About Emerson College
Located in the heart of Boston’s vibrant Theatre District, Emerson College is internationally recognized as a premier institution for communication and the arts. The College’s mission is to educate and elevate extraordinary artists, communicators, scholars, and professionals for the betterment of humanity.
Founded in 1880, Emerson serves more than 5,000 graduate and undergraduate students from the United States and more than 70 countries and territories. The College maintains a global presence through campuses in Boston, Los Angeles, and the Netherlands, as well as partnerships in Paris and throughout the world.
The Opportunity
Emerson College invites applications and nominations for a visionary leader and experienced manager to serve as its inaugural Vice President for Media and Arts Ventures. This newly aligned executive leadership position represents a transformational opportunity to integrate and elevate the College’s distinctive constellation of arts and media assets into a unified strategic enterprise that advances Emerson’s mission while positioning the institution as Boston’s preeminent cultural destination and a national model for arts-integrated higher education.
Reporting directly to President Jay Bernhardt and serving on the President’s Council, the Vice President will provide leadership and strategic coordination over a portfolio that includes ArtsEmerson, one of Boston’s leading theater presenters, Emerson’s many professional theaters and live-event spaces in downtown Boston, WERS 88.9 FM radio station, Emerson Contemporary gallery, public art initiatives, and many other newly created and aligned arts and media offerings.
This position offers a rare chance in the arts and in higher education to architect a comprehensive vision for how a premier communications and arts college can leverage professional programming and venues to enhance student learning, strengthen community engagement, generate meaningful revenue and philanthropic support, and establish cultural leadership at local, national, and international levels.
Strategic Context
The Division of Media and Arts Ventures (DMAV) is positioned as essential infrastructure supporting Emerson College’s strategic plan. The VP overseeing DMAV will ensure that arts and media programming advances all four of the strategic plan’s priorities:
- Academic Innovation: Professional programming becomes a laboratory for curriculum development, providing industry partnerships and real-world learning opportunities while enhancing faculty development through practitioner engagement.
- Collaborative Connections: Strategic programming positions Emerson as a convener of Boston’s cultural community, engaging residents and alumni through high-quality professional events and cultivating corporate partnerships that leverage the College’s arts credibility.
- Community Engagement: Vibrant campus programming integrates theaters into the heart of college life and admissions experience, while professional opportunities connect students with career pathways and the facilities serve as gathering spaces that strengthen ties with the City of Boston.
- Operational Excellence: Diversified revenue generation reduces institutional subsidy while optimized resource utilization and brand elevation through cultural leadership strengthen Emerson’s competitive positioning.
Compensation & Benefits
The annual salary range for this position is $300,000 to $350,000. Relocation support is available.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Naree Viner, Susan VanGilder, and Tenley Bank. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.