Lake Superior State University (LSSU/Lake State), invites nominations and applications for the position of President. This leadership role will provide the successful candidate with substantial opportunities to leverage a picturesque location with abundant natural resources, empower a community that is ripe for action, and develop a brand for the outstanding initiatives underway at LSSU. The University seeks a dynamic and engaging relationship builder who will fully embrace the University and Sault Ste. Marie communities. The next President will be student-focused, visible, approachable, engaged across campus and in the community, collaborative, and open to taking calculated risks.
Surrounded by three Great Lakes, and along an international border, LSSU provides an unsurpassed location for research, innovation, and real-world experiences. Lake State is one of Michigan’s most affordable public universities, and 90 percent of full-time students receive financial aid.
LSSU was founded in 1946 on the site of the former U.S. Army’s Fort Brady in Sault Ste. Marie, the oldest city in Michigan (est. 1668). The University acknowledges that the campus occupies traditional Anishinaabeg territory and recognizes the importance of continued work to build relationships with Tribal communities throughout the region. Guided by LSSU’s strategic plan, the University remains committed to incorporating the history, traditions, languages, and cultures of Indigenous peoples into all University service areas, and to supporting a learning environment for all students to flourish.
LSSU boasts a 115-acre campus and has regional centers in Escanaba and Petoskey. The University offers 35 bachelor’s degree programs, 21 associate degree programs, and 10 certificate programs. Lake State has approximately 1,600 students, with 82 percent coming from Michigan and with every county represented. LSSU competes in 11 NCAA Division II sports and in Division I for men’s hockey.
The President serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of Lake Superior State University and reports directly to the Board of Trustees. The President leads, develops, preserves, administers, and generally presides over all aspects of University operations, including all institutional funds, with authority from and responsibility to the Board of Trustees. The President serves, by virtue of position, on the Board of Directors of the Lake Superior State University Foundation.
The President leads the University’s Senior Management Team currently consisting of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Vice President for Finance and Operations; Vice President for Advancement; Dean of Enrollment Management and Communication; Dean of Student Affairs; Director of Human Resources, Safety & Risk, and Title IX Coordinator; Director of Government Relations; and Director of Athletics. The next President will be charged with developing a strong leadership team and empowering University leaders to lead initiatives geared toward growth, resource development, academic quality, and student success.
LSSU’s next President will be a servant leader who can set a forward-looking vision, invigorate relationships across the University and in the community, and revitalize a vibrant campus life. Most of all, the next President will model integrity, empathy, and excitement for the University. A distinguished record of progressive leadership and experience in higher education or a similarly complex organization will be required for this role. While the Presidential Search Committee is eager to consider many possible pathways to the presidency, candidates possessing a terminal degree will be preferred.