Job Title: Provost
Department: Academic Administration
Reports to: President
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $105,000.00-$130,000.00
Benefits: This position is eligible for Washington Adventist University’s comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement contributions, tuition assistance, and paid leave.
Compensation Determination: Final salary will be based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity.
Interview process will begin the first week of March, 2026. About Washington Adventist University Washington Adventist University (WAU) is a Christ-centered institution of higher education grounded in the Seventh-day Adventist tradition. Located in Takoma Park, Maryland, we offer undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across three academic schools:
- School of Arts & Social Sciences
- School of Health Professions, Science & Wellness
- School of Graduate & Professional Studies
As a tuition- and enrollment-dependent institution, we are focused on mission-centered excellence, growth, and long-term sustainability. We are entering a period of strategic opportunity, including preparation for a future regional accreditation review—making academic quality, assessment, and continuous improvement top institutional priorities.
Why This Role Is Compelling - Enterprise impact: You will have broad authority to shape academic strategy, program quality, and faculty success across the institution.
- Strategic moment: We are optimizing our academic portfolio, strengthening graduate and professional education, and aligning programs with student and workforce demand.
- Mission-driven leadership: You will lead academic excellence within a clearly articulated faith-based mission.
- Presidential partnership: You will serve as a core member of the President’s Cabinet, working closely with the President to influence institutional direction and decision-making.
- Community and location: We are located in a vibrant, diverse region with access to local, national, and international partnerships.
Role Overview As Provost, you will serve as the University’s Chief Academic Officer and second-ranking executive, with responsibility for academic strategy, faculty affairs, curriculum, assessment, accreditation, and student academic success. You will lead the academic enterprise in close partnership with the President and collaborate with senior leaders across enrollment, finance, student life, and advancement.
In this role, we are looking for a leader who can balance academic vision, operational execution, and financial stewardship - ensuring that academic programs advance our mission while supporting enrollment strength and institutional vitality.
Key Responsibilities Academic Leadership & Strategy - Provide vision and leadership for academic excellence, faith integration, and student learning.
- Lead and execute the academic components of the University’s strategic plan using data-informed decision-making.
- Oversee all academic schools, departments, and academic support units.
- Advance innovation in teaching, learning modalities, and program delivery.
Program Portfolio & Enrollment Alignment - Ensure academic programs are mission-aligned, market-responsive, and financially viable.
- Lead academic program review, optimization, and selective new program development (e.g., graduate, professional, pre-college, continuing education).
- Partner with enrollment, marketing, and student life leaders to align academic strategy with recruitment, retention, and completion goals.
Faculty Leadership & Shared Governance - Serve as the University’s senior academic leader for faculty affairs, shared governance, and academic policy.
- Lead faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, promotion, and retention.
- Foster a culture of trust, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Accreditation, Assessment & Quality Assurance - Provide executive leadership for regional and professional accreditation.
- Strengthen learning outcomes, assessment systems, and evidence-based improvement practices.
- Ensure compliance with academic standards, policies, and reporting requirements.
Operations, Finance & Resource Stewardship - Oversee academic budgets and resource allocation in partnership with the President and Executive Vice President of Finance.
- Evaluate and enhance academic administrative structures and operational effectiveness.
- Supervise the Office of Academic Administration, with the opportunity to restructure operations as needed.
External Engagement & Institutional Advancement - Support fundraising initiatives and cultivate academic partnerships at the direction of the President.
- Represent WAU within church, community, professional, and higher education networks.
What Success Looks Like in the First 12–18 Months In the first 12–18 months, we would expect you to have:
- Established a clear academic program portfolio strategy aligned with enrollment demand and mission priorities.
- Strengthened accreditation readiness and assessment infrastructure.
- Improved collaboration and trust with faculty governance bodies.
- Clarified the academic contribution to student success, persistence, and completion.
- Aligned the academic leadership team around shared goals, expectations, and accountability.
Required Qualifications - Active and committed Seventh-day Adventist Christian.
- Hold an earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution.
- Eligible for appointment at senior faculty rank.
- Progressive academic leadership experience (e.g., Dean, Associate Provost, or equivalent).
- Demonstrated experience with accreditation, assessment, and academic quality assurance.
- Experience as a full-time faculty member with teaching and scholarly responsibilities.
Preferred Qualifications - A record of leadership in faith-based or mission-centered higher education.
- Proven success leading academic strategy in enrollment-dependent institutions.
- Demonstrated ability to align academic programs with enrollment growth and workforce needs.
- Leadership background in graduate, professional, online, or hybrid education.
- Demonstrated success leading institutional change and organizational renewal.
Leadership Characteristics We are seeking a leader who is:
- Strategic and mission-centered, with strong judgment and integrity.
- Collaborative and inclusive, with deep respect for faculty voice and shared governance.
- Results-oriented and data-informed.
- A skilled communicator who builds trust across diverse stakeholders.
- Comfortable leading through complexity, constraint, and change.
Compensation & Benefits We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:
- Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and prescription coverage
- Retirement plan with employer contributions
- Tuition assistance for employees and dependents
- Life and disability insurance
- Professional development and leadership support
LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE NOTICES Washington Adventist University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability in employment or in the provision of services. WAU complies with all applicable federal and state laws, including the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act.
If you require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact the Office of Human Resources. Washington Adventist University provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Maryland law.
As a religiously affiliated institution, Washington Adventist University exercises its constitutional and statutory rights to give preference in employment to members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and reserves the right to claim exemption from certain provisions of Title IX and Title VII where they conflict with the university’s religious beliefs and values.
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