Job Summary/Basic Function

The Board of Trustees of Maryville University invites nominations and applications for an experienced, forward-thinking visionary to serve as the next president of the University. Maryville University (St. Louis, MO) is one of the country’s fastest growing schools and is deeply committed to its role as a catalyst for students to move up the academic and economic ladder. Nominations and inquiries should be directed to Sheila Murphy, Consultant and Senior Advisor through the confidential email MaryvillePresident@wittkieffer.com.

The successful candidate will serve as the eleventh president of Maryville University and is expected to share a deep commitment and responsibility to the school’s mission of serving as an engine for the economic and social mobility of its diverse population of 9000+ students enrolled in both on-site and online undergraduate and graduate programs. The successful candidate will be a creative and entrepreneurial leader who is committed to access, outcomes, and the opportunities to enhance education and student success through the creative use of technology. The opportunity is occasioned by the retirement of Mark Lombardi, Ph.D. who has served Maryville with distinction since 2007.

The next president will lead an institution that is in an enviable position as a result of the vision and determination of its faculty, students, staff, administrators, and Board. The challenge for the next president will be to continue the school’s growth and success while facing into both internal and external challenges and the changing environment for higher education. Maryville seeks a leader who can inspire and motivate others; serve as a visionary leader and reflect Maryville's commitment to access, opportunity and student success.

The president serves as the chief executive officer with responsibility for all aspects of the University. Providing leadership and oversight for academics, finance, planning, enrollment, student affairs, athletics, advancement, and other key areas is essential. The vice presidents and other key staff members report to the president, who partners with and empowers the senior team to ensure that the strategic direction and policies of the University are aligned with its mission and goals.

The president reports to the Board of Trustees and works with the Board in establishing policies to guide the institution.

As chief executive officer, the president bears principal responsibility for the planning, development, implementation, assessment, and improvement of all aspects of the University. As such, the president will:

▪ Be the chief advocate for and leader of the University's mission, community, and impact.

▪ Strategically plan for and lead the ways in which the University will meet the challenges facing higher education.

▪ Develop and empower a cohesive team that, together, is able to lead the University in pursuing and achieving its ambitious goals with clarity and vigor.

▪ Engage actively with the University's various communities, serving as a visible and engaged member of the campus community, and a skilled and trusted ambassador to the local and regional communities in which Maryville University sits. The president will maintain and develop an extended community of alumni and friends, the St. Louis higher education community, all levels of government, and the public.

Among the many opportunities awaiting the new president, the following inter-related imperatives are of particular note:

▪ Maryville University is a higher education success story. The eleventh president of Maryville University will assume the leadership of an institution enjoying the benefits of bold and creative leadership and a well-refined sense of the markets in which it operates. Maryville University is proud of its talented faculty and staff, its dedicated alumni base, and its engaged Board of Trustees. The next president is expected to lead the mapping of a distinctive and sustainable future for the University that builds upon a spirit of entrepreneurialism and strategic risk-taking. The plans for the future of Maryville University are outlined in the 2022-2030 Strategic Plan which is available here.

▪ The new president will broaden and deepen the recent growth and expansion of the online programs, and through careful assessment of current realities and opportunities will develop a plan for growth to ensure the ongoing success of the University and the engagement and success of students and graduates. The process of incorporating all aspects of online learning into the University’s operations, including those infrastructure aspects that had previously been provided by a third-party vendor, is a strategic priority for the University.

▪ Maryville has been at the forefront of the transformation of higher education. The University regularly appears in the Chronicle of Higher Education's survey of the nation's "fastest growing" universities, has been selected as an Apple Distinguished School and has embraced the creative use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in several of its key academic programs. (President Lombardi is the co-author of the highly regarded 2018 book Pivot: A Vision for the New University which describes a transformational model for higher education.) This energizing environment provides the new president the opportunity to further refine this model which guides all aspects of the University. The Board and the president will establish ambitious goals for continued enrollment growth, furthering Maryville's identity as a global university with an online undergraduate and graduate population over twice the size of its "on ground" population. The student population – diverse by age, race, socio-economic status, professional aspiration, and location – is a treasured asset of the University.

▪ The president will deepen the effort to inspire the entire Maryville community in support of the vision and will draw upon their own fresh perspective to motivate, inspire and promote alignment among faculty and staff. The president will engage with the University's exceptional students, be present and visible at campus events, come to know Maryville alumni, friends and community partners and inspire the campus and its extended community to move forward as one university to greet what will surely be an exciting future.

▪ The president will encourage a high level of transparency to ensure a well-informed campus as priorities are established and decisions are made, establishing clear channels of communication around information gathering and reporting the results of decisions. Much of Maryville's current success can be attributed to bold and decisive decision-making on the part of the senior leadership team, and close and careful work with the Board of Trustees. Maryville University's next president will inherit a strong and engaged leadership team, accustomed to working collaboratively, quickly and collectively. The team works in service of the University's mission, vision, values and direction. The next president will need the skills of leading talented and experienced professionals, many of whom have served the University for many years and have enjoyed great success in their respective roles. Immediate priorities for this talented team include the commitment to enrollment growth both in online and on-ground students; a continued focus on nurturing an inclusive campus community characterized by high student and employee satisfaction; an appreciation of the benefits of diversity and inclusivity; and leveraging the University's renowned identity to expand fundraising efforts in service of campus priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

Maryville University's president will resonate with, personify and advocate on behalf of the University's distinctive identity and ethos, and its record of transforming the lives of its students. The successful candidate will possess the following professional qualifications and personal qualities:

Demonstrate understanding and belief in Maryville University's mission and goals:

▪ Demonstrate experience in leading a proactive approach to the evolving challenges facing higher education. The University has moved forward with intentional strategic focus and effectiveness in recent years. Within this context of growth and expansion, the President will remain mindful of Maryville University’s Sacred Heart heritage. (See page 8 of this profile for information on the history of the University.)

▪ Embrace and enhance Maryville University’s strategic vision and direction, continuing the longstanding commitment to expanding access and opportunity for all; leveraging technology, learning diagnostics and the principles of the active learning ecosystem to foster academic excellence; driving student outcomes and prioritizing financial stability.

▪ Serve as the "chief advocate" for Maryville's student-first environment and five-star service which is a cornerstone of the University. Ability to convey the unique value proposition of Maryville University to all audiences, especially with respect to its significant impact on the social and economic mobility of its students.
▪ Possess solid administrative and financial acumen, be an academic and intellectual leader and embrace a compelling mindset of affordable education for all.

▪ Positively leverage all elements of the University (personnel, management, financial and strategic resources) to strengthen the Maryville University brand.

Demonstrate skills as an effective communicator and fund-raiser:

▪ Communicate effectively with all stakeholders – students (and parents), staff/faculty, Board members, donors (and alumni), politicians and community decision makers.

▪ Be an articulate, influential leader and spokesperson for Maryville University and its mission.

▪ Show a record of communicating transparently, expertly and consistently, and demonstrate the capacity to galvanize community members around a common goal.

▪ Consistently exude emotional intelligence through all stakeholder interactions, showing respect, understanding of cultural sensitivities and displaying compassion for individual perspectives.

▪ Develop and grow Maryville University’s resources through philanthropy by serving in a prominent role of cultivating and soliciting donors.

Demonstrate support and competence in digital transformation, A.I., and data analytics:

▪ Leverage “data” in all forms to ensure informed and transformative decisions.

▪ Support and drive a commitment to online learning and the expansion of Maryville’s footprint in that space.

▪ Committed to the application of artificial intelligence in the service of Maryville’s mission and vision to enhance teaching and learning, positive student outcomes, predictive and intuitive five-star student services and drive operational efficiencies allowing the University to scale for growth.

Demonstrate a nimble and adaptable decision-making philosophy:

▪ Project the ability to decisively respond to environmental variables.

▪ Use data analytics to drive informed decision-making and strategic planning.

▪ Demonstrate flexibility in decision-making by recognizing when to make swift top-down decisions and when to engage stakeholders for input and to cultivate buy-in.

▪ Grow and strengthen Maryville University's diverse community and culture of inclusiveness.

Demonstrate a keen awareness of the revolutionary transformations of higher education:

▪ Possess an instinctive understanding that a 21st century model of higher education is rapidly evolving.

▪ Be prepared to continue President Lombardi's profile as a thought leader in the transformation of higher education, recognizing that hundreds of universities are at risk for closing in the coming decade. Write, speak and promote the idea that private higher education must constantly adapt and evolve to succeed and remain relevant. Become familiar with the concepts advanced in PIVOT: A Vision for the New University (2018, Credo Press/Advantage) in which the conceptual framework for the transformation of Maryville University is well articulated.

Further, the President will demonstrate the following:

▪ An earned doctorate, an equivalent terminal degree and/or proven leadership that aligns with the needs, responsibilities and mission of Maryville University. Evidence of fostering excellence in teaching and student success and/or a demonstrated record of successful executive leadership, comparable credentials and experience sufficient to warrant the respect and confidence of the community.

▪ An eagerness to weave oneself into the life of this distinctive community, to inspire, be visible and leverage one's knowledge of the life of a great university from exceptional teaching to student success, wellness and athletics.

▪ An ability to value the unique contributions made by all campus constituents, including a genuine interest in the University's people, especially its students, and a demonstrated commitment to the needs of access and belonging for all members of the community, including and especially a commitment to students from underrepresented backgrounds, including first-generation college students.

Preferred Qualifications

An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background screening.

Physical Demands

Open Until Filled

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

Procedure for Candidacy

Nominations, suggestions, and expressions of personal interest in the role are welcome. Applications should include, as two separate documents, a resume or cv and a letter of interest which addresses the themes outlined in the profile. References are not requested at this time.

WittKieffer is assisting Maryville University with this search. For full consideration, application materials should be received by November 18, 2024. The appointment is effective June 2, 2025. The University anticipates that the appointment will be made in February 2025.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer's candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries should be directed to Sheila Murphy, Consultant and Senior Advisor through the confidential email MaryvillePresident@wittkieffer.com.

An offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background screening.

Applicants requiring University sponsorship to obtain employment authorization will not be considered for this position.

Maryville University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race/color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. This extends to all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruiting, hiring, training, on-the-job treatment, promotion, layoff, and termination.