Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost

Columbia College Chicago (CCC) invites applications and nominations for the position of Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost (SVP & Provost). The Senior Vice President and Provost reports directly to President Dr. Shantay N. Bolton, who joined the college as its 11th President on July 1, 2025. The SVP & Provost serves as a key member of Dr. Bolton’s cabinet, joining a talented team of senior level colleagues, faculty and staff who are committed to the College’s focus on excellence in academic and creative practice and the fundamental goal of nurturing student success.

The College seeks an experienced and forward-thinking leader to partner with President Bolton and the College community as it embarks upon a new era. As the chief academic officer, the SVP & Provost will play a vital role in this transformation. The SVP & Provost collaborates with senior leadership, faculty, and staff to advance Columbia College Chicago’s mission as a leading institution in the visual and performing arts, media, communication, and design. This role supports cross-disciplinary innovation and fosters strategic partnerships in education and the broader community. The SVP & Provost oversees a large portfolio of academic programs and administrative units, including the Schools of Audio and Music, Business and Entrepreneurship, Communication and Culture, Design, Fashion, Film and Television, Theatre and Dance, and Visual Arts as well as faculty affairs, academic policies and resources, accreditation and assessment, core curriculum and global education, Institutional Review Board, and Office of the Registrar.

The next SVP & Provost will demonstrate a passion for advancing creativity as a transformative force and an unwavering commitment to CCC’s mission and core values. Key qualifications include: a history of progressively responsible academic leadership in a higher education institution; deep understanding of creative disciplines, emerging technologies, and the evolving demands of the 21st century workforce; demonstrated commitment to faculty governance, academic freedom, and inclusive leadership; financial and strategic acumen, including budgeting, resource allocation, and enrollment-linked decision-making; and a terminal degree and a record of scholarly, artistic, or creative distinction.

Founded in 1890, Columbia College Chicago is a private, not-for-profit college whose curriculum is focused on creative disciplines. Columbia’s many competitive advantages include its strong reputation in the creative industries, outstanding faculty, passionate students, impressive technological and physical resources, and a commitment to bringing varied voices and experiences in proximity with each other to shape new forms of creative practice. Located in downtown Chicago’s South Loop, Columbia is centered in one of the world's most lively urban areas and is intrinsically linked to the city’s rich cultural landscape and dynamic arts scene. Columbia’s unique culture is rooted in social progress and serves a creative community of approximately 4,500 students, 170+ full time and 400+ part-time faculty, and 400+ staff members. To learn more about Columbia College Chicago, visit: colum.edu.

A complete Leadership Profile with additional information may be found above.

Nominations and Applications

AGB Search is pleased to assist Columbia College Chicago with this leadership search. To apply for the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost position, candidates are requested to submit the following: 

• A current CV or resume;
• A letter of interest that addresses how the candidate’s experiences and qualifications connect with the required/preferred characteristics and priorities as expressed in this position profile; and
• Contact information for five references (to be contacted with candidate’s permission at a later date). 

For best consideration, application materials should be submitted to the Senior Vice President and Provost Portal (https://bit.ly/4mSCSRK) by Monday, January 12, 2026. The search will remain open until an appointment is made.

Please direct all nominations and expressions of interest to ColumbiaCollegeProvost@agbsearch.com or:

Matthew J. Kilcoyne 
Principal 
matt.kilcoyne@agbsearch.com
(202) 253-9846
  
Concetta M. Stewart, Ph.D.
Principal
concetta.stewart@agbsearch.com
(908) 341-2178

Lynn DellaPietra, Ph.D.
Executive Search Associate
lynn.dellapietra@agbsearch.com
(202) 640-6723

Rose Rodgers
Search Associate
rose.rodgers@agbsearch.com

Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.