The Executive Director provides visionary leadership to division-wide well-being and recreation efforts, including the supervision of Campus Recreation, Health Promotion and Wellness, Student Counseling Services, Student Health Services, and Redbird Esports; leads comprehensive strategic planning, goal setting, and assessment initiatives; oversees the short- and long-term financial model supporting programs, services, facilities, and operations; and provides leadership and visibility for well-being and recreation as a campus priority in collaboration with internal and external partners.
The Executive Director is a member of the senior leadership team for the Division of Student Affairs and works in strong collaboration with campus partners in prioritizing well-being and recreation for students, faculty, staff, and guests to the University.
Proposed Starting Date: December 2024
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and continue until the position is successfully filled. Candidates should provide a letter of interest that addresses the position responsibilities and qualifications described in this leadership profile, a current résumé or curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for at least three (3) professional references. These materials should be submitted electronically via Illinois State University’s application portal.
For more information about this position and the Division of Student Affairs, please visit the website at: https://studentaffairs.illinoisstate.edu/who/careers/.
If questions, please contact: Casey Vitalez, Administrative Associate, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, clvital@ilstu.edu, (309)438-1523.
Required Qualifications:
Master's degree in higher education administration, public health, counseling, psychology, business administration, recreation, or related field.
Minimum of seven or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in student affairs, health promotion, counseling, recreational programming, or health services within a higher education setting.
Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in well-being, mental health, and recreational services.
Extensive knowledge of best practices in talent development, including recruitment, performance management, employee relations, and compliance with labor laws.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Demonstrated track record working with cross-divisional committees or initiatives.
Experience in strategic planning, budget management, and program evaluation.
Commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive campus environment that prioritizes student success and well-being.
Preferred Qualifications:
Advanced degree in public health, health care administration, psychology, education, social work, or related field.
Active in related professional associations.
Experience in facility operations and design, including the ability to integrate facility design and operations with organizational strategies to enhance workplace efficiency, safety, and employee well-being.
About Illinois State University
On February 18, 1857, Illinois Gov. William Bissell signed a bill creating a normal school and establishing the Board of Education of the State of Illinois as its governing body. The bill stipulated that the permanent location would be the place that offered the most favorable inducements. Jesse W. Fell took up the campaign for Bloomington and obtained financial backing totaling $141,000. Abraham Lincoln, acting as attorney for the Board, drew up the bond guaranteeing the Bloomington citizens would fulfill their financial pledges. Illinois State University was consequently founded as the first public institution of higher education in the state.
Established as a teacher education institution, Illinois State has developed into a multipurpose university with degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Seven colleges offer approximately 174 undergraduate majors, 97 master’s programs, 17 doctoral degrees, and 40 certificate options. One of 12 public universities in Illinois, the alumni base has now grown to more than 220,000. Our new strategic plan, Excellence by Design: 2024-2029, lists our seven core values: Excellence in Te...aching, Learning, and Scholarship; Individualized Attention; Equity, Diversity, Access, and Belonging; Collaboration; Community and Civic Engagement; Respect; and Integrity. By acting on these values, we create a learning environment that results in our university being the first-choice public university in Illinois for high-achieving, motivated students who seek an individualized educational experience combined with the resources of a large university. In fall 2023, Illinois State welcomed its largest freshman class in 36 years and enrolled a total of 20,989 students. Illinois State’s students appreciate the average 19:1 student-faculty ratio. Professors teach in the classroom, mentor, and partner with both undergraduates and graduates in research endeavors. Within the faculty, 98 percent hold a terminal degree in their field. Additional examples of excellence include Illinois State placing in the top 100 on the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Value Schools-National Universities rankings. Students return to campus and complete their degrees, as shown by the fact the University’s retention rate is among the highest in the nation at 81.3 percent. Graduation rates are more than 66 percent, which is well above the national average. Illinois State is also praised for providing an affordable education, with Washington Monthly honoring the University as one of the Best Bang for the Buck Colleges in the Midwest. There are many other reasons that reveal Illinois State’s competitive advantage as a premier undergraduate institution—from record-breaking fundraising to student civic engagement and scholarly breakthroughs. Each explains the reason Illinois State University is “Redbird Proud.”
Illinois State affirms and encourages community belonging and a respect for differences. The University fosters an inclusive environment characterized by cultural understanding and engagement, ethical behavior, and a commitment to social justice. The University supports a diverse faculty and staff who mentor a diverse student population. The institution endeavors to provide opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to participate productively in a global society and be civically engaged.
Campus diversity at Illinois State increasingly reflects the nation’s changing demographics. In the 2022- 2023 academic year, 37 percent of the freshman class came from traditionally underrepresented groups. Over the past five years, there has been a 14 percent increase in African American students and a 9 percent increase in Latinx students. Students are mentored by a faculty that includes numerous teacher-scholars recognized at national and international levels, all dedicated to superior teaching.
Community
Illinois State University is located in the growing twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, with a metro population of approximately 172,000. The community is also home to Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College, St. Joseph Medical Center, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, COUNTRY Financial, State Farm Insurance’s International Headquarters, Central Illinois Regional Airport, and electric truck manufacturer Rivian Motors. The community has distinguished itself for its outstanding school systems, and its citizens’ high level of educational attainment, as well as its parks and recreation, health care, vibrant fine arts scene, job growth, economic opportunity, historic sites, and low crime rates. Bloomington made Livability’s top 100 Best Places to Live (2024) and ranked No. 3 on College Values Online’s list of Best Small College Towns in America (2024). Bloomington-Normal is conveniently located about three hours from Indianapolis; two hours from both Chicago and St. Louis; and an hour from Peoria, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, and Springfield. Many of these locations are accessible from Bloomington-Normal via Amtrak, which is located one block from Illinois State’s campus. For more information on our community, visit visitbn.org.
Metrics of Excellence
* First-choice Institution: Illinois State has welcomed our largest freshman class in 36 years. We enroll more than 20,900 students, while maintaining academic quality and small class sizes.
* Bang for the Buck: Illinois State is ranked among the top universities for return on investment. U.S. News & World Report recognized the University as one of the Best Value Schools in the nation, and Washington Monthly included the University on the Best Bang for the Buck list in the Midwest. In addition, the University was also ranked among the top 30 percent of four-year higher education institutions for graduates’ return on investment.
* High Retention and Graduation Rates: Illinois State students complete their degrees on time. ISU’s retention rate remains among the highest in the nation at over 81.3 percent, and our high graduation rate (66.3 percent) is well above the national average.
* Top Public University: Washington Monthly ranked the University in the top 106 out of all public national universities for the institution's contribution to the public good through social mobility, research, and public services. Illinois State made U.S. News & World Report's 2024 rankings of America's top public schools, at No. 112. In addition, the University was ranked in the upper echelon of Money’s 2024 list of Best Colleges in America for quality education and affordability.
* Diverse Campus: Illinois State provides accessible opportunity and increasingly reflects the nation's changing demographics. We enrolled our most diverse freshman class in school history this year with 41 percent of these students and nearly 32 percent of the total student population coming from traditionally underrepresented groups.
* Record Fundraising: Illinois State University raised more than $34 million in private support, reaching its third highest private support total in university history. Through these donations, more than 3,350 scholarships were awarded last fiscal year and 76 new scholarships were created.
* Top College Town: The University’s hometown ranks as one of the top 3 best college towns in America based on its affordability and safety, while its entertainment scene, community, and quality of life are listed as reasons it also ranks as one of the Best Places to Live in the United States.
* Military Friendly School: Illinois State supports veterans and those in the military. We are ranked a top 10 Military Friendly School by VIQTORY.
* Civically Engaged Campus: Illinois State’s campuswide commitment to our core value of civic engagement has earned us recognition with the Elective Classification for Community Engagement, as an Excellence and Innovation Award for Civic Learning and Community Engagement recipient, and as a Voter Friendly Campus.