Duke University is seeking an experienced college health leader to serve as the Assistant Vice President for Student Wellbeing (AVP). The AVP will provide vision, leadership, and oversight of the clinical, educational, fiscal, and administrative services for Student Health Services (Student Health) and Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), developing and implementing a robust student wellbeing research agenda. Reporting to the Vice President of Student Affairs, the AVP will also be instrumental in enhancing the integration and collaboration between Student Health and CAPS, other Student Affairs units, and the broader campus community. When needed, they will offer expert consultation and guidance on crisis management, including emergency interventions and public health communications in support of the University leadership’s mission to protect students’ health.

The ideal candidate is a proven leader who will bring a strategic vision, exceptional leadership and managerial skills, and a commitment to fostering an integrated approach to all aspects of student health and wellbeing. The candidate must have a deep knowledge of established best practices and opportunities for innovation in college health and wellness, as well as dedication to ensuring the delivery of high-quality, equitable, and accessible care to students. This opportunity requires strong interpersonal, communication, and supervisory skills.

With bright and talented students, faculty, and staff, Duke University consistently ranks among the most prestigious research institutions in the U.S. and boasts one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. Duke’s hometown of Durham, North Carolina, is a city with vibrant research, medical, and arts communities and numerous shops, restaurants, and theaters. Durham is one of three municipalities, along with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, that form the Research Triangle, a growing metropolitan area of more than one million people that provides a wide range of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities.

Specific Duties

• Leads a multidisciplinary staff ensuring integration of clinical, outreach, training, and quality assurance activities to accomplish objectives.
• Provides leadership for a robust student wellbeing research agenda and shared responsibility for wellness programming, including healthy relationships and student wellbeing programs.
• Provides leadership for the student health insurance program
• Provides leadership for campus dental and physical therapy programs.
• Provides leadership for partnership with the School of Medicine, specifically relationships with Family Medicine and Psychiatry.
• Provides leadership for developing and monitoring the department’s strategic plan, including outcomes assessments integrated with the Division of Student Affairs’ goals and objectives.
• Provides collaborative and consultative services to, and serves as an administrative liaison with, diverse constituencies, including student affairs professionals, faculty, deans, student groups, parents, and University and Medical Center leaders.
• Supports and develops a broad range of wellness (including suicide prevention) and outreach education services, including training, consultation, direct programming, and multi-modal media programming.
• Promotes and sustains efforts that advance belonging and inclusion within the team and in support of Duke students, ensuring inclusive and culturally competent care and services.
• Plans and supports staff development efforts to ensure best practices guide the work in serving students.
• Develops and implements performance evaluation standards based on best practices of all skills for culturally competent university health and counseling services.
• Enhances empirically based quality assurance analyses, including research, needs assessment, client satisfaction evaluation, and related outcome measurements.
• Considers and implements, as appropriate, the use of new technologies to improve service delivery and evaluation.
• Ensures HIPAA compliance.
• Develops and manages the departmental budgets to achieve excellence in the provision of clinical care.
• Other duties as assigned.

General Qualifications

Doctorate in Clinical or Counseling Psychology, Doctor of Medicine (MD, DO), or Doctorate in Health Administration or Public Health is strongly preferred. A Master’s in Social Work, Health Administration, or Public Health with significant experience and related academic accomplishments is required.

Minimum seven years related work experience, including progressively responsible experience in a higher education environment is required. Minimum of ten (10) years of directly related full-time work experience with a demonstrated pattern of increased responsibility, including supervision of a diverse team is preferred. Directly related full-time work may include academic research endeavors or work within scientific or community health institutes.

Application Process

Duke has partnered with Keeling & Associates (K&A) in this search process. Interested applicants must send a resume, preferably in PDF format, to recruiting@keelingassociates.com. The subject line of the email should read “Duke— Student Wellbeing AVP.” Confidential inquiries and nominations should be addressed to LeAnna Rice at lrice@keelingassociates.com. A confidential review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the appointment is made. All materials submitted by April 4, 2025, will be given full consideration.

EEO Statement

Duke University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. The University promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans. Duke University is a drug-free, smoke-free workplace.