California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA), the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles, seeks an inspiring, forward-thinking, and collaborative leader to serve as vice president for student affairs and enrollment management (vice president). This is an exciting time to join Cal State LA under the dynamic leadership of a new president and as a search for a new provost is underway. As Cal State LA’s chief student affairs and enrollment officer, the vice president will play a critical role in shaping a new strategic plan for the university, leading strategic enrollment and student success efforts, and delivering an exceptional educational experience that is accessible, affordable, and responsive to the needs of Cal State LA’s diverse student body.
Responsibilities of the Position
The vice president provides executive leadership, direction, coordination, administration, management, and budget formation and allocation for student affairs and enrollment management units and functions. The vice president is an executive officer of the university and is responsible for stewarding the student lifecycle—from recruitment through graduation—to ensure that Cal State LA offers a wide range of services that support students throughout their educational journey and that it continues to make good progress towards its strategic goal to improve student success and close equity gaps. Reporting to the president, the vice president works closely with the executive team, deans, faculty, staff, and students to advance a campus-wide focus on the student experience and to strengthen the structures and programs that support a thriving community in which all students can succeed. The vice president participates in all aspects of institutional planning in support of the university’s mission, goals, and strategic priorities.
The vice president will oversee a broad and complex portfolio comprised of approximately 20 departments, serve on the boards of directors for University Auxiliary Services and the University-Student Union, and have dotted-line oversight of the University-Student Union.
Executive Management
- Serve as a member of the president’s cabinet and on other campus planning and service committees.
- Provide executive-level advice and counsel affecting all aspects of campus management.
- Partner with the other vice presidents in the overall planning and direction of campus affairs; provide executive leadership to meet the university’s strategic goals and increase the presence of the institution in the region, state, and nation.
- Develop a strategic plan for a new division comprised of Student Life and Enrollment Services, and provide oversight for the plan’s implementation.
- Serve as the university’s chief student affairs officer; provide leadership and guidance to administrative leaders in student affairs toward the delivery of quality services, programs, and activities for students.
- Serve as the university’s chief enrollment officer responsible for developing a comprehensive enrollment management strategy that fosters an integrative recruitment, admissions, and retention effort consistent with the university’s strategic goals and direction.
- Work collaboratively with the provost and vice president for academic affairs to achieve recruitment, enrollment, and retention goals.
- Lead strategic, intentional, and creative initiatives to effectively utilize university resources in partnership with the vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer.
- Work closely with the vice president for university advancement and academic leadership to enhance philanthropic and private support for student success.
- Lead initiatives to develop and enhance partnerships with external constituents that strengthen enrollment growth.
- Represent the president on local, regional, and statewide committees and at conferences and meetings regarding student affairs and enrollment management in higher education. Represent the university at the CSU Chancellor’s Office and state and federal meetings on matters of major importance.
General Responsibilities
- Responsible for executive guidance, direction, and policy for student affairs and enrollment management.
- Provide administrative leadership for student affairs and enrollment management directors and professional staff, communicating institutional priorities and ensuring the ongoing assessment of programs and services.
- Develop, administer, and monitor the annual budget for the division, overseeing continuous efforts to maximize utilization of departmental resources.
- Serve as the principal investigator for various grants associated with the division.
- Ensure campus compliance with all federal and state laws and system-wide program management directives pertaining to student affairs and enrollment management services, programs, and resources.
- Participate in academic governance regarding policy matters involving the delivery of quality student, enrollment, and academic support services.
- Oversee the recruitment, selection, and evaluation of management personnel.
- Actively promote professional development within the division to maintain currency regarding student affairs and enrollment management trends, priorities, and best practices.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the president.
Diversity and Inclusion
- Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, and support the needs of all students.
- Maintain a strong and visible presence in the university community and promote Cal State LA’s mission, values, and interests to all stakeholders.
- Oversee the recruitment and hiring of talented and experienced managers and staff who reflect the rich diversity of the region.
- Cultivate strong, effective working relationships with administrators, faculty, and staff.
- Foster a work environment that promotes diversity, recognizes and rewards performance, builds confidence, and encourages interaction and teamwork.
Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate
The successful candidate should have ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education with a distinctive record of achievement in student affairs, strategic enrollment management, and/or student success efforts. A master’s degree in a relevant discipline is required; an earned doctorate or terminal professional degree is highly preferred.
Additionally, candidates will possess many, if not all, of the following traits, experiences, and abilities:
- An affinity for the distinctive vision, mission, and character of the university and the students and the communities it serves as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Minority-Serving Institution, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution.
- Demonstrated executive leadership skills, including visionary execution, strategic planning, systems thinking, and budgetary management.
- A deep knowledge of current and emerging thinking and best practices in student affairs and strategic enrollment management.
- Documented success in creating conditions that improve student engagement, development, retention, and success.
- A demonstrated commitment to diversity in all its forms and a proven track record of support and advocacy for students with diverse identities, histories, backgrounds, and experiences.
- A history of leading by example and engaging staff in a way that challenges them to reach for possibilities, supports their professional development, and reinforces a sense of common purpose and shared experience among them.
- An ability to use research, data, and assessment to guide decision-making and promote continuous improvement.
- Superb written and oral communication skills, as well as an ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, including students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors.
- A commitment to the work of philanthropy and fundraising to advance strategic initiatives.
- Experience working collaboratively with campus partners engaged in recruitment, retention, and student success efforts.
- An understanding of intercollegiate athletics, its role at the university, and the student-athlete experience.
- An ethical leader who acts with integrity, treats others fairly, and demonstrates empathy, emotional intelligence, resiliency, political savvy, gravitas, and grace under pressure.
History of the Position
The vice president for student affairs and enrollment management position is a newly redefined and expanded executive position. With the appointment of the vice president, Cal State LA will unify two administrative units—Student Life and Enrollment Services—to create a new division that will be known as Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
Opportunities and Challenges of the Role
The vice president for student affairs and enrollment management will be expected to address the following opportunities and challenges, among others:
- Create a vision and strategic plan for the combined structure of student affairs and enrollment management that realizes the full potential of the division and captures the natural synergies between both units.
- Refine organizational structure, prioritize staff engagement and development, and promote higher levels of transparency, collaboration, and innovation throughout the division.
- Build the trust and respect of student affairs and enrollment management staff, inspiring and supporting them in their efforts to provide excellent service and transformative experiences for students.
- Continue Cal State LA’s momentum in enrolling, retaining, and graduating students and making good progress towards the university’s student success objectives and the CSU system’s Graduation Initiative 2025.
- Forge a close partnership with the incoming provost and vice president for academic affairs, college deans, and other academic and administrative leaders to recruit and retain students, reduce equity gaps, and enhance student engagement, support, and success.
- Serve as an advocate for students and cultivate their sense of community and belonging.
Measures of Success
Soon after joining the Cal State LA community, the vice president will work directly with President Eanes to identify specific quantitative and qualitative measures of success, along with associated timetables.
In the short term, the vice president’s success will be measured by the degree to which they learn and are able to navigate the culture and complexities of Cal State LA, build relationships with campus constituents and stakeholders across the university, and earn the trust and confidence of student affairs and enrollment management staff, and become an integral part of the university’s executive leadership team. In the longer term, the vice president’s success will be measured by the achievement of specific goals and objectives related to managing enrollment and meeting the evolving needs of students.
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Overview of the Division Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Student Affairs and Enrollment Management is a new division that will take form and evolve under the vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. Two major units, comprised of approximately 20 departments, will report directly to the new vice president.
Reporting Units:
- Associated Students, Inc.
- Athletics
- Career Center
- Center for Engagement, Service and the Public Good
- Counseling and Psychological Services
- Cross Cultural Centers
- Dean of Students Office
- Educational Opportunity Program
- Glazer Family Dreamers Resource Center
- Guardian Scholars
- Housing and Residence Life
- New Student and Family Engagement
- Office for Students with Disabilities
- Student Health Center
- Upward Bound
- Veterans Resource Center
The vice president serves on the boards of directors for University Auxiliary Services and the University -Student Union. The vice president also has dotted-line oversight of the University-Student Union.
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Institutional Overview
Cal State LA is one of 23 campuses within the California State University system. Cal State LA serves nearly 25,000 students and offers 71 bachelor’s degrees, 55 master’s degrees, and four doctoral degree programs led by award-winning faculty. The university’s dedication to access and excellence has been recognized nationally. Its success as an engine of change has been confirmed in studies by the Equality of Opportunity Project, now known as Opportunity Insights, and the Third Way think tank, which ranked Cal State LA number one in the United States for the upward mobility and economic mobility of its students. Founded in 1947, the university is located just minutes from downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the San Gabriel Valley. Cal State LA’s students and 250,000 alumni reflect the city and county’s dynamic mix of populations, with a wide variety of interests, ages, and backgrounds.
Cal State LA has one of the most diverse student populations of any college or university in the nation: nearly 75 percent of students identify as Latina/o, more than ten percent as Asian American or Pacific Islander, nearly five percent as White, and about four percent as Black or African American. More than 68 percent of Cal State LA students are Pell Grant recipients—a higher percentage than any other CSU campus—and more than 70 percent of its students are first-generation college students. As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving, Minority-Serving, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving institution, Cal State LA recognizes the transformative power of education and embraces the university’s duty to identify and serve the needs of all its students. This long-standing commitment is reflected in the institution’s history as home to the nation’s first Chicano Studies program, the second Pan-African Studies department, and the second College of Ethnic Studies.
Berenecea Johnson Eanes
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Institutional Leadership
Berenecea Johnson Eanes was appointed by the CSU Board of Trustees to serve as president of Cal State LA. Her tenure began January 8, 2024. Eanes is Cal State LA’s ninth president and the first woman to serve in the position.
Eanes previously served as president of York College, City University of New York, where she provided strategic leadership and council to approximately 1,100 faculty, staff and administrators, while overseeing a $91 million budget, including endowments, fundraising and centrally administered resources. While at York College, Eanes also served as a professor in the Department of Social Work.
Her appointment as president of Cal State LA marked a return to the CSU for Eanes, who previously served as vice president for student affairs at California State University, Fullerton (2012 to 2019), where she delivered leadership and oversight for myriad student success programs, as well as new campus infrastructure and the university’s strategic plan.
Eanes earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from Dillard University, a master’s degree in social work from Boston University, and a doctorate in social work from Clark Atlanta University.
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Compensation and Benefits
The anticipated hiring salary range is between $9,167 and $29,425 monthly.
Cal State LA offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program including health care, retirement, life insurance, and more.
Application and Nomination
Cal State LA has retained Spelman Johnson to assist with this search. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter.
Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to Jim Norfleet at jmn@spelmanjohnson.com or Michel Frendian at mrf@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson by phone at 413-529-2895 or email at info@spelmanjohnson.com.
The anticipated hiring salary range is between $281,000-$312,000.
Visit the Cal State LA website at www.calstatela.edu.
Cal State LA is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
California State University, Los Angeles, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the university requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California.
As of January 1, 2022 the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.