Bethune-Cookman University - President

For best consideration, complete applications should be received before April 14, 2025.

Complete information is available on the Search Profile.

The Bethune-Cookman University Board of Trustees is seeking the next President of Bethune-Cookman University. The ideal candidate should possess a proven track record of leadership and be a results-driven leader who can effectively attract and manage high-quality talent to cultivate a high-performance culture, build consensus among stakeholders, and effectively respond to the evolving educational landscape. This executive position will become effective on July 1, 2025.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This presidency provides a unique opportunity to lead a prestigious private institution poised for renewed growth and achievement. The new president will have an opportunity to expand academic and research programs to meet the growing economic demands of Florida and
the nation.

B-CU seeks a strategic visionary who is a bold, innovative, inspirational leader who will be an unwavering champion of and advocate for students and the programs that have contributed to the institution’s trajectory and momentum.

The ideal candidate will be a fiscally minded, results-driven leader who has the proven ability to drive strategic direction with the experience and ability to integrate with the external constituents of the university (e.g., the local business community and state government). They must inspire excellence in others and bring exceptional experience and enthusiasm for leadership within and beyond the walls of the institution.

Moreover, the candidate must possess the presence, communication skills, and eagerness to actively engage in fundraising and to promote the university externally. The successful candidate must exhibit the highest level of integrity, earn and maintain public trust, and show a commitment to transparency, ethical leadership, shared governance, and free expression.

The President will be an experienced, transparent financial steward who has overseen complex budgets and has worked with a governing board to develop and implement strategies to sustain and, over time, fortify the institution’s financial position. This executive officer will seek partnerships that strengthen and expand programs and, as the principal fund raiser for the institution, will maintain established and develop new relationships, both public and private, that result in increased financial resources to achieve goals. Both articulate and compelling, the President will support the significant role the institution plays in the community at large. Fully embracing the role of B-CU’s chief ambassador, the President will become engaged in the community, region, and state to advocate for the University and to share its story of success. As the chief executive officer, the President will foster and steward B-CU’s mission.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Administration

• Strategic Leadership: Provides visionary leadership, assuming full responsibility for the administration, academic programs, and student support services of the University.
• Policy and Planning: Recommends policies to the Board of Trustees and leads institutional planning, including strategic initiatives and personnel decisions.
• Performance Improvement: Evaluates institutional effectiveness through financial and performance metrics, implementing data-driven improvements.

Financial Management and Fundraising

• Financial Oversight: Ensures sound financial management and fiscal sustainability, demonstrating a strong understanding of diverse funding models.
• Fundraising and Grants: Leads and is successful at fundraising efforts, donor relations, and grant acquisition to strengthen the University’s financial resources.
• Budgets: Experience managing complex budgets and operations ranging from $70 to $100 million.

Community and Partnerships

• Partnership Development: Forges strategic partnerships with businesses, educational institutions, civic organizations, and government agencies.
• Advocacy: Represents the University at the local, state, and national levels to advocate for institutional needs and priorities.
• Community Engagement: Enhances the University’s role in the community through active participation and public relations efforts.

Compliance and Policy

• Policy Adherence: Ensures compliance with University policies, Florida statutes, and State Board of Education regulations.
• Legal and Accreditation Compliance: Oversees accreditation processes and ensures adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.

Faculty and Staff Development

• Professional Development: Cultivates an environment of excellence, innovation, and continuous growth for faculty and staff.
• Personnel Management: Leads strategic personnel planning, including recruitment, retention, and policy development.
• Management of Human Capital: The proper management of human capital is essential for efficiency and effective service to the institution. Evaluations of employees’ education level, experience, talents, skills, and gifts should be matched to the position assigned.

Additional Responsibilities

• Performs duties as assigned by the Board of Trustees, contributing to the advancement of higher education at local, state, and national levels.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Educational Requirements

• Terminal degree or significant professional achievement, recognition, and prestige are required
• Combined administrative and academic experience at a research university and experience with D1 athletics are preferred.
• Individuals with the requisite leadership experience in education, industry, government, the military, or other sectors and whose experience will further the mission of the university will be given full consideration.

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

Bethune-Cookman University is in the heart of world-famous Daytona Beach on the Atlantic coast and just minutes from 23 miles of white-sand beaches, delicious local flavors, eclectic shopping, outdoor activities, scenic trails, and a rich cultural scene.

With its proximity to dining and entertainment to the great atmosphere, Daytona Beach is an ideal place to live and call home. Famous for its beaches and motorsports, there is an abundance of arts, culture, history, shopping, golfing, and sports events.

Daytona Beach is a coastal resort city in Volusia County, Florida, with a population of nearly 73,000. It is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan area and is a principal city of the Fun Coast region of Florida.

The area where Daytona Beach is located was once inhabited by the indigenous Timucuan Indians, who lived in fortified villages. While tourism is a major part of the Daytona Beach economy, other sources of revenue include manufacturing and several industrial sites within an enterprise zone and sites within a foreign trade zone adjacent to Daytona Beach International Airport.

Top employers include the Volusia County School District, Halifax Health, AdventHealth Daytona Beach, the City of Daytona Beach, SMA Healthcare, and, of course, Bethune-Cookman University.