Provost

DeSales University, in Center Valley, PA, is a private, coeducational, four-year liberal arts Salesian, Catholic university, under the leadership of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales. Founded in 1965, the 550-acre suburban campus is located 50 miles north of Philadelphia and about 90 miles southwest of New York City. A total enrollment of nearly 3,500 includes undergraduate day and evening students, and graduate students.

DeSales has approximately 135 full-time faculty members and offers more than 40 bachelor's degrees, twelve graduate programs, and over 20 certificate programs in a wide range of disciplines; many of these can be completed fully online.

In 2024, the University transitioned to a new academic structure featuring a four-college/school model, which includes the Kathleen Waterbury and J.B. Reilly School of Business; a College of Arts, Education, and Humanities with a School of Education and a School of Performing Arts; a College of Sciences; and a College of Healthcare Professions with a designated School of Nursing. For further information, visit www.desales.edu.

EOE

The Provost serves as the chief academic officer of DeSales University, reports to the President, and is a member of the President’s Cabinet. The Provost provides strategic leadership for Academic Affairs, advancing academic excellence, student success, faculty development, program innovation, institutional effectiveness, and responsible stewardship of resources in alignment with the University’s Catholic, Salesian mission.

The Provost leads through a collaborative, transparent, and data-informed approach, using evidence related to academic quality, enrollment, student outcomes, program demand, financial performance, and post‑graduate outcomes to guide planning and resource allocation. The Provost also plays a central role in advancing the University’s strategic priorities and assessing progress toward measurable goals.

• Provide a clear academic vision aligned with the University’s Catholic, Salesian mission and strategic priorities.
• Translate institutional strategy into measurable Academic Affairs goals that advance academic quality, student success, enrollment strength, innovation, and financial sustainability.
• Lead and hold accountable the academic deans and administrative leaders, while fostering collaboration across academic units and the University.
• Anticipate emerging opportunities and challenges in higher education and guide appropriate institutional responses.

• Ensure DeSales’ Catholic, Salesian identity is integrated into academic planning, curriculum, teaching, faculty development, and decision‑making.
• Advance the Catholic intellectual tradition and the integration of faith, reason, professional preparation, and liberal learning.
• Model the Salesian values of gentleness, humility, gratitude, hospitality, and wisdom while fostering rigorous inquiry, intellectual freedom, ethical reflection, and respect for the University’s mission.

• Use institutional, enrollment, student-success, workload, and financial data to evaluate academic performance and guide decisions.
• Establish key performance indicators for Academic Affairs and regularly assess progress toward strategic objectives.
• Partner with Institutional Research to ensure leaders have timely, accurate, and actionable information.
• Lead systematic academic program review that considers enrollment, student outcomes, learning assessment, costs and revenues, faculty capacity, market demand, accreditation, and mission alignment.
• Communicate academic performance,…