The Search Process

Greenwood Asher & Associates® is assisting the University of Cincinnati in this search.   DO NOT APPLY TO THIS POSTING.   All inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to Julie Schrodt and/or Andriel Dees from Greenwood Asher & Associates via the  Applicant Portal .  Application materials should include:

• A letter of interest that clearly states the applicant’s qualifications for the position
• A current résumé/curriculum vitae

We strongly encourage submitting application materials as PDF attachments. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. For best consideration, applications and nominations should be provided by January 28, 2025.
 

The Opportunity

In a world changing at an ever-accelerating pace, the role of an urban university has never been more important or exciting. Intense global competition and monumental challenges present enormous opportunities to elevate the human experience. The University of Cincinnati (UC) is implementing Next Lives Here, its strategic direction, to lead urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Next Lives Here builds on our past and envisions our role in defining the future. It is meant to disrupt academia's conventional ways of thinking and doing. Our vision embraces:

• Academic Excellence: Accelerating and expanding student success. 
• Urban Impact: Positively transforming our community and society in measurable ways.
• Innovation Agenda: Challenging existing paradigms, discovering the unknown and creating our future.

To meet our mission as a public university, we have adopted an aggressive growth mindset in education, discovery and creativity, and innovation that has placed UC on an unprecedented trajectory to positively impact society’s Next leaders.

UC’s Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, reporting to the University President, will be a scholar who champions academic priorities, fosters innovation and academic excellence, supports student success alongside scholarly achievement, promotes access, and advances UC as a leading public urban research institution. Next Lives Here has unleashed exciting opportunities for the Provost to shape UC and impact our region. The Provost will work collaboratively with the President, Deans and Faculty to reimagine our academic programs and will be responsible for liberating UC’s creativity and passion through targeted resource investments. The Provost will be a key partner in research and innovation by supporting faculty scholarship and positioning UC to engage more intentionally with our business and surrounding communities through the emerging Cincinnati Innovation District. He/she will work closely with our Academic Health Center and the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs to enhance the impact of our clinical programs and improve health outcomes in the city and this region.
 

The Opportunity (continued)

The next Provost will have the opportunity to build out the next phase of the strategic direction, while also supporting ongoing investments in Next Lives Here strategic priorities including:

• Strategic Sizing: Recruiting and retaining increasing numbers of diverse students and enhancing the quality of academic programs.
• Elevating the Future: Growing programs of excellence in the non-STEM disciplines to expand our knowledge over that which makes us human, thereby taking the arts, humanities, and social sciences at UC to the next level, which in turn increases our competitiveness and our ability to retain and attract the top creative and scholarly talent to UC.
• Bearcat Promise: Equipping every student with tools and experiences to complete their degree and prepare them for a career and professional life after graduation.
• CPS Strong: Strategically engaging and graduating Cincinnati Public Schools students.
• Co-op 2.0: Expanding experiential learning opportunities to all students.
• Next Graduate Scholars: Intentionally growing and enhancing PhD programs and the R1 research enterprise.
• Digital Transformation: Modernizing core academic practice and business processes with personalized and advanced digital systems.
• Digital Futures: Integrating research partnerships around a digital core to expand knowledge and create applied solutions to real-world problems.
• Biosciences & Bioeconomy: Bolstering research and innovation in the life sciences and biotechnology through advances in engineering, computing and information sciences.

Role and Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Promote academic excellence and collaboration across the full spectrum of UC’s colleges and disciplines to support UC’s unique blend of programming; help create new programs of distinction, expand interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, research and innovation, and enhance existing foundational programs.
• Articulate, advocate and ensure funding for academic priorities to assure our status as a world-class R1 research and teaching institution.
• Collaborate with the Deans, faculty leadership, Vice Presidents, staff and the President to expand and efficiently manage financial resources to support excellent teaching, research and creative production.
• Work with Faculty Senate and other faculty leadership groups to leverage faculty shared governance for institutional advancement.
• Oversee processes that recruit and retain a diverse, world-class faculty, as well as attracting an outstanding diverse student body, both undergraduate and graduate, while building and supporting pipelines for expanded access to higher education.
• Support efforts to improve student success, retention and graduation, especially for students who are at risk.
• Encourage student participation in all aspects of campus life.
• Partner with Staff Senate to support its vision and mission of enhancing UC as a great place to work.
• Advance UC’s globalization efforts.
• Secure a leading role for UC in Ohio’s University System and establish strategic partnerships with local, national and global communities.

About UC

The University of Cincinnati (UC) offers students a balance of educational excellence and real-world experience. As the global founder of cooperative education, UC remains a world-class leader in experience-based learning. U.S. News & World Report ranks UC’s co-op program in the Top 5 in the country (No. 2 among public institutions), and our students earn a collective $88 million annually working for thousands of employers around the city and world via their co-op work placements, alternating academic semesters with professional, paid work directly tied to their majors. Powered by a total annual budget of $1.765 billion and an endowment of $2 billion (among the top 25 public universities in the U.S., and 79 th largest in U.S. and Canada), UC has a regional economic impact of $10.6 billion – and statewide, UC increases the economic base by $22.7 billion.

UC’s research profile reveals $699 million dollars in annual research expenditures, more than 5,700 research publications per year and nearly 200 yearly patents. The National Science Foundation places UC at No. 31 among America’s public research universities, and UC is one of only 146 institutions classified as housing the very highest activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. U.S. News & World Report ranks UC in the Top Tier of America’s Best Colleges, including the latest 2023 rankings which placed the university at No. 68 "most innovative among national universities." In addition, UC was ranked 72nd in the inaugural list of the top 100 U.S. universities granted U.S. utility patents by the National Academy of Inventors.
The New York Times highlights UC’s dramatic campus renovation of the past quarter century as “the most ambitious campus design program in the country.” In addition, Forbes, Delta Sky and Travel + Leisure magazines have all highlighted UC as one of the world’s most beautiful campuses. It’s also a campus where all new construction and major renovations are completed to LEED Silver standards or higher whenever possible.

UC is affiliated with UC Health, which oversees the region’s only level-1 trauma center, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, which is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s Top 3 children’s hospitals.

Required Candidate Qualifications

• Substantial, relevant senior leadership experience at an academic institution or academically oriented research institution.
• Service as Dean, Senior Vice Provost, Vice President, Provost, President or position with an analogous scope of responsibilities and line authority.
• Eligible for tenure as a Full Professor in one of our colleges and has a terminal degree from an accredited institution on the basis of their academic record of scholarship, teaching, and service.
• Commitment to access and success, along with a track record of creating an environment that is equitable, inclusive and free from discrimination.

Preferred Professional Experience and Characteristics

The ideal candidate will have a history of successful leadership across disciplines and experience in administrative positions of increasing responsibility and varied experience, preferably at a major research university with diverse units like UC. Additional traits highly sought include:

• Demonstrated record of achievement in identifying and strategically allocating resources to create, maintain, advance and promote an excellent academic environment.
• Professionalism with the utmost integrity.
• Creativity, vision and drive to develop inspired solutions, pursue innovative strategies and take calculated risks.
• Keen focus on impact and outcomes, with a history of achieving goals.
• Reputation of creating diverse, high performing teams and empowering others to realize their goals.
• Motivational team-builder who fosters collaboration and enables, encourages and inspires individuals to work toward common goals and strive toward excellence.
• Strong ability to relate to and understand the student population at all levels across all colleges and disciplines.
• Demonstrated understanding of the role of a public research university within an urban setting.
• Effective oral and written communication skills and ability to connect with multiple, diverse constituencies within and outside the university.
• Critical thinking skills with a deep understanding of budgets and the ability to make challenging financial decisions.
• Experience working at a Carnegie R1 university with an Academic Health Center.
• Experience with regional college or community college partners.
• History of collaboration with faculty, staff and students with a respect for a collective bargaining environment.
• Experience with graduate and professional degree programs.
• Knowledge and understanding of the mission and role of Student Affairs, in particular student development and campus life — with previous experience supervising, working in and collaborating with Student Affairs preferable.

About UC

Mission Statement

The University of Cincinnati serves the people of Ohio, the nation, and the world as a premier, public, urban research university dedicated to undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, experience-based learning, and research. We are committed to excellence and diversity in our students, faculty, staff, and all our activities. We provide an inclusive environment where innovation and freedom of intellectual inquiry flourish. Through scholarship, service, partnerships, and leadership, we create opportunity, develop educated and engaged citizens, enhance the economy and enrich our university, city, state and global community.

Vision Statement
Leading urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact.
The University of Cincinnati has pioneered bold change for 205 years. Next Lives Here, which builds on our past, is meant to disrupt academia's conventional ways of thinking and doing, to define our future. It outlines an inventive framework that includes three major platforms — Academic Excellence, Urban Impact and Innovation Agenda. We intend to use this inventive framework to ignite the curiosity of our students, inspire our faculty and staff, and unleash ingenuity to create an inclusive environment that provides the freedom to learn, explore, and innovate.

Strategic Direction
At the University of Cincinnati, we realize the impact our teaching, research and service can have on our community and the world. So, we don’t wait for change to happen. We break boundaries, boldly imagine, and create what’s Next. To us, today’s possibilities spark tomorrow’s reality. That’s why we are leading urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact. We're about engaging people and ideas - and transforming the world.

We are UC

About Cincinnati

The city of Cincinnati was rated a Best Place to live by US News & World Report and provides both urban and suburban life as well as river views and rolling hills. Our city offers a wealth of amenities that include professional sports, world class entertainment, a vibrant arts scene, gorgeous parks and nature trails, acclaimed museums, a celebrated zoo and aquarium, a variety of restaurants and a flourishing riverfront scene. Our region offers the features of two cities when you include the thriving area of Northern Kentucky just across the river. Affordable and family-friendly with excellent public and private schools it’s no wonder six Fortune 500 companies call Cincinnati home. Visit www.cincinnatiusa.com to learn more.

Nomination and Application Process

Compensation
Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

How to Apply
Greenwood Asher & Associates® is assisting the University of Cincinnati in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted.  Inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to Julie Schrodt and/or Andriel Dees from Greenwood Asher & Associates via the  Application Portal    Application materials should include:

• A letter of interest that clearly states the applicant’s qualifications for the position
• A current résumé/curriculum vitae

We strongly encourage submitting application materials as PDF attachments. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. For best consideration, applications and nominations should be provided by January 28, 2025.

Please direct inquiries, nominations, and application materials to:

• Julie Schrodt, Senior Executive Search Consultant at julieschrodt@greenwoodsearch.com
• Andriel Dees, Vice President of Executive Search at andrieldees@greenwoodsearch.com

The University of Cincinnati is fundamentally committed to ensuring equal opportunity for all by providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment. The university reaffirms its policy that discrimination and harassment on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, military status (including veteran status), national origin, parental status (including status as a nursing mother and status as a foster parent), pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law (collectively, “protected class”) are prohibited in any of its activities, programs, admissions, or employment. The material presented in this leadership profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. This material has been copied, compiled, or quoted in part from the University of Cincinnati documents and personal interviews and is believed to be reliable. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and factual situations govern.