President

Calumet College of Saint Joseph (CCSJ) has launched the search for its next President . The college seeks an entrepreneurial, innovative, and mission-driven leader who understands the evolving landscape of higher education across the country and in the Midwest. The next president will need to thoughtfully leverage emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—as well as build and maintain strong community and institutional partnerships while sustaining and further strengthening its relationship-centered environment.

There are many successes to build upon, and the Board of Trustees is unified, energized, and deeply committed to supporting the next President. The current state is one with a strong balance sheet, increasing student retention, healthy enrollment trends, ongoing investments in academics and facilities, and a caring, collaborative culture. There is a personal connection to students and their families and a shared sense of responsibility for their success.

The Institution : CCSJ, founded in 1951 by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.), is a vibrant private Catholic College located in Northwest Indiana, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It is the most affordable private college in Indiana and the most diverse college in Indiana. It serves students primarily from Indiana and Illinois but also students beyond the region as well as international students. It has historically been and continues to be a college of opportunity for first-generation students and non-traditional students. The College emphasizes social justice, service, and community. From small class sizes and mentorship to individualized attention and encouragement, the faculty and staff foster a student-centered environment of equity, diversity, and critical thinking. The President is administratively responsible for the educational quality of the College's academic programs and works closely with the faculty to help shape the curriculum and assess student outcomes.

In recent years, the college has expanded its athletic and residential programs to include fourteen NAIA Athletic teams, as well as recent additions of on-campus and apartment-style housing. In addition, recent investments have been made in academic spaces, including library, lab, and classroom upgrades, and improved studentcentered spaces. Having 70% of traditional undergraduates engaged in athletics creates a campus community unlike most colleges of similar size. Athletics is not simply an extracurricular activity; it’s a defining aspect of student life at CCSJ. The college is committed to pairing academics with athletics, the arts, or student activities to engage and support students.

The College offers master's, bachelor’s, and associate's degrees to 596 undergraduates (traditional and degree completion) and 122 graduate students. The College also offers credit for prior learning and numerous accelerated academic programs. Blending a career-oriented curriculum with the values of a Catholic liberal arts education, CCSJ instills graduates with outstanding academic preparation, high ethical standards, and strong concepts of personal responsibility. Students graduate from CCSJ with an appreciation for the inherent dignity of all people, social justice, service, and lifelong learning. The College has a long history in teacher education, which has CAEP accreditation, and has developed and articulated a Center of Excellence in Education. In its degree completion and master’s programs, CCSJ has educated and developed law enforcement professionals for many decades, and more than 3,000 graduates have used their knowledge and abilities to create a positive impact in their communities. The College also enjoys longstanding partnerships with the Chicago Police Department, the Northern Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, and the Suburban Illinois Law Enforcement Academy, and it offers credit for prior learning to law enforcement professionals as well as graduates of regional police academies.

In 2024, the College was granted $15M from Lilly Endowment Inc. (LEI) as part of its Campus & Community Collaboration Initiative. Additionally, in 2023, the College went public with the Belonging & Becoming Capital Campaign. The campaign initially had a target of $7.5M, but surpassed that goal, reaching $21M with gifts from LEI and the Department of Education grants that supported campaign priorities and projects. The 5-year campaign closes at the end of 2025 with a targeted fundraising effort continuing through 2026. In 2026, as it welcomes its new President, the College will also celebrate its 75th anniversary. Calumet College of St. Joseph is proud to be one of only a few private Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the state of Indiana and embraces its role of providing education for people from all walks of life. For more information about the College, visit www.ccsj.edu.

The Position : Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the President is responsible for the overall operation of the College and successfully sustaining and advancing relationships with faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni, and the community. The President serves as an enthusiastic spokesperson for the College, and CCSJ seeks a President who will further build the reputation of the institution, facilitate student recruitment, develop and nurture an experienced and talented administrative team, and strengthen and increase fundraising and financial stability. The President engages the entire community in reflecting, visioning, and planning for the future of the institution. The new President will have the opportunity to develop a vision for the College that builds on its ongoing success, develop institutional strategic priorities and institutional goals, and enhance CCSJ's integration with the communities in Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois.

Qualifications : The new President will be a visionary and an articulate communicator with a passion for higher education and a commitment to the philosophy, values, and mission of CCSJ. The Search Committee and Board of Trustees at CCSJ will be considering and giving preference to the following qualifications and skills :

• Senior leadership skills and experiences grounded in collegiality, collaboration, adaptability, and transparency;
• An uncompromising drive for excellence and delivering high-impact results;
• Student-centric approach and mindset;
• Experience in the development and implementation of inclusive strategic planning;
• Experience with or excitement for fundraising and friend-raising efforts to secure revenue streams for the College;
• Demonstrated business acumen and financial management;
• Experience with the implementation of innovative practices to ensure competitive academic rigor and sustainable student enrollment;
• Ability to serve as the public face of the institution and to represent CCSJ to the Church, constituents, and the community-at-large;
• Ability to listen and learn;
• History of strong and effective communication across constituent groups on and off campus;
• Experience working collaboratively with faculty;
• Commitment, enthusiasm, and a sense of humor;
• A doctoral degree is preferred; an advanced degree with exemplary leadership experience and demonstrated outcomes may be considered.

The ideal candidate will either be a practicing member of the Roman Catholic faith or be able to articulate and demonstrate an alignment with CCSJ’s culture and mission.

Location : Calumet College of St. Joseph is nestled on the border of the cities of Hammond and Whiting, located in the northwest corner of Indiana, within walking distance to Lake Michigan and about a 20-minute drive from Chicago. The area is thriving, with tremendous continual growth and change. Hammond is the fifth-largest city in the state of Indiana and was recently named the most populated city in Lake County. Hammond continues to build its economic base by adding new housing, recreational venues, businesses, and employment opportunities. Whiting is known as the “Little City by the Lake” and has also undergone recent revitalization through its Lakefront Development, city parks and bike trails, and new home development. The region also attracts visitors to its picturesque lakefront vacation communities and is home to the most recently named national park, The Indiana Dunes National Park, with the beautiful Indiana Dunes, a 20-mile-long network of freshwater sand dunes that stretch across both national and state parks. Because of the proximity to Chicago, the Hammond and Whiting area has seen a rise in homebuyers who realize their dollars go much further in Northwest Indiana than in Illinois. That proximity makes it easy for residents to drive or take the train into Chicago for their career, professional sports, concerts, shopping, or a visit to a museum, making it the best of both worlds.

Salary : $240,000-$265,000

Application : Candidates should submit only a cover letter and resume to RPA Inc. at CCSJpresident@rpainc.org. For a confidential discussion, contact Kira Heath, Search Manager; Isaac Karaffa, Vice President and Senior Consultant; or Dana John Cohick, President, at the same email address above. The first review of candidates will begin on January 19, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Calumet College of Saint Joseph provides equality of opportunity to its applicants for admission, enrolled students, graduates, and employees. The College does not discriminate with respect to student services or employment practices based on race or color, religion, national origin, disabilities with physical or mental limitations, medical and genetic conditions, marital status, sex or sexual orientation, age, or pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.