Associate Vice President for Institutional Research and Decision Support

Associate Vice President for Institutional Research and Decision Support

Ball State University, a public research university in Muncie, Indiana, invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for its next associate vice president for institutional research and decision support. This is an on-site leadership role and may be eligible for a hybrid schedule. The anticipated start date is March 2026.

Founded in 1918, Ball State University is recognized for embracing beneficence and the enduring values of excellence, innovation, courage, integrity, inclusiveness, social responsibility, and gratitude. Ball State has been named an "Opportunity College and University" by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, recognizing the University as a national model for advancing student success and long-term economic outcomes.

Reporting to the chief strategy officer in the Office of the President, and in concert with the vice president for information technology and chief information officer, the associate vice president (AVP) for institutional research and decision support (IRDS) is the senior university executive responsible for leading the effective use of administrative data for reporting, analysis, and decision support, while providing strategic leadership for and overall management of ten full-time staff, including three direct reports, and two to seven part-time staff in IRDS. Working across the campus, the AVP collaborates in leading data governance and enterprise data management efforts and promoting / leveraging a fully functional data warehouse in support of institutional analytics capability and operationalization of analytics to support student success. This individual will manage processes to ensure that enterprise data is collected accurately, analyzed rigorously, used appropriately, and shared with key stakeholders to make data-informed decisions.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible senior-level experience in institutional research and / or decision support in an institution of higher education, with demonstrated managerial expertise to collaboratively devise solutions to meet multiple needs, and demonstrated experience rolling out data analysis and governance at scale.

An earned graduate degree, advanced expertise with large-scale multi-source databases, and familiarity with student information systems and project management are preferred.

The search committee is particularly interested in candidates with the following competencies and attributes :

Strong analytical, research, verbal, and written communication skills.

A record of successful team management, supervision, and mentorship.

Demonstrated ability to form collaborative relationships with other University offices.

An ability to communicate complex data, information, and analytical results to a broad range of audiences of varying technical expertise.

The ability to prioritize and manage multiple, simultaneous projects with attention to detail and adherence to deadlines.

Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, procedures, and processes governing data confidentiality and security.

Experience in managing staff in using advanced statistical and visual analytics software.

A record of successfully completed projects that have brought data, at scale, close to practice with demonstrated impact of those projects in moving the needle of student success and other university goals.

Application and Nomination

Ball State University has selected Spelman Johnson, a leading executive search firm, to assist with leading this search. Review of applications will begin Monday, November 17, 2025 , and continue until the position is filled. Submit a resume and cover letter via https : / / spelmanandjohnson.com / position / associate-vice-president-for-institutional-research-and-decision-support / .

Contact Michel Frendian at mrf@spelmanandjohnson.com for confidential inquiries.

Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com .

Visit the Ball State University website at https : / / www.bsu.edu /

Ball State University is committed to the principles of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity in education and employment. Further, the University is committed to the pursuit of excellence by prohibiting unlawful discrimination and providing equal opportunity to individuals without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, genetic information, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

This commitment enables the University to provide qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs on the basis of demonstrated ability without regard to personal factors that are irrelevant to the program or job requirements involved.

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