Provost

Assumption University, a comprehensive Catholic liberal arts institution in New England, seeks an innovative and collaborative academic leader to serve as its next provost. This is an opportunity to lead the academic enterprise of a university that aims to instill intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good. Assumption is a premier university offering a high-quality education, drawn upon the rich history of the Catholic intellectual tradition, that integrates the liberal arts with career preparation. Assumption’s curricular and co-curricular programs are informed by its mission to provide students with an education that shapes their souls, forms them intellectually, and prepares them for meaningful careers.

Reporting to the president and serving on the president’s cabinet, the provost will arrive at a pivotal moment in Assumption’s history. With capital planning and campus enhancements underway, a new core curriculum, and an ambitious ten-year strategic plan, the provost will have the opportunity to make an impact at a university on the rise and committed to both academic excellence and student success. The university has seen a more than 40 percent growth in first-time enrollment in three years and is in the second year of a successful Physician Assistant Studies program. This moment presents an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic and strategic provost to join Assumption, articulate an academic identity that honors its distinguished history while addressing contemporary challenges, and lead a collaborative effort to shape a forward-looking academic vision.

Assumption is home to more than 1,700 undergraduate students and approximately 350 graduate students with five schools and 38 majors. It is known for its close-knit, supportive community and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a Top 50 Regional University in the North. This year, Assumption rose several spots in those rankings. According to the Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce, Assumption ranks in the top four percent for lifetime return on investment among post-secondary institutions nationwide. Assumption is a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes different points of view and is committed to the pursuit of truth in the company of friends. With broad and relevant academic programs, a person-centered learning approach, and a vibrant community, Assumption offers an education that transforms the minds and hearts of students and prepares them for meaningful lives and careers. Assumption provides an education that offers access, is animated by the Catholic tradition of inquiry, and combines both humanizing and professional education.

Assumption seeks a provost with intellectual vitality, passion for combining enduring ideas with professional preparation, and a transparent and entrepreneurial leadership style. Assumption expresses its Catholic identity through the particular nature of the education it provides. Its next provost must be deeply committed to, reflective on, and able to articulate the goals and values of Catholic liberal education. As the chief academic officer for the university, the provost will champion the faculty, nurture their contributions as teachers, researchers, and members of the community, and enhance the structures and systems that further the mission. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned executive who can lead across the institution with an entrepreneurial and innovative disposition. The candidate will be financially astute, someone who can strategically pursue growth and efficiency while both responding creatively to emerging opportunities and enhancing the essential and enduring character of an Assumption education. This individual will be a key partner in strengthening fundraising and alumni engagement, boosting undergraduate and graduate enrollment, and forging innovative partnerships and programs. On campus, the provost will be a visible and engaged presence, deeply connected to the student experience and committed to fostering faculty and staff morale. The provost must demonstrate genuine respect for the breadth of academic and professional disciplines represented at the university and uphold the educational values of a Catholic university.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Applications (including CV and cover letter), inquiries, and nominations should be submitted in confidence electronically below. 

The salary range for this position is $225,000 to $250,000.

Phillip Petree is leading this search with Kristen Andersen and Ryan Smillie. 

St. John Paul II wrote: “Man’s creation by God ‘in his own image’ confers upon every human person an eminent dignity; it also postulates the fundamental equality of all human beings.” Assumption University recognizes the essential contribution of a diverse community of students, staff, and faculty and condemns all forms of harassment, discrimination, and disrespect.

As such, and in compliance with the requirements of federal law and/or the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Assumption University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy, as well as other legally protected status, in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities, except where such conditions may constitute bona fide qualifications for the programs or activities in question.

The following individual has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the University’s non-discrimination policy: Kate Foley, Director of Human Resources, foley@assumption.edu