Job Duties
, a proudly urban, top-ranked HBCU renowned for transformative teaching, innovative research, and community impact, seeks an experienced, collaborative, and mission-driven leader to serve as its Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Founded in 1935, Norfolk State University is a comprehensive public, doctoral-granting institution committed to transforming students’ lives through exemplary teaching, research, and service. With nationally recognized STEM programs and a diverse and robust liberal arts program, the University enrolls approximately 6,500 students across 64 undergraduate, graduate, and online programs. Norfolk State University garners over $20M in annual grant expenditures, has an NCAA Division I athletic program with fifteen sports, and celebrates vibrant achievements, from eleven MEAC athletic championships to the Spartan Legion Band’s 2023 Rose Parade appearance. Situated in the dynamic coastal city of Norfolk, Virginia, the University stands at an exciting juncture as it defines a new strategic plan, expands interdisciplinary partnerships, and modernizes its business systems, including an institutional investment in Workday.
Reporting to, and positioned as a key member of the President's Cabinet, the Provost serves as the chief academic officer with responsibility for academic management and oversight of a comprehensive portfolio comprised of the University's seven schools and colleges, multiple centers, and university services. The Provost ensures that the University’s high-quality programs, resources, infrastructure, and services are designed to deliver upon NSU's mission to "transform students’ lives through exemplary teaching, research, and service," by providing leadership and support that enables the personal and intellectual growth of all members of the academic community, including students, faculty, and staff. The Provost has oversight responsibility for the University’s promotion and tenure of its faculty, as well as the recruiting, hiring, and advancement of its academic administrators.
The ideal candidate will be a strategic and collaborative leader with a demonstrated commitment to academic excellence; a proven record of inspiring and leading faculty, staff, and students; and a reputation of nurturing an institutional culture of collegiality and participative governance. As a leader with deep commitment to the academy, the Provost will partner to support the professional growth and success of both faculty and staff; advance NSU as an inclusive learning community; and cultivate a culture of optimism, trust, and collaboration.
This Provost will bring an understanding of current and future trends impacting higher education; experience translating vision into action; demonstrated ability to promote an environment that encourages innovation; an unrelenting commitment to and reputation for developing student success initiatives and evidence of advancing research endeavors at their current institution in order to further NSU’s academic and scholarly excellence.
In addition, the NSU community seeks in its next Provost a leader skilled in identifying and developing existing talent and ensuring that faculty and staff in the academic enterprise understand and are able to deliver on the needs of the population that NSU serves. An earned terminal degree in one of the disciplines represented at the University, and exemplary accomplishments in teaching, scholarship, research and professional service to qualify for a tenured appointment at Norfolk State University; a record of successful and progressive academic administration leadership at an institution of higher education of similar complexity as a current or former Provost, Associate/Assistant Provost or Dean with evidence of effectively leading across a comprehensive array of academic disciplines with a strong commitment to both a liberal arts education and professional programs are required. A comprehensive leadership profile can be found at this
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 Norfolk State University with this search. While applications will be accepted until this position is filled, expeditious application is strongly encouraged.
Please direct all nominations and applications through the WittKieffer .
Additional inquiries can be directed to:
Sarah Palmer and Tyler Workman
NSU is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all persons and applicants, without regard to age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, genetic information, race, religion, sexual orientation, sex (including pregnancy), or veteran status. NSU encourages and invites minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.