Associate Vice President - Blanding

Overview: 

Utah State University invites nominations and applications for the position of Associate Vice President (AVP) of Utah State University Blanding. Located in Blanding, Utah, USU Blanding is a residential campus within the statewide system of Utah State University, offering certificate, associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

 

The Associate Vice President reports to the Deputy Vice President for Statewide Residential Campuses and serves on the Statewide Campus Administrative Council. This senior leadership role is responsible for advancing enrollment growth, strengthening workforce alignment, and deepening partnerships across San Juan County and the broader Four Corners region.

 

USU Blanding plays a critical role in expanding educational access in rural Utah. The next AVP will lead with a clear focus on:

The successful candidate will bring executive leadership experience and the ability to guide a comprehensive residential campus in a complex and evolving environment. This individual must understand how to build trust in rural communities, strengthen regional pipelines, and align academic offerings with real opportunity. The AVP will represent the campus effectively within the university system while advocating for the distinctive needs of USU Blanding.

 

The Associate Vice President will:

Strong communication skills, sound fiscal leadership, and the ability to build durable partnerships are essential. The ideal candidate will demonstrate cultural awareness, experience working with Native American communities, and a deep commitment to the land-grant mission of Utah State University.

The position is available June 1, 2026, or at a mutually agreed-upon date. Review of applications will begin March 2026 and continue until the position is filled. Responsibilities: 

 
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications

 
Required Documents:
Along with the online application, please attach:
1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
2. Cover Letter Outling Qualifications to be typed/pasted at the end of your application
3. Statement describing your vision for the role and responsibilities of the Associate Vice President, USU Blanding to be typed/pasted at the end of your application under "Other Documents"
4. Contact information for at least three references to be typed at the beginning of your application
 
**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**
 Advertised Salary: Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits ADA:
Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.
 
College/Department Highlights:
Founded in 1977, USU Blanding serves San Juan County and the Four Corners region. The campus provides access to higher education in a rural and culturally rich environment, surrounded by national and Tribal parks and unique landscapes.

USU Blanding combines the personalized experience of a community-focused campus with the academic strength and resources of a major public research university. The campus offers workforce training, professional development, and associate through doctoral degrees. Through deep community partnerships and a focus on student success, USU Blanding plays a central role in strengthening educational attainment and economic opportunity in southeastern Utah.
 
Learn more at: https://blanding.usu.edu/
University Highlights:
Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu.

*updated 12/2025
Notice of Non-discrimination:
In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:
Matthew PinnerExecutive Director Civil Rights & Title IX Officematthew.pinner@usu.edu435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322  | Cody CarmichaelTitle IX Coordinator cody.carmichael@usu.edu435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 402D1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322
For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education
Denver Regional Office
303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
800-421-3481 |  OCR@ed.gov
 
*updated 10/2025