Executive Vice President and Provost
Leadership Profile 2023
Executive Vice President and Provost Northern Illinois University (NIU) invites applications and nominations for the position of executive vice president and provost (EVPP). The EVPP reports directly to the president and is expected to lead the institution in the president’s absence. The NIU EVPP must understand the university’s vision and mission, and support our core values. In addition, the candidate of choice will embrace hard work and not shy away from challenges. They will possess the agility necessary to move ideas to action in a timely manner through shared leadership. They must be committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and freedom of expression across the institution, and demonstrate unimpeachable integrity and superb judgment exemplified by fairness, flexibility, empathy and responsiveness. Exceptional communications skills are required. As the chief academic officer and with oversight for student affairs, the EVPP must be an experienced administrator with a demonstrated record of strategic leadership skills. The EVPP offers the right person an incredible opportunity to implement bold and positive new initiatives in partnership with President Lisa C. Freeman, collegial deans and vice presidents, a stimulating university community, supportive local community, and an enthusiastic and engaged alumni base. NIU is seeking a strong leader with a vision — one who is able to communicate effectively across stakeholders, who works well as a team member and who understands the importance of planning in a way that aligns resources with goals. While the EVPP will work across senior leaders and is expected to collaborate on a variety of matters, the leadership necessary to do the following will be imperative for the success of the next EVPP: Collaborate with the vice president for Administration and Finance/chief financial officer to move forward an academically responsive and fiscally responsible budget; vice president for Research and Innovation Partnerships to align priorities, ensure synergy of the university’s academic research and innovation missions; vice president for Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications to advance recruitment and retention initiatives; vice president for Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development on engagement initiatives; and the vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to align academic policies with NIU’s values of inclusion.
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
The EVPP will be responsible for strengthening administrative processes and support systems, improving internal communications, establishing a synergistic and inclusive community, guiding faculty development and scholarship, setting budget policy, and fostering partnerships and engagement locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. They must possess a clear sense of the various challenges of a public research university with undergraduate, graduate and professional schools; demonstrate experience with, and commitment to, shared governance; and have the skills required to promote individual and mutual strengths within and among units. The EVPP oversees the following: • Academic colleges. • Graduate School and International Affairs. • University Libraries. • Academic Affairs. • Faculty Affairs. • ADEI (dual report with the president). • Student Affairs. • Institutional Research and Analytics. • Title IX. • Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.
Required Qualifications and Experience: • An earned doctorate, or appropriate terminal degree. • Faculty credentials that demonstrate teaching experience as well as research, scholarly and/or creative achievement consistent with appointment to the NIU faculty at the rank of tenured, full professor. • Experienced administrator in higher education with demonstrated leadership skills and a minimum of 10 years of experience in leadership roles.
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
Additional Requirements: • A clear understanding of the various challenges facing student-centered, engaged, public research universities. • Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging as a part of the university’s overall strategic vision. • Respect for shared leadership and shared governance, and documented ability to form strong working relationships with campus stakeholders. • Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate with executive leadership to advance academic initiatives, including but not limited to those focused on student success and faculty development. • Administrative experience with budgeting and financial planning; well-developed understanding of the interface between financial planning and enrollment management; and willingness and ability to work within a multiyear, all-funds budget framework.
Preferred Qualifications and Experience: • Appreciation for the importance of access, affordability, accountability and regional engagement to the mission of a nationally recognized, regionally relevant, public research university. • Experience working with collective bargaining units and an understanding of labor and management roles and responsibilities at an institution of higher education. • A record of accomplishment as an academic leader who confronts challenges and implements solutions using an approach characterized by collaboration, open communication, inclusive decision-making, respect for shared governance and collective bargaining, integrity, and courage of convictions. • Experience developing, implementing and/or launching innovative academic programs in ways that demonstrate respect for excellence, innovation and accountability in all aspects of the university’s mission. • Comprehensive and actionable understanding of current and emerging academic issues and higher education’s evolving operating environment, combined with a record of successful leadership during a period of change. • Successful experience with oversight of program development, implementation, assessment and accreditation with demonstrated commitment to continuous program improvement. • Documented ability to communicate and engage with external constituencies such as governing and coordinating boards, legislative bodies, public agencies, funding agencies, community partners, alumni and donors. • Appreciation for the value and importance of a well-rounded education that promotes integration of learning across the curriculum and co-curriculum, and develops the critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills essential for success at work, citizenship and life.
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
Nominations/Application Nominations and applications will be held in confidence except for finalists. Completed applications should be received by Jan. 10, 2024, for optimal consideration; review of completed applications will continue until the position is filled. Candidates should include with their curriculum vitae a letter of application describing their relevant experiences and interest in the position together with the names, addresses and phone numbers of at least five to seven references. References will not be contacted without prior permission of the applicant. Please submit all nominations, applications and communications to the search firm assisting NIU: Porsha L. Williams, Vice President Erin Raines, Senior Principal Delando Crooks, Associate Parker Executive Search Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875 Atlanta, GA 30328 770-804-1996, Ext. 109 pwilliams@parkersearch.com || eraines@parkersearch.com || dcrooks@parkersearch.com In compliance with the Illinois Campus Security Act, before an offer of employment is made, the university will conduct a pre-employment background investigation, which includes a criminal background check. In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action. NIU recognizes Dual Career issues.
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
Northern Illinois University NIU is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields. The university offers baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral and law degrees across more than 40 academic departments and seven colleges: Business, Education, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Health and Human Sciences, Law, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. NIU has a long, rich tradition of academic excellence with a breadth of programmatic offerings that support the academic aspirations of our students. Our nationally and internationally recognized faculty are not only dedicated to advancing their academic disciplines, but, in collaboration with NIU staff, are also focused on providing meaningful curricular and cocurricular experiences that prepare NIU students to be successful in achieving their future goals. NIU is proximal to Chicago, the third-largest U.S. city. The area is a vibrant center of culture and technology, yet the university is sufficiently out of the traffic and congestion to afford faculty and students a healthier environment in which to live and study. The NIU community is committed to positive change and is focused on enhancing student academic and career success. NIU serves a large, diverse, rural, suburban and urban population, including many first-generation college students. NIU’s fall 2023 enrollment of 15,504 students consisted of 11,358 undergraduate students, 3,832 graduate students and 314 law students. The racial and ethnic diversity of our student body reflects that of the Chicagoland region and is 44% white; 21% Hispanic/Latino; 18% Black/African American; 6% Asian; and 7% international. About 4,100 students live on campus in five residence halls and an apartment complex. The university is dedicated to making a college degree accessible, equitable and affordable. Recognizing that students’ hard work in high school is reflected in their grades, we became one of the nation’s first public universities to announce test-free admission and merit scholarship processes. Further, our Huskie Pledge program is helping to ensure that qualifying Illinois students from lower-income households can attend college and pay no tuition and fees out of pocket for their first year and potentially beyond. NIU is committed to sustainability and is a signatory to the Second Nature Carbon Commitment, cementing the university’s pledge to climate action and setting in motion the process to incorporate sustainability into campus life, strategic planning and decision-making. The university this year drafted a sweeping Sustainability and Climate Action Plan that calls for NIU to “chart an ambitious path forward to become an innovator and leader in sustainability.” NIU is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral University/High Research Activity (R2) and Community Engaged University. NIU has also established a strong reputation for innovation and collaboration. Our research, artistry and engagement enterprises address complex, real-world challenges
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
and help us to attract and retain students by providing them with robust learning opportunities, mentored research and artistry experiences, and connections to help launch their careers. In this context, our federal relations team has been a leading voice for equitable distribution of federal research funding. NIU’s research, service and engagement enterprises have surged in recent years. In Fiscal Year 2023, faculty and staff secured about 400 awards totaling $57 million in funding from outside sources, an increase of 34% over the previous year and a 60% increase since FY 2019. We’re particularly proud that a report assessing U.S. comprehensive research universities ranked NIU third nationally for “innovation impact productivity.” This ranking can be found in the report, “The Innovation Impact of U.S. Universities.” NIU is proud to have earned the following recognitions: • The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has designated NIU as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. • NIU is a 2023-24 College of Distinction. • NIU is recognized nationally for academic excellence. • NIU appears on listings of top college rankings by Forbes, Money, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Monthly, U.S. News & World Report and others. • In 2023, NIU ranked No. 158 in U.S. News & World Report Top Performers on Social Mobility and moved up 62 places in the U.S. News & World Report overall rankings of national universities, to No. 269. • The WSJ/College Pulse 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking rates the top 400 universities in the country. NIU ranks No. 61 for social mobility, No. 129 for student experience, No. 150 for salary of graduates and No. 221 overall. • In 2021, 2022 and 2023, NIU received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. • The Association of American Colleges and Universities selected NIU among a top group of “pathbreaking institutions” to host new Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Centers. • NIU’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics earned the 2022 NCAA and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association Award for Diversity and Inclusion. NIU is the first institution in the history of the award to earn this prestigious honor twice (the first time in 2016). • NIU ranks among the most LGBTQ+-friendly colleges and universities in the nation. Setting the bar for LGBTQ+-inclusive polices, programs and practices, the national Campus Pride Index in 2022 and 2023 awarded NIU a five-star ranking — the highest possible rating. • NIU is proud to be an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution. • Nationally accredited programs include business; engineering; nursing; clinical and school psychology; visual and performing arts; teacher educator licensure and preparation; and others that meet the highest standards of academic quality and rigor.
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
Degree-granting Colleges: College of Business Nationally recognized, our College of Business is among the elite 5% of business schools worldwide that have AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting, and is one of the nation’s esteemed business schools for 34 consecutive years (since 1987) according to the U.S. News & World Report (2022 ranking). The college has a strong reputation in academic and industry circles for preparing principled business leaders of tomorrow and has deep connections with over 300 firms in Chicago and the suburbs including Fortune companies as well as entrepreneurial startups. The experiential learning model of the college is distinguished by ensuring students have the ability to integrate knowledge across functional areas to turn challenges into opportunities. Among its many achievements, our College of Business is recognized for its active engagement in the Chicago-area business community as well as for its nationally and worldrenowned faculty — the majority of whom served as business professionals before earning their doctorates. College of Education Our College of Education continues the institution’s 125-plus-year history of preparing professional educators for the region and nation. One of every five superintendents in Illinois is an NIU graduate; one of every nine principals in Illinois is an NIU graduate; and one of every 16 teachers in Illinois is an NIU graduate. The college partners with school districts, community colleges, state agencies, businesses, organizations and foundations to expand local, national and global opportunities for learning, research, service and leadership. Degree programs prepare our students to teach, lead schools, harness the power of instructional technology, analyze test data, reshape curriculum and understand how human beings learn. There are more than 55,000 College of Education alumni, with more than 62% living in Illinois. U.S. News & World Report has ranked our online graduate programs since that category debuted in 2013. Accreditation has been awarded by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP), the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER).
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology Our College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET) is ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the top 100 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs nationally. Accredited by Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), NIU’s electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial and systems engineering, mechatronics engineering, electrical engineering technology; and manufacturing engineering technology programs provide a solid educational foundation capable of leading innovation and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public. Our industrial technology program is accredited by the Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering (ATMAE), attaining professional goals and standards for technology while encouraging “Continuous Quality Improvement.” The college partners with industry, state and federal agencies; national labs; and foundations to advance innovative solutions to complex design and R&D challenges. The college also was recently approved to offer B.S. degree programs in biomedical engineering. College of Health and Human Sciences Our College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) prepares scholars, leaders and practitioners who enhance the lives of individuals, families and communities across the lifespan. The college is home to five schools: Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Studies, Interdisciplinary Health Professions, and Nursing, as well as the Department of Military Science and the Ph.D. in health sciences program. With 21 degree programs — including 13 that are externally accredited — and over 900 practicum sites, the college provides a wide variety of experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for successful careers in the health professions. CHHS students also gain hands-on training at our Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, Physical Therapy Clinic, Couple and Family Therapy Clinic, and our Child Development and Family Center.
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
College of Law Our College of Law offers its diverse student body a broad perspective of the law through high-quality programs and practical skills training taught by well-respected, engaged and diverse faculty. An ABAapproved law school, NIU College of Law has been ranked by the National Jurist as a top 50 school for Best Value and Most Diverse Law Schools, and as one of the top 20 law schools in the United States for bar preparation. NIU College of Law is also one of the top 20 Best Schools for the percentage of graduates pursuing a career in public service, and in its short life has more than 140 graduates in the judiciary. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences With 18 departments and spanning the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, our College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the largest and most diverse of our undergraduate colleges. Regardless of the area of study, CLAS provides students with strong communication, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, cultural competence, creativity and collaboration skills. The college houses the bulk of our graduate programs in addition to being the leader in research activities, with a strong emphasis on student engagement and inclusion. The college is home to the Pick Museum of Anthropology and the Rebuilding Democracy Lecture Series which showcase how the liberal arts and sciences is at the center of a healthy democracy. Distinctive strengths include computer science, meteorology, nonprofit and NGO studies, physics, psychology, public administration, secondary educator licensure programs and Southeast Asian studies. College of Visual and Performing Arts The College of Visual and Performing Arts is home to the Schools of Art and Design, Music, and Theatre and Dance — all nationally accredited. The college provides outstanding artistic presentations and services to regional, national and international communities in ways that champion student learning and promote faculty and student artistry and research. An internationally distinguished faculty and committed staff focus on engaging students in rich, experiential learning opportunities and scholarly inquiry. The NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts is one of the most vibrant and rich academic artistic communities in the nation, ranking in the top 100 fine arts programs in the U.S.
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
University Libraries Located at the heart of campus, our Founders Memorial Library and its two satellite libraries (the Music Library and the Faraday Science Library) collaborate closely with the rest of the campus to advance student and faculty success. In addition to a strong print collection of more than 2.6 million volumes, the library resources include a new Founders Learning Commons, the Science on a Sphere exhibit, diverse electronic resources, digitized collections and distinctive collections in the areas of regional history, popular culture and Southeast Asian studies. University Leadership President Lisa C. Freeman was appointed the 13th president of NIU in September 2018. In this role, President Freeman works to support all aspects of the university’s mission, emphasizing NIU’s continued commitments to promoting the social mobility of our students, producing high-impact scholarship and engaging with our region. Accordingly, she strives to create a learning environment where students, faculty and staff from a wide range of backgrounds feel welcome and included. President Freeman has been a member of the NIU senior leadership team and a professor of biology since 2010. She served as vice president for research and graduate studies from 2010 to 2013. She became executive vice president and provost in May 2014 after serving on an interim basis. President Freeman was recently recognized by Women We Admire as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Education of 2023. In addition to external recognition, her efforts have been recognized by the university community with a 2022 Women Empowerment Award from the Alpha Sigma Omega Latina Sorority, the 2021 Deacon Davis Diversity Award from the Presidential Commission of Race and Ethnicity, and the 2020 Eychner award from the Presidential Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. President Freeman earned a bachelor’s degree in 1981, and a master’s degree and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1986 from Cornell University. She went on to earn a doctorate in philosophy in 1989 at The Ohio State University, and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral fellow and research scientist at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. In 2004-05, President Freeman was a fellow of the American Council on Education hosted by the University at Buffalo. President Freeman delivered her latest State of the University address Nov. 29, 2022.
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
Vision, Mission and Core Values Northern Illinois University’s vision is to be an engine for innovation to advance social mobility; promote personal, professional and intellectual growth; and transform the world through research, artistry, teaching and outreach. The mission of Northern Illinois University is to empower students through educational excellence and experiential learning as we pursue knowledge, share our research and artistry, and engage communities for the benefit of the region, state, nation and world. In pursuing our vision and fulfilling our mission, we value and practice: • Curiosity and creativity. • We provide our students active learning experiences. • We champion innovation. • We commit our resources to supporting students, faculty and staff in their research, artistry and professional development. • Equity and inclusion. • We seek and are strengthened by the diverse perspectives and experiences of our university community members. • We use an inclusive, decision-making process. • We appreciate and respect every member of our community. • Ethics and integrity. • We prepare our students to become global leaders who work to build a better society. • We model ethical behavior in and out of the classroom. • We are transparent and accountable to our stakeholders. • Service and stewardship. • We serve society and confront local, national and global challenges through collaborations that improve our learning, teaching and research. • We make accessible the knowledge and resources we create. • We promote our students’ success through advising and mentoring.
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
NIU has a fiercely proud alumni base of more than 258,000 who boast accomplished careers in a diverse array of fields and professions. They primarily reside in the northern Illinois region, creating dynamic professional networks for NIU students and faculty, and providing economic vitality to the region and state. Our Alumni Association strives to build lifelong relationships with NIU alumni and friends by offering programs and services that foster pride in the university, support its goals and meet alumni needs. This includes support for affinity groups that bring together alumni with similar backgrounds and interests. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion DEI and belonging are defining characteristics at NIU. We know that the differences, along with the commonalities, of all who live, study and work here shape and strengthen our Huskie community in meaningful ways. Defined broadly at NIU, our growing diversity is one of our greatest strengths. While we are proud of our diverse Huskie community, we know it is not enough to simply be diverse. We will continue to be vigilant in our efforts to ensure all Huskies feel welcome, included, valued and uplifted. Our commitment, plans and progress for how Huskies are working together for racial and social justice, equity and inclusion are aligned with the expectations of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and reflected in our mission, vision and values; our Strategic Enrollment Management Plan; and our annual university goals.
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Northern Illinois University | Executive Vice President and Provost | Leadership Profile | 2023
Northern Illinois University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. Printed by authority of the state of Illinois. niu.edu 55952 11/23
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