- Pay
- $151–189k
- Where
- Danbury, CT, United States
- Level
- Mid
At Western Connecticut State University, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are foundational to who we are and how we lead. As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, WestConn embraces both the honor and responsibility of expanding access, advancing opportunity, and delivering student success through equity in practice, not just in principle. We are building a community where every person is respected, supported, and empowered to thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates who share these values and are committed to helping us live them every day.
WestConn invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for its Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff. WESTERN RISING FOCUSED STRATEGY (2026-2028)
Weaving our Strengths. Building our Futures.
The Western Rising Focused Strategy (2026-2028) serves as a tactical roadmap to sharpen the university’s collective efforts over the next three years, ensuring financial sustainability while honoring its core academic mission. Led by President Jesse M. Bernal, the strategy was forged through a highly collaborative process involving hundreds of faculty, staff, students, and community leaders to synthesize existing planning into actionable priorities. This community-guided approach balances necessary fiscal stewardship with a deep commitment to student success, belonging, and regional impact. For the Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff, Western Rising calls for a forward-looking leader who can help design a more connected, creative, and responsive student experience, one that supports persistence, strengthens community, and advances WestConn’s mission as an engine of opportunity.
Five Institutional Commitments and Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff:
Strengthening Foundations: The Deputy translates presidential priorities into coordinated action, improving organizational effectiveness and advancing responsible fiscal and operational stewardship. Working across academic and administrative divisions, this leader identifies barriers, aligns resources, and modernizes university processes through strategic project leadership, thoughtful use of AI and emerging technologies and consistent follow-through.
Distinctively WestConn : The Deputy brings WestConn’s distinctive identity, values and aspirations to life through presidential initiatives, intuitional communications, and strategic engagement. Working with faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners, this leader connects the President’s vision to action, ensuring WestConn’s commitment to student success, belonging, academic excellence and innovation shows in its decisions and daily work. Regional Anchor & Opportunity Engine: The Deputy supports the President in strengthening WestConn as a vital educational, economic, and civic partner in Western Connecticut and beyond. This includes coordinating government relations, supporting legislatives and policy engagement, and advancing strategic partnerships that connect institutional priorities with regional workforces and community needs.
Culture of Shared Leadership & Renewal: The Deputy fosters collaboration, transparency, accountability and renewal. As a trusted advisor and connector, this leader helps the President engage shared governance partners, executives, faculty, staff and students; facilitates complex conversations; coordinates decisions across organizational boundaries; and ensures commitments produce measurable progress, with sound judgment, discretion and urgency.
Creating an Environment for Student Thriving: The Deputy keeps student success central to institutional decisions, investments and operations. Rather than directly overseeing student services, this leader works across divisions to advance presidential initiatives that improve access, persistence, belonging and achievement, using data, emerging technologies, and student perspectives to remove barriers from enrollment through graduate and beyond.
Importantly,…