Founded in 1826, Furman University is the oldest private university in South Carolina. It is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts and sciences universities, offering rigorous academics, broad research opportunities, a robust visual and performing arts program, and NCAA Division I athletics. Furman provides students a distinctive education in fine arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, the sciences, and select professional disciplines. The Furman Advantage promises students an individualized four-year pathway facilitated by a team of mentors and infused with a rich and varied set of high-impact experiences outside the classroom that include undergraduate research, study away, internships, community-focused learning, and opportunities to engage across differences. Furman has 2,600 students and over 70 degrees of study. The average class size is 14, is ranked 9th by Princeton Review for the “Best Schools for Making an Impact,” 92% of students participate in internships and undergraduate research, and it has 155 clubs and organizations. Continually recognized as one of the most beautiful college campuses, Furman offers 750 acres of classic building design and park-like green space for all to enjoy.

The Position

The director of campus recreation and wellness supports the vision, mission, and values of Furman University to create a vibrant campus in which students enjoy a broad experience within a close-knit community. Reporting to the associate dean of student involvement and engagement, the director provides visionary and strategic leadership, supervision, and management of campus recreation programs and facilities, including services and operations, activities, events, indoor and outdoor facilities and fields, marketing and communications, fiscal management including revenue-generating services, staffing and supervision, general administration and risk management. Programs include intramurals and club sports; individual and group fitness; aquatics; outdoor adventure activities including the challenge course and Frisbee golf course; and pre-orientation adventure experiences for new students. The director of campus recreation and wellness serves in the professional on-call rotation for Student Life.

The director develops and implements a campus recreation and wellness strategic plan that aligns with The Furman Advantage (TFA) pillars: belongingness, health and wellbeing, student success, engaged learning, campus vibrancy/social life, and the incorporation and expansion of tenets of Furman’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) plan. In addition, the director serves as the primary building manager for The Herman W. Lay Physical Activities Center (PAC), working collaboratively with Health Sciences, Summer Programs, Military Science, The Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, Sports Medicine, and Athletics to schedule the fitness center, lap and therapy pools, gymnasium and dance/fitness studio to coordinate facility use. The director develops and maintains risk management protocols for all campus recreation and wellness activities and programs following best practice models of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) and the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS).

The successful candidate advises the Club Sports Council; oversees department learning outcomes and assessment; serves on the newly formed Student Health and Wellbeing Committee; and partners with the Office of Student Involvement and Engagement, Housing and Residence Life, the Center for Inclusive Communities, Office of Spiritual Life, Mentoring and Advising, Student Life, and the inaugural student health and wellbeing coordinator on services and programs for students. The director supervises three full-time employees and one part-time Rugby coach; indirect supervision for several part-time fitness staff, lifeguards, club sports coaches, referees, and student employees; oversight of 21 club sports teams and 11 intramural leagues; and a $320,000 budget.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should possess a master’s degree in a related field and have demonstrated progressive professional experience within a campus recreation, student union, student activities or wellness organization, including experience with multiple facilities and programs, staff supervision, and budget management; a proven ability in leading organizational transformation, with a capacity to effect change in the institutional culture and operations; demonstrated knowledge of the importance of health, wellness, recreation, and fitness to a campus community as well as an understanding of the theories, principles, and practices of student development and higher education administration; strong communication, organizational, fiscal, and relationship building skills with the ability to work collaboratively with key campus and community partners. A demonstrated commitment and orientation toward equity and inclusion and cultural competency in all aspects of campus life will be essential considerations in selecting the next director of campus recreation and wellness.

Application and Nomination

The review of applications will begin May 5, 2022, and continue until the position is filled. Applications, including a position-specific cover letter and resume, may be submitted online at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions. Nominations for this position may be emailed to Dell D. Robinson at ddr@spelmanjohnson.com or Anne-Marie Kenney at amk@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895.

Visit the Furman University website at https://www.furman.edu/

Furman is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty and staff. The University aspires to create a community of people representing a multiplicity of identities, including gender, race, religion, spiritual belief, sexual orientation, geographic origin, socioeconomic background, ideology, worldview, and varied abilities.

Greenville, SC

An award-winning city, Greenville and the surrounding area is the third-largest urban area in South Carolina and the fastest growing. Nationally recognized for our urban development, sustainability, beauty, food, and campus, Greenville continues to top the list of destinations to visit. Our city has the highest foreign manufacturing investment per capita in America, with Fortune 500 companies like BMW, General Electric, and Michelin leading the way. With several hundred restaurants, music and theater, and arts venues, Greenville has gained recognition in various national publications such as CNN Money, which ranked Greenville as one of the “Top 10 Fastest-Growing Cities in the U.S.” Conveniently located in the Southeast, Greenville's bustling downtown is minutes from the Blue Ridge Mountains, beaches, other small towns, and big cities.