Vice Chancellor for Student Life

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the nation’s preeminent research universities, seeks an accomplished, values-driven, and highly collaborative leader to serve as its next Vice Chancellor for Student Life (Vice Chancellor). MIT is a global leader in education, research, and innovation, distinguished by its commitment to rigorous inquiry, hands‑on learning, and the responsible advancement of knowledge in service to society. Within a deeply collaborative culture of shared governance, MIT places strong emphasis on student agency, community responsibility, and the integration of academic, residential, and co‑curricular life.

The Division of Student Life (DSL) is central to this holistic educational experience. Encompassing a broad portfolio of student‑facing programs, services, and residential and student life operations, DSL supports student well‑being, belonging, leadership, and development across the undergraduate and graduate experience. The DSL team manages approximately 30% of campus spaces and athletic fields and supports more than 10,000 events annually. In recent years, DSL has emerged as a clear institutional strength—grounded in a culture of care, well‑being, and operational excellence—while continuing to evolve in response to changing student needs, financial realities, auxiliary management, and the shifting higher‑education landscape.

The next Vice Chancellor will have the opportunity to articulate a forward‑looking vision for DSL; modernize high‑impact areas such as dining, housing, athletics and recreation, and auxiliary services; strengthen graduate student support and representation; and ensure that students’ experiences align with MIT’s aspirations for excellence, access, and belonging. The successful candidate will be a visible and trusted presence on campus—leading through partnership, clarity, and purpose—while guiding DSL with a shared sense of mission in support of students.

Reporting to the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor for Student Life serves as the Institute’s senior leader responsible for shaping the student experience outside the classroom and ensuring that institutional programs, services, and policies support students’ well-being, development, and success. Working closely with senior university leadership, faculty, staff, and students, the Vice Chancellor oversees a complex portfolio of operational units while advancing a comprehensive vision of student development that complements the academic mission and prepares students for the future. The position requires balancing day-to-day operational oversight with long-term planning, fostering inclusive and supportive campus communities, responding to emerging student needs, and ensuring that co-curricular programs contribute meaningfully to students' intellectual, social, physical, and personal development.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. The anticipated salary range is $475,000 - $570,000 and will be commensurate with experience. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent below.