Assistant Dean of Students for Residential Experience

Location: Hickory, North Carolina

Position Summary

The Assistant Dean of Students for Residential Experience serves as a key leader within the Student Experience Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership for the University's comprehensive residential experience. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Student Experience and Dean of Students, the Assistant Dean supervises the Assistant Director of Residence Life and Housing Operations and the Area Coordinators while advancing a residential experience that promotes student success, belonging, well-being, leadership development and retention.

Through collaboration, assessment and innovative leadership, the Assistant Dean creates vibrant residential communities where students thrive academically, socially and personally. As a senior leader within the Division of Student Experience, the Assistant Dean partners across the University to strengthen community, enhance the student experience and position the residential program as a distinctive advantage in recruitment, enrollment and student success.

Supervisory Responsibilities 

• Assistant Director of Residence Life and Housing Operations and Area Coordinators  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and supervision for the University's Residence Life program and comprehensive residential experience.  
• Develop and implement a residential experience strategy aligned with the University's strategic plan and Division of Student Experience priorities to strengthen student belonging, engagement, leadership, well-being and retention.
• Provide executive oversight of housing operations through supervision of the Assistant Director of Residence Life and Housing Operations, ensuring excellence in housing assignments, occupancy management, move-in and move-out operations, summer conferences, residential technology systems and operational effectiveness.
• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive residential curriculum designed to foster community, leadership, academic success and well-being.
• Supervise, mentor and evaluate professional Residence Life staff while cultivating a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation and student-centered leadership. 
• Partner with Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, Counseling and Wellness, Student Involvement and Leadership, Campus Safety, Facilities Management, Dining Services, Athletics and other campus partners to create an integrated residential experience that supports student success. 
• Utilize assessment data, student feedback, occupancy trends and institutional metrics to evaluate residential initiatives and inform strategic decision-making.  
• Serve in the senior leader on-call rotation to respond to student emergencies, provide leadership during critical incidents 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 alignment with strategic priorities.
• Support the Vice President for Student Experience with institutional assessment, Clery reporting and other divisional reporting requirements as assigned. 
• Collaborate with the Assistant Dean of Students on student conduct concerns and with the Associate Dean of Students on student care matters.
• Serve on University, divisional and departmental committees, task forces and strategic planning groups to advance institutional goals and strengthen cross-campus partnerships.
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Additional Duties

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must reside within 15 minutes of the University campus to respond in a timely manner to campus needs and emergencies.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Ability to travel with students, faculty and staff throughout campus.
• Standard office hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities based on demand. The schedule is subject to change based on university needs. 

Education and Experience 

• Master's degree required, with three to five years of progressive leadership experience in residence life. 
• Demonstrated experience supervising full-time professional staff.  
• Student conduct experience preferred.  
• Knowledge of current issues and trends in higher education related to student success, residential education, enrollment and retention.
• Dedication to student development and creating an exceptional residential experience for a diverse student population.  
• Proven ability to build collaborative partnerships across multiple campus constituencies.  
• Exceptional verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.  
• Demonstrated ability to utilize assessment and data to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement.
• Skilled in handling sensitive and confidential situations with professionalism and diplomacy. 

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, values, and comply with all federal, state, and local laws.

Position requirements in the role description outlined above indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities deemed 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 for 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 responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the position.

Application Process

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

1. Resume
2. Cover letter
3. Three professional references 

References will only be contacted for finalists, and candidates will be notified in advance.

The university’s mission, vision, and values statements may be reviewed using About LR.  

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 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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