A member of the prestigious Seven Sisters colleges, Mount Holyoke is a highly selective, nondenominational, not-for-profit, residential, independent, research liberal arts college. It is the leading gender-diverse women’s college, welcoming applications from female, transgender, and non-binary students. Mount Holyoke is a noted leader in designing and delivering an inclusive and exploratory liberal arts education, with a mission grounded in the conviction that its graduates can—and should—make a difference in the world. The College immerses students in a vibrant, intellectually adventurous global community to develop their voices and vision for the future, preparing them for lives of purposeful leadership in a culturally diverse world.

With the recent adoption of its strategic plan, MHC Forward, Mount Holyoke has doubled down on its commitment to academic innovation, inclusivity, and global engagement. This ambitious roadmap was built through extensive community input and centers on advancing academic excellence, enhancing the student experience, and responsibly expanding resources for a sustainable future. As the College pursues these goals, it remains dedicated to equipping graduates to make positive, lasting contributions to society.

Through MHC Forward, Mount Holyoke is entering an exciting era that aims to push boundaries and shape the future of liberal arts education.

The Opportunity

In alignment with MHC Forward, the Associate Vice President for Foundation Relations and Sponsored Research (AVP) will play a pivotal role in implementing Mount Holyoke’s bold new vision by creating systems, frameworks, and strategies to identify and secure support for faculty research and advance the College’s institutional priorities.

In this newly restructured role reporting to the Provost and Dean of Faculty, the AVP will build a proactive and collaborative foundation relations and sponsored research function that increases foundation and grant funding.

Overseeing a team of three professionals with support from the Finance Office, this leader will establish best practices for comprehensive pre- and post-award support for faculty research and institutional projects. With this foundation in place, the AVP will guide Mount Holyoke in identifying funding opportunities and cultivating productive relationships with funders to enhance the College’s strategic priorities.

This is a unique opportunity to develop an impactful, high-performing team at a critical moment in Mount Holyoke’s trajectory.