Dean of Students Resume examples & templates
Copyable Dean of Students Resume examples
Balancing student advocacy with institutional protocols has become increasingly complex for today's Deans of Students. The role sits at a critical intersection — caught between growing student mental health concerns (up 41% since 2019) and institutional expectations to maintain enrollment numbers and campus stability. Many seasoned administrators find themselves navigating policy requirements while still trying to create meaningful connections with a student body that's more diverse and vocal than ever before.
This delicate balance requires a unique skill set that extends far beyond traditional academic credentials. In response, we're seeing more institutions seeking Deans with backgrounds in crisis management and DEI work rather than purely academic administration. The most successful Deans today bring a combination of empathy and decisiveness to the table — they're comfortable having difficult conversations with both students in crisis and board members concerned about institutional reputation. As campus dynamics continue to evolve, particularly with Gen Z's heightened focus on transparency and accountability, tomorrow's Deans will need to reimagine how student support services integrate with the broader campus ecosystem.
Junior Dean of Students Resume Example
Melissa Rodriguez
Portland, OR 97214 • (503) 555-7822 • melissa.rodriguez@email.com • linkedin.com/in/melissarodriguez
Recent M.Ed. graduate with 1+ year of experience in student affairs and residential life. Skilled in conflict resolution, program development, and building inclusive campus communities. Passionate about supporting students through academic and personal challenges while fostering environments where diverse perspectives are valued. Seeking to leverage my background in student advocacy and crisis management to excel as Dean of Students.
EXPERIENCE
Assistant Dean of Students (Interim)
Pacific Northwest College • Portland, OR • January 2023 – Present
- Oversee student conduct process for a campus of 3,700 undergraduate students, reviewing ~40 cases per month and making disciplinary recommendations
- Collaborate with Residential Life to implement a peer mediation program that reduced formal conduct cases by 27%
- Serve on Student Crisis Response Team, providing after-hours support for emergencies and coordinating follow-up services
- Manage a $78K programming budget for student leadership initiatives and wellbeing programs
Graduate Residence Director
University of Oregon • Eugene, OR • August 2021 – December 2022
- Supervised 8 Resident Assistants and indirectly managed residential community of 230+ first-year students
- Designed and facilitated 12 training sessions on conflict mediation, mental health awareness, and community building
- Coordinated with campus partners to develop programs addressing student retention, resulting in 94% fall-to-spring retention
- Responded to and documented student crises including mental health concerns, roommate conflicts, and policy violations
Student Affairs Intern
Portland Community College • Portland, OR • January 2021 – July 2021
- Assisted Dean of Students with case management for student conduct violations and academic integrity issues
- Created resource guide for food-insecure students that was distributed to 1,200+ students
- Helped plan and execute New Student Orientation for spring semester (mostly virtual due to COVID)
EDUCATION
Master of Education in Student Affairs Administration
University of Oregon • Eugene, OR • December 2022
Thesis: “Supporting First-Generation Students Through Institutional Barriers”
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minor in Sociology
Portland State University • Portland, OR • May 2020
GPA: 3.87 • Dean’s List (all semesters) • Student Government Representative (2018-2020)
CERTIFICATIONS
Mental Health First Aid Certification (2022)
Title IX Investigator Training (2023)
Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification (2023)
SKILLS
- Student Conduct & Case Management
- Crisis Intervention & Response
- Program Development & Assessment
- Budget Management
- Staff Supervision & Training
- Campus Policy Implementation
- Microsoft Office Suite & Maxient
- Trauma-Informed Practices
- Event Planning & Coordination
- Public Speaking & Presentation
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Member since 2021
Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA), Member since 2022
Mid-level Dean of Students Resume Example
RACHEL MONTOYA
Portland, OR 97205 • (503) 555-8714 • rachel.montoya@email.com • linkedin.com/in/rachelmontoya
Student affairs professional with 6+ years of experience fostering inclusive campus environments and driving student success initiatives. Known for developing innovative student support programs that improved retention rates and campus engagement. Strong background in crisis management, budget oversight, and cross-departmental collaboration. Committed to creating equitable educational experiences for diverse student populations.
EXPERIENCE
Dean of Students
Riverdale Community College • Portland, OR • August 2021 – Present
- Oversee 14-person student affairs team serving 4,200+ students, managing annual operational budget of $1.3M
- Decreased student conduct violations by 27% through implementation of restorative justice practices
- Launched mental health initiative that increased counseling center utilization by 31% and reduced wait times from 3 weeks to 5 days
- Collaborated with Diversity Office to create First-Gen Success Program, improving retention rates for first-generation students from 68% to 79%
- Serve as key member of college’s emergency response team; led campus through COVID-19 reopening process
Associate Director of Student Life
Riverdale Community College • Portland, OR • June 2019 – July 2021
- Supervised staff of 5 full-time employees and 22 student workers across residence life, student activities, and new student orientation
- Restructured new student orientation program, resulting in 92% satisfaction rating (up from 74%)
- Created and implemented student leadership development series with 187 participants in first year
- Managed $450K departmental budget with zero overages for 2 consecutive fiscal years
Residence Life Coordinator
Pacific Northwest University • Eugene, OR • August 2017 – May 2019
- Managed 3 residence halls housing 560 students; supervised team of 14 Resident Assistants
- Developed community-building programming that increased student participation by 42%
- Served on Behavioral Intervention Team to address students of concern and coordinate appropriate interventions
- Facilitated monthly diversity workshops for residential staff, improving cultural competency scores on annual assessment
EDUCATION
Master of Education, Higher Education Administration
University of Washington • Seattle, WA • 2017
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
California State University, Fullerton • Fullerton, CA • 2015
Minor: Sociology • GPA: 3.8 • Dean’s List: 6 semesters
CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Mental Health First Aid Certification (2021, renewed 2023)
- Title IX Investigator Training, Association of Title IX Administrators (2022)
- Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (2020)
- National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Mid-Level Management Institute (2019)
SKILLS
- Student Conduct & Crisis Management
- Budget Administration & Resource Allocation
- Program Development & Assessment
- Staff Supervision & Development
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives
- Campus Policy Implementation
- Mental Health & Wellness Programming
- Public Speaking & Presentation
- Interdepartmental Collaboration
- Student Information Systems (Banner, Maxient)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
- American College Personnel Association (ACPA)
- Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA)
Senior / Experienced Dean of Students Resume Example
JENNIFER M; RODRIGUEZ
Chicago, IL • (312) 555-8721 • j.rodriguez@email.com • linkedin.com/in/jenniferrodriguez
Dedicated higher education professional with 11+ years of experience fostering student development and campus community. Known for implementing proactive student support systems that increased retention rates and improved campus climate. Skilled in crisis management, student conduct administration, and developing inclusive programming that reaches diverse student populations.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Dean of Students | Lakeside University | Chicago, IL | August 2018 – Present
- Lead a team of 14 staff members across Student Life, Residence Life, and Student Conduct, managing an annual budget of $3.2M
- Reduced student conduct violations by 27% through implementation of restorative justice practices and proactive educational programming
- Established a Student Crisis Response Team that decreased emergency response time from 42 minutes to under 15 minutes
- Created and chaired the Student Experience Task Force, resulting in policy changes that improved student satisfaction scores from 73% to 89%
- Developed and secured funding for a new mental health initiative providing 24/7 telehealth services, supporting 600+ students in its first year
- Serve on the President’s Cabinet and Strategic Planning Committee, representing student concerns in institutional decision-making
Associate Dean of Student Affairs | Northern State College | Milwaukee, WI | July 2014 – July 2018
- Managed student conduct processes, adjudicating approximately 215 cases annually while maintaining due process and educational outcomes
- Supervised 6 professional staff members in Residence Life and Student Activities departments
- Launched a peer mentoring program that improved first-year retention rates by 13% over three years
- Co-chaired the Bias Response Team, responding to and resolving sensitive campus incidents
- Redesigned the new student orientation program, resulting in 94% of participants reporting they felt “prepared” or “very prepared” for college transition
Director of Residence Life | Westfield Community College | Westfield, MA | August 2011 – June 2014
- Managed 5 residence halls housing 1,200+ students with a staff of 3 professionals and 25 student employees
- Developed and implemented a residential curriculum focused on personal development, civic engagement, and academic success
- Created a Faculty-in-Residence program that increased student-faculty interaction outside the classroom
- Reduced roommate conflicts by 31% through improved matching processes and conflict mediation training
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration | University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 2016
Dissertation: “Improving Institutional Response to Student Mental Health Needs: A Mixed Methods Study”
Master of Education, Student Affairs in Higher Education | Boston College | Boston, MA | 2011
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology | University of Illinois | Urbana-Champaign, IL | 2009
Minor in Sociology; Graduated Magna Cum Laude
CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Title IX Coordinator Certification, ATIXA (2020)
Mental Health First Aid Instructor Certification (2019)
Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) Certified Trainer (2017)
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Mid-Level Institute (2015)
SKILLS
- Student Crisis Management
- Budget Development & Oversight
- Policy Development & Implementation
- Staff Supervision & Development
- Conduct Administration
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Programming
- Strategic Planning
- Assessment & Program Evaluation
- Conflict Resolution & Mediation
- Public Speaking & Presentation
- Grant Writing & Fundraising
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Member since 2010
Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA), Board Member, 2019-2021
American College Personnel Association (ACPA), Member since 2011
How to Write a Dean of Students Resume
Introduction
Landing a Dean of Students position requires more than just educational experience—it demands a resume that showcases your leadership abilities, student advocacy skills, and administrative expertise. As someone who's reviewed hundreds of higher ed resumes, I can tell you that most Dean candidates make the same mistakes: they focus too much on duties and not enough on measurable impact. Your resume needs to tell a compelling story about how you've shaped student experiences, managed crises, and built inclusive campus communities.
Resume Structure and Format
Keep your Dean of Students resume clean and professional—this isn't the place for creative designs or unusual fonts. Most hiring committees at universities prefer traditional formats that are easy to scan.
- Stick to 2 pages max (unless you have 15+ years of experience)
- Use standard section headers: Profile, Experience, Education, etc.
- Choose readable fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman (11-12pt)
- Include plenty of white space—crowded resumes get skimmed, not read
- Save as a PDF to preserve formatting (unless instructions specify otherwise)
Profile/Summary Section
Your profile should immediately signal that you understand the complex role of a Dean of Students. This 3-4 sentence paragraph needs to hit the right notes about your experience level, leadership approach, and student-centered philosophy.
Pro Tip: Customize your profile for each position! Review the job posting carefully and incorporate language that reflects the institution's values and priorities. A small liberal arts college will have different expectations than a large public university.
For example, instead of writing "Experienced higher education professional with strong leadership skills," try something like: "Student affairs leader with 8+ years guiding residential life programs and implementing mental health initiatives that reduced crisis incidents by 27% while fostering an inclusive campus culture."
Professional Experience
This section will make or break your application. For each role, include:
- Position title, institution name, location, and dates (month/year)
- Brief context about your role (size of student body, budget managed, staff supervised)
- 4-6 accomplishment-focused bullets that show results, not just responsibilities
Strong bullet examples:
- Revamped student conduct process, reducing appeal rates from 42% to 8% while improving student satisfaction scores from 2.3 to 4.1 on 5-point scale
- Led cross-functional team that developed a 24/7 mental health crisis response protocol, now adopted by 3 other institutions in our state system
- Secured $175K in grant funding for new student leadership development program serving first-generation college students
Education and Certifications
For Dean positions, your educational credentials matter a lot. List degrees in reverse chronological order with:
- Degree name, major/concentration, institution, year
- Relevant certifications (Title IX, crisis management, etc.)
- Omit GPA unless recent graduate with exceptional scores
Most Dean roles require at least a Master's in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, or related field. If you have a doctorate, make sure it's prominently displayed.
Keywords and ATS Tips
Many universities use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes before human eyes see them. Include these keywords (where truthful):
- Student development theory
- FERPA compliance
- Crisis management
- Budget administration
- Student conduct/judicial affairs
- Assessment and evaluation
- Title IX
- Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives
Industry-specific Terms
Show you speak the language of higher ed by naturally incorporating terms like "student persistence," "co-curricular programming," "residential learning communities," and "holistic student development." But don't overdo it—your resume should still be readable to non-specialists who might be on the search committee (like faculty or board members).
Common Mistakes
- Being too vague about your role in major initiatives
- Focusing on day-to-day tasks instead of leadership achievements
- Omitting metrics and measurable outcomes
- Using outdated terminology (e.g., "dormitories" instead of "residence halls")
- Failing to show progressive responsibility over time
- Neglecting to highlight crisis management experience (a crucial Dean skill!)
Remember, your resume is often your first chance to demonstrate that you understand the complex, multifaceted nature of student affairs leadership. Make every word count!
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Dean of Students resume
- Cross-functional relationship building with faculty, parents, and administrative staff
- Crisis management and de-escalation (managed 14 student emergencies in fall semester alone)
- Active listening with empathetic follow-up
- Conflict resolution between competing student/institutional needs
- Adaptability to shifting campus priorities – my team calls me “the duck” because I stay calm on the surface while paddling like crazy underneath!
- Strategic prioritization when faced with multiple urgent student concerns
Hard skills for your Dean of Students resume
- Student Information System (SIS) management – Banner, PeopleSoft, Workday Student
- Title IX investigation protocols and compliance documentation
- Crisis response planning and threat assessment procedures
- Maxient conduct management software administration
- Budget forecasting and resource allocation (6-figure departmental budgets)
- FERPA regulations and educational record management
- Behavioral intervention team (BIT) coordination
- CAS Professional Standards implementation
- Microsoft Office suite with advanced Excel reporting capabilities