership Team and plays a central role in advancing student engagement, belonging, and campus involvement. Reporting to the Vice President of Student Experience and Dean of Students, the Assistant Dean provides strategic leadership and direct supervision for the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership and the Office of Residence Life. This position is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive student experience strategy that fosters a welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive campus environment. Through intentional programming, leadership development, and collaborative partnerships, the Assistant Dean enhances the overall student experience and strengthens opportunities for connection and community. 

In close partnership with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and the Vice President for Student Experience, this role will also co-design and advance data-informed retention initiatives that promote persistence, belonging, and student success from matriculation through graduation. The Assistant Dean also manages the student conduct process and contributes to policy development through the Code of Student Conduct. In this capacity, the role ensures that policies and procedures promote student learning, accountability, and a safe, respectful campus climate.

Supervisory Responsibilities

  • Office of Student Involvement and Office of Residence Life 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities   

  • Provide strategic leadership and supervision for the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership and the Office of Residence Life. 
  • Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive student engagement strategy in alignment with the University’s strategic plan designed to strengthen retention and leadership pathways for all students. 
  • Partner with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Vice President for Student Experience to co-design data-informed retention initiatives. 
  • Manage the student conduct process, ensuring timely, fair, and educational responses to alleged violations. Support policy development and ongoing review of the Code of Student Conduct to promote community standards, student accountability, and institutional compliance.
  • Manage and assess engagement and residential initiatives and leadership programs to promote a vibrant campus environment. 
  • Serve in the senior leader on-call rotation to respond to student emergencies, provide leadership in critical situations, and collaborate with campus partners to ensure student safety, well-being, and coordinated crisis response.
  • Oversee departmental budgeting, resource allocation, and operational planning to ensure effective stewardship of institutional resources and support for strategic priorities.
  • Support the Vice President of Student Experience in collecting data for Clery reporting and the biannual Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act.  
  • Serve on university, divisional, and departmental committees, task forces, and strategic engagement groups to advance institutional goals, strengthen cross-campus partnerships, and contribute to long-range planning efforts.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

  • Master’s degree preferred; bachelor's degree with 3-5 years of progressive leadership experience in student affairs required; 
  • Experience supervising full-time professional staff or graduate assistants. 
  • Student conduct and residence life experience preferred. 
  • Knowledge of current issues and trends in higher education regarding retention and engagement. 
  • Commitment to confidentiality and adherence to laws and policies governing student services.
  • Dedication to student development and serving a variety of student populations. 
  • Proven ability to lead collaborative efforts among various constituencies.
  • Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Skilled in handling sensitive and confidential situations with professionalism and diplomacy.

Additional Requirements and Expectations

  • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
  • Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
  • Ability to travel with students, faculty, and staff throughout campus.
  • Standard office hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with occasional evening and weekend based on demand.  Subject to change based on university needs. 

Behavioral Expectations

  • Maintain high integrity, confidentiality and ethical standards.
  • Maintain a healthy and safe environment.
  • Maintain and contribute to a professional, respectful, courteous, diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.
  • Treat other individuals with dignity, respect and kindness.
  • Adhere to all university policies, procedures, standards, and values, and comply with all federal, state, and local laws.

Position requirements in the above mentioned role indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the job competently. Role descriptions are an overview of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of the position. Employees may be required to perform other job-related assignments as requested and acquire new skills and responsibilities. Lenoir-Rhyne University reserves the right to modify, add, remove or waive the position's responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Application Process

While completing the application, candidates will be prompted to submit a:

  • Cover letter, specifically discussing how one’s professional experiences and perspectives relate to the needs of the position.
  • Resume, including the names and emails of three references. References will only be contacted for finalists, and candidates will be notified in advance.

Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environment that is integral to the university's commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcoming community, working with faculty, staff and/or students from all walks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives and traditions in their current or previous positions. This commitment is rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturing vocation, and preparing students for lives of purpose while serving the common good. 

About Lenoir-Rhyne University  

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensive liberal arts institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community, and promote responsible leadership for service to the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds. 

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy

Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for all members of the LR community, including, but not limited to, those who identify as transgender and gender non-conforming. To that end, LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.

To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program, activity and employment, LR has developed internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment, and for allegations of retaliation.

LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of the parties in the grievance process during what is often a difficult time for all those involved. 

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
 

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