SEARCH PROSPECTUS:

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS

FRESNO STATE 4

POINTS OF PRIDE 5

PRESIDENT SAÚL JIMÉNEZ-SANDOVAL 5

LOCATION 5

LEADERSHIP AGENDA FOR THE NEXT ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS 6

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS 8

SEARCH PROSPECTUS: Associate Vice President for University Communications 2 State University, Fresno (Fresno State), campus leadership in advancing the regional and one of 23 campuses in the California State University national stature of the University. As a key member of system, seeks as its next Associate Vice President the senior leadership team, the AVPUC will oversee for University Communications (AVPUC) an the University’s internal and external communication instrumental advisor to the new leader, President strategies, media relations and crisis management. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, and a critical partner with

SEARCH PROSPECTUS: Associate Vice President for University Communications 3 FRESNO STATE

Fresno State, nestled in the center of California, Fresno State offers a diverse array of co- serves as an anchor to one of the richest agricultural curricular opportunities to complement students’ valleys in the world and one of the most culturally college experience, with more than 300 student diverse regions in the country. The University’s organizations, including club sports teams, fraternities roots date back to 1911, when the doors of the then and sororities. In addition, academic excellence Fresno State Normal School opened to 150 hopeful and athletic accomplishments go hand-in-hand at students. Today, Fresno State has come a long way Fresno State. Fresno State is a Division I member of from its modest beginning and is a minority-serving the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the institution with federal designation as a Hispanic- Mountain West. The Fresno State Bulldogs begin Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and their Athletics Centennial this year. A decade after Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution Fresno State Normal School was founded in 1911, the (AANAPISI), reflecting the ethnic and cultural richness inaugural seasons of competition for Fresno State’s of Central California. The University serves over football and men’s teams debuted in 1921, 25,000 students and offers degrees in 71 bachelor’s, while debuted that same academic year in 48 master’s and three doctoral subject areas, and nine the spring of 1922. Fresno State currently sponsors six certificates of advanced study programs housed within men’s and twelve women’s sports at the varsity level. its eight schools and colleges. In the first 100 years of Fresno State Athletics, the Bulldogs have won multiple national championships, Deeply committed to the success of its students, over 215 team conference championships and over 345 Fresno State admits, enrolls and graduates hard- individual conference championships, and produced working students from families of all income levels over 350 All-Americans, Olympians and community in larger numbers than ever before. Ninety percent leaders – with athletic and academic excellence of Fresno State’s students hail from the surrounding representing the Pride of the Valley around the world. and 65.7% are the first in their families to earn a college degree, changing the future For more information about Fresno State, visit trajectory of their families. It’s a statistic virtually www.fresnostate.edu. unparalleled among doctoral universities in the United States. More than 82% of students receive assistance through grants and scholarships, and Fresno State has improved its first-year student retention to 86.8%, QUICK FACTS (FALL 2020) with the goal of increasing the 6-year graduation rate to 70% by 2025. While 80% of recent Fresno State Total Student White: 18% graduates remain in the Valley to become the next Enrollment: 25,341 generation of leaders, innovators and critical thinkers Other/Unknown: 7% in every industry, to date more than 235,000 alumni • Undergraduate: 89% are transforming communities globally by serving • Graduate: 8% Non-Resident Alien: 5% every state in the nation and across the world. • Postbaccalaureate: 3% Service to the region is an important part of Fresno Average Undergraduate Female: 60% State’s mission and “learning by serving” is at the Age: 22 core of the University’s identity. Students, faculty and staff have contributed over 1 million hours of Male: 40% Average Graduate volunteer service each year for 12 years in a row, and Post Baccalaureate enriching the area and driving approximately $40 African American: 3% Age: 29 million of economic impact annually. The prestigious Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of American Indian: First-generation Teaching awarded the University its Community less than 1% Undergraduates: 65.7% Engagement classification, acknowledging its extensive partnership with the region. Through Asian: 12% Pell Grant Eligible transformational applied research, technical Undergraduates: 59.4% assistance, training and other related public Hispanic: 55% service activities, the University builds meaningful Faculty: 1,481 partnerships and linkages with community benefit Pacific Islander: organizations, arts programs, business, education, less than 1% Staff: 880 industry and government.

SEARCH PROSPECTUS: Associate Vice President for University Communications 4 POINTS OF PRIDE

For the fifth consecutive year, Fresno State placed Fresno State won five national awards from the among the top three best public universities for American Association of State Colleges and graduate-rate performance in U.S. News and World Universities. The awards were for International Report’s 2021 Best College rankings. Education (2015), Leadership Development and Diversity (2014), the Christa McAuliffe Excellence Fresno State is ranked among Washington in Teacher Education (2014), Student Success and Monthly’s top 30 national universities that best serve College Completion (2017) and Civic Learning and the country in the areas of social mobility, research Community Engagement (2019). and civic engagement. As a testament to Fresno State’s outstanding Money Magazine has ranked Fresno State as No. 7 commitment to diversity and inclusion, the University for Most Transformative Colleges in the U.S., “where was awarded the 2020 Higher Education Excellence students beat the odds by doing better than would in Diversity Award by INSIGHT Into Diversity be expected from their academic and economic magazine, one of the oldest and largest diversity- backgrounds,” and No. 40 for Best Public College. focused publications in higher education, for the seventh year in a row.

PRESIDENT SAÚL JIMÉNEZ-SANDOVAL

In May, the​ California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees appointed Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Ph.D., to serve as the ninth president of California State University, Fresno. Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval has a deep history with Fresno State and an even longer association with the Central Valley, having grown up minutes from campus. He first joined the University as a faculty member in 2000. Over two decades of service, he served as professor of Spanish and Portuguese, coordinator of the Spanish Master of Arts degree, chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, interim associate dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, provost and interim president.

LOCATION

Fresno State is located in the heart of San Joaquin Boasting approximately 300 days of sunshine a Valley in Central California, with a multi-ethnic year, Fresno is the fifth largest city in California and population of over 527,000. The surrounding area the 10th most diverse city in the United States. The offers breathtaking natural scenery, including the University is within a one- to two-hour drive of three San Joaquin River and Shaver and Huntington lakes national parks – Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon within the Sierra Nevada mountains; vast agricultural – and Fresno is within easy driving distance of San bounty with nearly 8.9 million acres of the world’s most Francisco, Los Angeles, the Monterey Peninsula, and productive farmland; fresh farm-to-table experiences Lake Tahoe. Beaches, sailing, lakes, camping, fishing, and ample dining cuisine from around the world; a hiking and ski resorts are nearby. And, unlike other vibrant arts scene alive with the creative talent of local major metropolitan areas within California, Fresno and artists who showcase an array of art forms and styles the Valley offer some of the most affordable housing of expressions; and the amenities of a large city as markets in the entire state. well as the charms of nearby small towns.

SEARCH PROSPECTUS: Associate Vice President for University Communications 5 LEADERSHIP AGENDA FOR THE NEXT ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Reporting to the vice president for University The AVPUC will directly oversee an executive assistant; Advancement and serving as a member of the public information officer; senior writer/editor; social University Cabinet, the associate vice president for media specialist; and communications specialist. The University Communications will work in partnership University seeks a seasoned communications executive with the director of University Brand Strategy and who will provide an effective infrastructure in which the Marketing, the communications staff, and the deans staff can grow, learn and feel empowered. The AVPUC and communications specialists across academic will create a supportive environment that recognizes units to coordinate a unified strategy, including the excellence and promotes a positive atmosphere of development of associated metrics in support of the achievement and pride. communications plan. The associate vice president serves as the official campus spokesperson on behalf The AVPUC will develop and execute processes of the University and will be tasked with telling the and procedures to help manage and streamline the University’s story, gathering accounts that encapsulate growing volume of communications content from the good work being done by faculty, staff and students across campus, while making sure that all involved in inside and outside of the classroom, including in the communications space feel heard and engaged in athletics, and disseminating them via local media University messaging. outlets, social media and other platforms. The associate vice president will bring a creative vision As a member of the president’s senior administrative to the division and proactively identify, analyze and team, the AVPUC will be expected to provide manage communication related to issues with the meaningful input on the full range of issues facing the potential to arise and negatively impact the University. institution: and, thus, a person with a contemporary The AVPUC will provide to the president, and others and comprehensive knowledge of higher education is who may speak to the media, talking points, speeches, desired. briefings, or other background information and media coaching, as needed, to best educate and advise them on ways to address potential crises.

SEARCH PROSPECTUS: Associate Vice President for University Communications 6 LEADERSHIP AGENDA FOR THE NEXT ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS (CONT.)

In conjunction with the communications staff, the AVPUC will oversee the selection, writing, production and tracking of news stories and other content for FresnoStateNews.com, Fresno State Magazine and other campus-wide media initiatives, as well as social media accounts, working to increase the visibility and recognition of the University regionally and nationally. The associate vice president will work to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with internal and external audiences including, but not limited to, journalists, prospective students, current students, alumni, parents, friends/donors, faculty, staff and surrounding community constituents.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND DESIRED ATTRIBUTES • A bachelor’s degree is required; master’s degree preferred • Demonstrated success in the field of communications with at least 5 years of leadership experience and a career showing progressive responsibility within a complex environment; experience in higher education preferred • Advanced knowledge of the academic and administrative structure of universities, as well as trends and emerging issues in the realm of higher education at a state and national level • A self-starter who advances a clear set of priorities with efficiency and demonstrates a high level of integrity, trust and resourcefulness • Extensive leadership experience designing and executing creative, impactful strategic communications plans in an organization with varied priorities and a wide range of stakeholders • Capacity to manage, motivate, and support a staff of varied levels and talents and lead them toward increasingly stronger performance as a team with positivity and confidence • Excellent written communication and public speaking skills • Ability to build bridges and interact successfully with diverse constituent groups, including • Strong organizational skills with the ability to fostering collaborative relationships across the simultaneously handle the pressures of crises campus and in the community and the regular demands of intersecting projects • Demonstrated knowledge of current and • Well-rounded experience in managing crisis emerging technology and trends as they relate to communication social media and other communications tools and • Flexibility to quickly shift and respond to new platforms priorities

SEARCH PROSPECTUS: Associate Vice President for University Communications 7 APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS

California State University, Fresno is being assisted status. Fresno State’s commitment to diversity by Academic Search. Prospective candidates may informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and arrange a confidential discussion by contacting retention. We are proud to be an affirmative action Dr. Shirley Robinson Pippins at Shirley.Pippins@ and equal opportunity employer. academicsearch.org or Andrea Cowsert at Andrea. [email protected]. Nominations may also Following a conditional offer of employment, a be submitted directly to Dr. Pippins and Ms. Cowsert. background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before Interested applicants must apply through California any candidate may start work with California State State University, Fresno. To do so, click here to University, Fresno. Failure to satisfactorily complete complete the employment application, including the background check may result in the withdrawal attaching a cover letter that addresses the of the offer of employment. Current employees who responsibilities and requirements described in this are offered positions on campus will be required to position prospectus; a curriculum vitae; and a list of undergo a background check for any position where three professional references. References will not a background check is required by law or that Fresno be contacted without the explicit permission of the State has identified as sensitive. The person holding candidate. This position is open until filled, but only this position is considered a “mandated reporter” applications received by September 15, 2021, can under the California Child Abuse and Neglect be assured full consideration. Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 California State University, Fresno is committed to as a condition of employment. This position may be maintaining and implementing employment policies a “designated position” under the California State and procedures in compliance with applicable state University’s Conflict of Interest Code. This will require and federal equal employment opportunity laws the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an and regulations. Executive Order 883 prohibits annual basis and the completion of training within discrimination and Executive Order 927 prohibits six (6) months of assuming office and every two (2) harassment, on the basis of a protected status: years thereafter. Fresno State is a tobacco-free, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, smoke-free and vapor-free campus. sex (including gender identity), sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition and covered veteran

SEARCH PROSPECTUS: Associate Vice President for University Communications 8 ABOUT ACADEMIC SEARCH

Academic Search is assisting California State University, Fresno in this work. For more than four decades, Academic Search has offered executive search services to higher education institutions, associations, and related organizations. Academic Search was founded by higher education leaders on the principle that we provide the most value to partner institutions by combining best practices with our deep knowledge and experience. Our mission today is to enhance institutional capacity by providing outstanding executive recruitment services, executive coaching, and transition support, in partnership with our parent organization, the American Academic Leadership Institute. For more information, visit www.academicsearch.org.

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