President

Columbia College Chicago (“CCC” or the “College”) invites applications and nominations for its next President, a visionary and dynamic leader who will guide CCC in its mission to shape the future of creative arts education. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Cultural Mile, CCC thrives within a vibrant cultural landscape, leveraging the city's artistic and professional opportunities to deliver a unique student experience. The next President will embrace CCC’s unique culture, rooted in social progress and serving a diverse, creative community of approximately (in fall 2024) 5,500-5,600 students, 200+ full-time and 400+ part-time faculty, and 400+ staff members.

CCC distinguishes itself among its peers with a curriculum that blends practitioner-led, applied training in the creative arts that prepares students for employment in creative disciplines. At its core, the College is dedicated to graduating students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the growing and dynamic creative economy. The next President of Columbia College Chicago will play a pivotal role in shaping the institution's future. The President will help develop a strategic vision that positions the College for financial stability, elevates CCC's reputation, and fosters a supportive and inclusive campus environment that has a primary focus on student success. The President will have experience managing through challenging financial environments and will have a proven track record of developing new revenue-generating operations, engaging with major donors, and establishing strategic partnerships that contribute to the longevity of the institution. 

The President will serve as a champion for the College, enhancing its reputation on a local, national, and global scale. By building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, the President will foster a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and mutual respect. Restoring trust and morale among students, faculty, and staff is vital. The ideal candidate will demonstrate visionary, strategic, and collaborative leadership in higher education or a similarly complex environment. They will possess strong financial acumen, exceptional communication skills, and a proven track record of fundraising success. The President should have a broad understanding of the disciplines at CCC and ideally hold a terminal degree appropriate to these fields.

All inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed in strict confidence electronically below. 

Dan Rodas is leading this search with Tim Lanigan, Raul Bernal, Seema Khan, and Nicole Sancilio.

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.

Columbia College Chicago seeks individuals with a demonstrated ability to work with students from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds and whose creative, scholarly, and/or professional work aligns with our commitment to dismantling systems of privilege and oppression. All faculty members are expected to advance the College's DEI mission. For more information on the Office of Academic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit here.