Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

The Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost (EVPAAP; Provost) reports directly to the President and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team. The Provost will provide leadership and forge strategic direction, working cooperatively with academic officers, faculty, and staff to achieve excellent academic outcomes and optimal stewardship of Truman’s resources.

The role of the EVPAAP may be understood in three different dimensions:

1. Serving the academic mission of the University.

2. Serving as an advisor to the President and as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

3. Serving as an ambassador for the University’s academic program(s) outside the institution.

Principally, the EVPAAP articulates the academic vision and direction of the University and heads the Office of Academic Affairs, which is responsible for all elements of Truman’s academic mission, including programs, personnel, outreach, student support, and retention.

Direct reports to the EVPAAP include: Dean, Libraries and Museums; Dean, School of Arts and Humanities, Dean, School of Business and Professional Studies; and Dean, School of Science and Mathematics. Other departments reporting to the EVPAAP include: Assessment and Testing; Career Center; Center for Academic Excellence; Center for International Education; Graduate Office; Grants and Sponsored Programs; Institute for Academic Outreach; Registrar’s Office; Student Access and Disability Services; and TRIO Programs Office. Overall, the EVPAAP oversees, and provides leadership to approximately 350 faculty and staff.

The EVPAAP meets regularly with senior staff within the areas of academic affairs and works collaboratively with faculty governance to coordinate academic programs, policies, and procedures. In addition, the EVPAAP works closely with the president and a team of senior administrators on a wide array of University issues and concerns. The EVPAAP liaises with Truman’s Office of Advancement in cultivating donors for academic programs and pursuing grants and support from foundations while playing a critical role in connecting the academic programs and faculty members with the Office of Admissions to recruit new students to the University.

Qualifications

Truman State University—Missouri’s only public liberal arts and sciences university—seeks a strategic, collaborative, and innovative academic leader to serve as its next Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost (EVPAAP; Provost). The University desires a leader who combines passion, energy, and a positive attitude, with a strong commitment to students and sustained excellence. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Provost will articulate the academic vision and direction of the University and is responsible for all elements of Truman’s academic mission.

History of Truman

Founded in 1867, Truman State University (Truman; the University) has evolved through several name changes, each reflecting a new institutional mission. In 1985, when the passage of Missouri House Bill 196 changed the University’s mission from an open-enrollment, regional, multipurpose university to Missouri’s only statewide public liberal arts and sciences institution, the University’s name was Northeast Missouri State University. In 1996, the name of the University was changed to Truman State University to reflect that mission. Since its founding, Truman has maintained a strong focus on student-centered learning. Every part of the student journey is designed to help Truman graduates meet the challenges of the modern world and pursue lives filled with rewarding work.

A vibrant community of teacher-scholars engaged with an academically talented student body, Truman is a residential university providing its approximately 3,900 students with a distinctive blend of liberal arts and sciences and professional programs. Truman is nationally recognized for the quality of educational opportunities it offers and the pathways it has developed from college to career. The institution is committed to a strong focus on high-impact learning experiences, and more than one-third of Truman’s undergraduates go on to pursue graduate education. Truman is consistently ranked among the nation’s best colleges.

For 29 consecutive years, U.S. News and World Report has recognized Truman as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest Region. Other accolades include Washington Monthly, which listed Truman as the No. 12 best master’s university in the nation, and Fiske Guide to College magazine, which ranked Truman as one of the top 10 public schools named as a “Best Buy” based on academic quality and affordability. In addition to its commitment to excellence, the University promotes a welcoming culture that puts people first and supports students, faculty, and staff.

Truman Today

Located in Kirksville, Missouri, Truman State University plays a vital role in the thriving regional center of northeast Missouri. The campus spreads across 180 acres and is recognized as a Tree Campus USA School. As a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university, Truman is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC). Across an expansive academic portfolio that includes the liberal arts and sciences and professional studies, Truman offers 51 undergraduate majors, 74 undergraduate minors, two undergraduate certificates, and various micro-credentials. Truman also offers 13 master’s degree programs and two graduate certificates. Outside the classroom, the Truman Bulldogs compete at the NCAA Division II level in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Truman offers 16 Division II sports teams, as well as eSports and intramural athletics.

Leadership

Dr. Sue Thomas, the President of Truman State University, has led the institution since 2016. President Thomas is an appointed commissioner of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, Chair of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Council of Presidents, and also serves on the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development Commissioner’s Advisory Group. She previously served as Chair of the Council on Public Higher Education and President of the Board of Directors of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. President Thomas has built a strong senior leadership team, and the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost will be joining a collaborative and collegial executive leadership body.

For more information about Truman State University, please visit www.truman.edu.

To make a nomination, provide a referral, or for additional information, please use the contact information below. While applications and nominations will be accepted until a successful candidate has been appointed, interested individuals are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible for full consideration as review of submitted materials will begin immediately. The start date is negotiable.

To apply, please submit a resume and/or vita, and cover letter, to: TrumanProvost@buffkinbaker.com. Or apply by visiting the Buffkin/Baker website.

Ken Carrick, Partner

980.296.5401

Janny DeLoache, Associate Partner

704-377-7828

Truman State University is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring, promotion, or any other employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or Missouri law. We are committed to fair and equal treatment in all aspects of employment. Inquiries about these policies may be directed to the Institutional Compliance Officer, 660-785-4354, and titleix@truman.edu.

Truman is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate form or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources, McClain Hall 101, 100 E. Normal, Kirksville, MO 63501, 660-785-4031 or hrstaff@truman.edu.