Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Strategy and Transformation
The Office of the Chancellor of the California State University System (CSU), the largest, most diverse, and most consequential university system in the United States, seeks a highly skilled and experienced leader to serve as Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Strategy and Transformation (AVC).
The new AVC will join the CSU System following the successful bifurcation of the previous Division of Academic and Student Affairs and creation of a new, more agile Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success (SEMSS) led by Dr. Dilcie Perez, inaugural Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success. Reporting directly to Dr. Perez, the AVC will play a pivotal role in supporting the continued transformation of the CSU System's strategic enrollment management endeavors across its 22 campuses.
As part of the SEMSS Division's transformation, the AVC position has been created to enhance the CSU System's strategic enrollment management efforts by aligning systemwide practices and on-campus operations toward achieving the priorities and ambitious goals set forth in the CSU System's CSU Forward strategic plan and Student Success Framework. To do so, the AVC must be a dynamic, strategic, and mission-driven leader with the vision, courage, and collaborative skills to effectively partner with key leaders across the CSU System in supporting the diverse constituencies the CSU serves and assuring their success.
The Position
Under the general direction of the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Strategy and Transformation provides innovative vision, thought leadership, and strategic direction to advance high-impact, data-informed strategies that fuel enrollment growth and yield, expand access, and strengthen institutional sustainability and performance across the 22-campus California State University System.
The AVC plays a central role in operationalizing key priorities of CSU Forward and the CSU Strategic Enrollment Management framework by leading systemwide efforts to modernize onboarding and admissions experiences, strengthening affordability through strategic financial aid, supporting the expansion of flexible and workforce-aligned academic pathways, advancing a responsive adult learner model, and scaling efforts for student re-engagement and re-enrollment. This role also supports the implementation of critical infrastructure, including a unified student lifecycle CRM and an integrated data ecosystem that delivers real-time, actionable insights, to support personalized high-tech, high-touch student engagement and success outcomes.
As a key member of the SEMSS Division leadership team, the AVC serves as a strategic partner and senior liaison to campus vice presidents and associate vice presidents of enrollment, advancing systemwide enrollment goals by scaling innovation and improving outcomes for all student populations, and supporting leadership onboarding. The AVC champions evidence-based approaches that equip universities with predictive analytics, integrated student support models, and regionally responsive strategies that accelerate measurable gains in student retention, persistence, and timely degree completion while strengthening institutional capacity for long-term success. The AVC also provides expert advice to the Chancellor, Board of Trustees, Chancellor's Council and other campus leaders in enrollment strategy and student success, and represents the CSU in engagements with external partners, including but not limited to legislative agencies, national organizations, community partners, and other university leaders.
The AVC provides leadership and oversight of strategic enrollment management, admissions, financial aid, strategic partnerships, and outreach, cultivating a high-performance culture grounded in innovation, accountability, and collaboration. The AVC oversees budget planning and resource allocation to ensure alignment with systemwide priorities, and leads continuous assessment of enrollment related polices, practices, and procedures to drive measurable effectiveness across the CSU system.
The CSU's 22 universities across California enroll over 460,000 diverse students, making it the world's largest four-year public higher education system. More than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, and more than one-quarter of undergraduates are first-generation college students. Because the CSU's 22 universities provide a high-quality education at an incredible value, they are rated among the best in the nation for promoting social mobility in?national college rankings?from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal, and Washington Monthly.
The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue until the conclusion of the search process. Applicants must submit a detailed letter of interest that addresses the priorities and responsibilities outlined in this profile and a current curriculum vitae or resume. Nomination letters should include the name and contact information of the nominee. All applications and nominations will be handled with the strictest confidence. Inquiries and nominations can be submitted to the search consultants listed below.
Application materials in MS Word or PDF format should be submitted to:
Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner Sal Venegas Jr., Partner Email: apsearch@spaexec.com Refer to code "CSU-AVCEST" in the subject line
SP&A Executive Search 6512 Painter Avenue Whittier, CA 90601
Successful candidates for this position will be offered the position contingent upon a satisfactory criminal record check.
California State University considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.
