POSITION DESCRIPTION

• |
• Full Time

Case Western Reserve University—a leading national research university and the top-ranked private university in Ohio—seeks a visionary leader to serve as its inaugural Assistant Vice President for Mental Health and Well-being & Chief Wellness Officer (AVP/CWO). This new position will be responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining a data-informed, comprehensive, and integrated campus-wide approach to mental health and well-being.

The AVP/CWO will oversee all campus student mental health and wellness programs, mental health promotion, and disability resources and accommodation services, ensuring accessible, comprehensive, and integrated care. The incumbent will direct efforts to cultivate a university culture that supports psychological resilience, belonging, and thriving, and collaborate across divisions, the college, and schools to embed mental health and well-being principles into campus life, academics, and co-curricular programs. The AVP/CWO will also maintain a limited clinical practice to ensure ongoing expertise in direct service with students and model the highest clinical standards. The role will report directly to the Vice President for Student Affairs and serve on the Student Affairs Executive Leadership Team and Leadership Council.

The University is conducting this search in parallel with another to recruit and place an integral partner to the AVP/CWO: the Assistant Vice President & Chief Health Officer (AVP/CHO), a senior medical executive who will oversee all its campus medical, physical health, occupational health, and public health services. In close partnership, both roles will lead an integrated portfolio of comprehensive health, mental health, and wellness services, promote a campus-wide culture of wellness, and make health and well-being a point of pride and attracting feature for future students.

With programs spanning the arts and sciences, engineering, health sciences, law, management, and social sciences, Case Western Reserve and its research and educational opportunities allow students, faculty, staff and alumni to tackle today’s toughest problems—and transform the future. The University, which celebrates its bicentennial this year, is located within walking distance of three major hospitals and in one of the nation’s top arts districts, with limitless opportunities for professional connection and personal enrichment.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Supervision (30%)

• Provide strategic leadership, vision, and operational direction for all campus mental health and well-being services, including University Counseling Services, case management, Disability Resources, and well-being and health promotion initiatives.
  • This includes establishing and maintaining a process for daily, intensive co-management of shared resources and spaces with the AVP/CHO to ensure a seamless and integrated model of care delivery across both departments.
• Supervise the Director of Clinical Counseling Services, Director of Acute Mental Health Care, Crisis Response and Case Management, Associate Director for Wellness and Health Promotion, Director of Disability Resources/Accommodated Testing and Services, and related staff.
• In collaboration with the AVP/CHO, co-supervise the Director of Psychiatry and the Senior Director of Operations.
• Oversee approximately 30 staff members across counseling, wellness education, case management, Disability Resources and administrative support, including responsibility for hiring decisions and performance management.
• Maintain regular contact with direct reports to provide oversight and response.
• In collaboration with the AVP/CHO, develop an integrated, holistic strategic plan for University Health and Counseling Services.
• Lead campus-wide strategic planning and assessment for mental health and well-being, including data-driven evaluation of counseling utilization, student outcomes, and well-being metrics; use national benchmarks (e.g., JED Campus, ACHA-NCHA, Healthy Minds) to guide continuous improvement.

Inclusive Outreach (25%)

• Champion outreach, education, and prevention through campus-wide campaigns that reduce stigma, increase help-seeking, and enhance faculty/staff capacity to support students in distress.
• Oversee delivery of clinical and outreach services, ensuring that mental health care is evidence-based, trauma-informed, and welcoming of different identities and experiences.
• Promote a stepped-care model for access to services.
• Maintain contact with undergraduate, graduate and professional students for direct care, as well as for advocating and developing wellness programs that directly affect students.

Campus Leadership (20%)

• In collaboration with the AVP/CHO, Student Affairs leadership, and other university partners, establish and institutionalize a university-wide culture of well-being, integrating mental health promotion into every aspect of student life, from orientation and residence halls to classrooms and co-curricular activities.
• Maintain frequent contact with the Vice President for Student affairs and Senior leadership team, providing input into meeting the priorities and mission of the university and the Division of Student Affairs.
• Maintain frequent contact and ongoing collaboration with the AVP/CHO, ensuring an integrated approach to healthcare for students.
• Maintain contact with the president’s office, vice presidents, deans, trustees, alumni, director of administrative departments, faculty and staff as required to provide leadership for university health and well-being priorities.

Mental Health Crisis & Response (10%)

• Coordinate mental health crisis response and postvention efforts in partnership with the Dean of Students, public safety, academic affairs, and student support offices.
• Serve as a senior advisor on campus crises and behavioral intervention efforts.
• Serve as a member of the university’s threat assessment and behavioral intervention team.

Other Key Responsibilities (15%)

• Maintain a limited direct service practice (e.g., 4-6 hours per week of clinical care, supervision, or crisis consultation) to stay proficient in clinical skills, model best practices, and retain professional licensure/certification.
• Ensure integrated access to disability resources (a collaboration with the AVP/CHO) through oversight and strategic direction for Disability Resources (DR); this includes overseeing DR's operational effectiveness, ensuring compliance with relevant disability laws (e.g., ADA, Section 504), and promoting access to academic and co-curricular programs for students with disabilities.
  • DR will maintain a dotted line reporting relationship with the AVP/CHO for consultation on complex issues, medical documentation, physical accessibility standards, and cross-over health compliance issues.
• Develop external partnerships and funding strategies to enhance mental health and well-being programs through grants, philanthropy, and community collaborations.
• Maintain regular contact with community organizers/advocates, corporate executives, leaders in the health care and counseling community, and federal, state, and local government officials; maintain contact with foreign visitors as required to perform essential functions.
• Serve as a thought leader and spokesperson on student mental health and well-being.
• Represent the University nationally in professional associations and networks advancing mental health in higher education.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in counseling or other mental health services, health promotion and well-being, or student mental health administration
• PhD or PsyD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology, Doctorate in Social Work, or MD with current certification in psychiatry from the American Board of Medical Specialties
• Active or immediate eligibility for independent licensure in the state of Ohio; terminal licensure highly preferred  
• Experience leading integrated well-being initiatives in higher education or similar settings
• Relevant business management experience (e.g., budget, finance, grant writing)
• Demonstrated current or recent experience in direct clinical service, particularly within a time-limited or stepped-care counseling model

Required Skills

• Expertise in evidence-based mental health care and well-being program design
• Demonstrated ability to build cross-campus coalitions to support student thriving
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with leaders of other student health functions to ensure integrated care for students
• Strong understanding of culturally responsive and trauma-informed care
• Experience supervising licensed mental health professionals and managing complex operations
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and leadership skills with a broad range of constituencies
• Demonstrated history of successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest
• Excellent interpersonal skills with colleagues, supervisors, and patients/clients

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of and/or interest in utilizing artificial intelligence to maximize student access to and benefit from services

Compensation

Case Western Reserve is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $175,000 and $225,000, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data. 

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

How to Apply

Case Western Reserve has partnered with Keeling & Associates, LLC (K&A) in this search. Interested applicants must send a resume and cover letter, preferably in PDF format, to recruiting@keelingassociates.com with the subject line “Case Western Reserve—AVP/Chief Wellness Officer.” Please address confidential inquiries and nominations to Marrlee Burgess, Senior Consultant, at mburgess@keelingassociates.com. K&A will confidentially review applications immediately and continue to do so until the University makes an appointment. To receive full consideration, applicants should submit their materials no later than May 7, 2026.

Equal Employment and Disability Statement

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the University’s Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.