Stratford, New Jersey
Glassboro, New Jersey
Posted: 22-Nov-23
Location: Stratford, New Jersey
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 499081
Rowan University seeks a collaborative, insightful, and student-oriented leader to supervise and coordinate the DEI office, staff and responsibilities consistent with our mission. Reporting to the Vice President of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with a dotted line to the Vice President of Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences and the Deans of Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, the School of Nursing & Health Professions, and the School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences. The Assistant Vice President serves as a member of the senior leadership team at Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences. This position is responsible for the coordination of a wide range of DEI-related activities spanning all three schools bringing the DEI perspective to admissions, student and faculty retention, campus-wide professional learning, as well as fostering positive community morale and wellness.
About Rowan University
Rowan University is a Carnegie-classified Doctoral University (Moderate Research Activity) with approximately 19,000 students. Its main campus is located in Glassboro, N.J., 20 miles southeast of Philadelphia, with additional campuses in Camden, Stratford and Sewell. The University comprises seven academic colleges and five schools. Rowan is one of two public universities in the country to offer M.D. and D.O. medical degree programs. The institution is also home to the South Jersey Technology Park, which fosters the translation of applied research into commercial products and processes. Rowan has been recognized as one of the top 90 public research universities and the 7th fastest-growing research institution in the nation.
About Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences
Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences is a unique academic health partnership between Rowan University, a top 100 public research institution, and Virtua Health, southern New Jersey’s largest health system. Both Rowan and Virtua are leaders in higher education and health care, distinguished in the region and nationally. The new Virtua Health College encompasses the state’s only osteopathic medical school; an expanded nursing and health professions school; a new school of translational biomedical engineering and sciences; multiple centers and institutes; and aligned clinical practices. This academic health partnership is a model shaped by a continued devotion to these core values: integrity, respect, diversity, caring, commitment, teamwork and excellence. Together, Virtua Health and Rowan University have created a new learning environment that empowers students, healthcare providers, and researchers to improve health and wellness for all.
The newly established Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences (Rowan-Virtua TBES) brings together life science and engineering researchers from throughout Rowan and Virtua to translate innovation and discovery into everyday practice. Rowan-Virtua TBES is the focal point of research for Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences, leveraging Rowan’s strengths and existing degree programs while cultivating new faculty, research institutes, degree programs and partnerships. Three emerging institutes—Health Equity, Cardiovascular, and Regenerative Medicine & Transplantation—are initial areas of focus within the school. Programs include doctoral, graduate and undergraduate programs in cell and molecular biology, translational biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, and dual physician-scientist and engineering programs in health sciences and engineering.
The Rowan-Virtua School of Nursing & Health Professions (Rowan-Virtua SNHP) prepares nurses and health professionals to promote, maintain and restore health for a diverse society through excellence in education, clinical practice, scholarship, and service. Programs include specialized certificates along with undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, exercise science, public health and wellness, wellness management, nutrition and dietetics, fitness management, and athletic training. The Rowan-Virtua SNHP currently offers an RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program affiliated with Rowan College of South Jersey, Rowan College at Burlington County and Camden County College-Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing. It also offers an MSN in nurse education, nurse executive, and nurse practitioner and post-masters certificates in three nurse practitioner practice areas. In addition, the Department of Allied Health offers the BS in Respiratory therapy comprising two programs; the 2+2 Entry into Practice in collaboration with Rowan College of South Jersey, and the Degree Advancement (online) for RTs who wish to gain a bachelor credential.
With more than 40 years of commitment to excellence in medical education and research, the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (Rowan-Virtua SOM) remains New Jersey’s only osteopathic medical school. Rowan-Virtua SOM is ranked among America’s best osteopathic medical schools with two campuses—Stratford and Sewell—home to the largest student enrollment of any New Jersey medical school. The school prepares future physicians and scientists from diverse backgrounds who are clinically skillful, compassionate, culturally competent, and ready to meet the future healthcare workforce needs. With a strong research focus, Rowan-Virtua SOM advances critical research, innovation, and discovery to improve health and solve the medical challenges of today and the future. The medical school is home to an extensive clinical practice that provides exceptional patient-centered care, with an emphasis on primary and interprofessional team-based care that responds to the needs of the community including underserved and special needs populations.
Division of DEI
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) launched in January 2019, was the first division of its kind at a higher education institution in New Jersey. The division is charged with facilitating systemic change which addresses the following strategic priorities: creating an inclusive and equitable campus, recruiting and retaining diverse students, faculty, and staff, and promoting and supporting inclusive scholarship, teaching, and professional development.
The departments of the Division of DEI include the following: Office of Social Justice and Inclusion and Conflict Resolution (SJICR), Center for Access, Persistence and Achievement (CAPA), Center for Neurodiversity, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Virtua Health College, and the Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning is shared between the Division of DEI and the Division of Academic Affairs.
Diversity Statement
Rowan University along with the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences promotes a diverse community that begins with students, faculty, staff and administration who respect each other and value each other’s dignity. By identifying and removing barriers and fostering individual potential, Rowan will cultivate a community where all members can learn and grow. The Rowan University community is committed to a safe environment that encourages intellectual, academic, and social interaction and engagement across multiple intersections of identities. Creating and maintaining a caring community that embraces diversity in its broadest sense is among the highest priorities.
Leadership, staff, and faculty have identified diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values for the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences. We believe promoting these values will create greater diversity in the health sciences and will develop a health professions workforce that is skillful, compassionate, and culturally competent aimed at improving health and eliminating health disparities.
Responsibilities:
- Develop the DEI vision and implement a strategic plan, practices, and policies to foster an inclusive and equitable environment/culture at all schools within the college.
- Participate on various committees and councils within the schools and the college.
- Chair the colleges’ DEI Committee to lead growth in the areas of student diversity, campus-wide wellness, climate, faculty and staff recruitment, pathway programs, and talent development.
- Develop metrics, tools, and analytics that enable leadership to evaluate progress of DEI efforts.
- Collaborate with campus stakeholders such as academic and student affairs, institutional advancement, human resources, department heads, assistant and associate deans, admissions and faculty affairs related to DEI strategic priorities to cultivate belonging and wellness, improve student success and faculty mentorship, address discrimination and harassment, and foster health equity and justice.
- Conduct DEI cultural competency workshops and training sessions for health professions.
- Partner with the curriculum committee to identify gaps in the curriculum to better address LGBTQIA+ health and the history of race and racism in the health professions.
- Connect with community organizations to promote health equity.
- Build a strategic partnership with marketing to develop DEI in the vision, goals, and efforts for internal and external audiences and potential student and faculty candidates in the recruitment process.
- Secure grants to support DEI, student support, and STEM pathway initiatives.
- Conduct DEI presentations for new employee onboarding and student orientation.
Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have strong leadership and communication skills and work collaboratively with students, faculty and staff. In addition, the candidate will have demonstrated success in developing, implementing, and evaluating programs and services in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. Finally, the candidate will exhibit in-depth contemporary knowledge of the culture of health professional education.
Education/Experience:
- Master’s degree in education, public health, organizational leadership, diversity or related field. Terminal degree preferred (Ed.D, Ph.D., J.D.)
- At least 7-10 years of experience leading an organization in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion
- Experience working in the health professions is preferred
- Experience developing and facilitating DEI competency training workshops.
