Columbia College Chicago

SITUATION OVERVIEW:

ZRG has been engaged to recruit a Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel for Columbia College Chicago.

ABOUT COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO:

Founded in 1890, Columbia College Chicago is a private, nonprofit institution dedicated to preparing students for careers in the visual, performing, media, and communication arts. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Cultural Mile, the College serves approximately 4,500 students through more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs across its schools of Audio and Music, Business and Entrepreneurship, Communication and Culture, Design, Fashion, Film and Television, Theatre and Dance, and Visual Arts.

Columbia’s distinctive approach combines rigorous academics with hands-on learning and direct engagement with Chicago’s vibrant creative industries.

The College’s diverse community of artists, innovators, and scholars is united by a shared belief in the power of creativity to shape culture, transform communities, and advance social progress.

In 2019, Columbia opened a new $55 million, 114,000-square-foot Student Center—a dynamic space for collaboration, performance, and community connection.

The College’s presence in Los Angeles through the Semester in LA program extends its reach into the nation’s entertainment capital, offering students unparalleled experiential learning and professional opportunities.

ACADEMIC OFFERINGS

The College’s specialized programs that bridge the gap between mastery of creative disciplines and broader educational preparation are what distinguishes Columbia from its peer institutions. Faculty members bring real-world experience and industry connections to the classroom to enhance students’ learning experiences. Columbia’s programs and faculty have outstanding reputations in their fields.

In annual surveys, The Hollywood Reporter consistently ranks Columbia’s film program and music composition for the screen MA program as among the top programs in the United States, and the College’s animation, comedy studies, photography, visual effects, and video game design programs have received similar accolades.

SEMESTER IN LA

Columbia College Chicago’s Semester in Los Angeles (SiLA) program is an immersive, professional development experience that places juniors and seniors in the heart of the entertainment industry. Students spend a semester living in Los Angeles, completing internships with leading studios, production companies, music labels, and talent agencies while taking courses taught by industry professionals and Columbia faculty. Designed as a capstone to their academic studies, the program provides direct exposure to the business and creative practices of film, television, and music, while also connecting students with Columbia’s extensive alumni network in Los Angeles. Through SiLA, students gain the skills, experience, and professional relationships needed to launch successful careers in creative industries.

Columbia College Chicago embodies a spirit of exploration, discovery, and innovation. The College attracts students who are passionate about making a difference through their creative practice and provides an environment that encourages experimentation, collaboration, and bold expression. Columbia fosters a culture where dynamic voices and perspectives produce new ideas that shape the culture of our times.

Columbia College Chicago is an undergraduate and graduate institution whose principal commitment is to provide comprehensive educational opportunities in the arts, communications, and public information within a context of enlightened liberal arts education.

Columbia’s intent is to educate students who will communicate creatively and shape the public’s perceptions of issues and events and who will author the culture of their times. Columbia is an urban institution whose students reflect the economic, cultural, and educational variety of contemporary America. Columbia conducts education in close relationship to a vital urban reality and serves an important civic purpose by active engagement in the life and culture of the city of Chicago.

Columbia’s purpose

• To educate students for creative occupations in varied fields of the arts and media and to encourage awareness of their aesthetic relationship and the opportunity of professional choice among them;
• To extend educational opportunity by admitting unreservedly (at the undergraduate level) a student population with creative ability in, or inclination to, the subjects of Columbia’s interest;
• To provide a college climate that offers students an opportunity to try themselves out, to explore, and to discover what they can and want to do;
• To give educational emphasis to the work of a subject by providing a practical setting, professional facilities, and the example and guidance of an inventive faculty who work professionally at the subjects they teach;
• To teach students to do expertly the work they like, to master the crafts of their intended occupations, and to discover alternative opportunities to employ their talents in settings other than customary marketplaces;
• To help students to find out who they are and to discover their own voices, respect their own individuality, and improve their self-esteem and self-confidence;
• To offer specialized graduate programs which combine a strong conceptual emphasis with practical professional education, preparing students with mature interests to be both competent artists and successful professionals.

POSITION:

The Chief Executive Officer Columbia College Chicago invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel. Reporting directly to President Dr. Shantay N. Bolton, the Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel (GC)

serves as the College’s chief legal officer, principal advisor to the President and Board of Trustees, and a key member of the President’s Cabinet.

This position provides strategic leadership, counsel, and oversight for all legal, compliance, risk-management, and policy matters affecting the College. The Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel ensures that institutional actions, policies, and initiatives reflect the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and accountability.

As Columbia embarks on Renaissance Rising: Shaping Tomorrow Together—a bold, multi-year strategic plan, the General Counsel will play an essential role in supporting governance, safeguarding the institution’s mission, and enabling the creative and academic freedom that define Columbia College Chicago. Columbia College Chicago stands at a pivotal moment in its 135-year history.

The College is redefining its future through Renaissance Rising: Shaping Tomorrow Together, a comprehensive strategic plan that emphasizes four pillars: stabilizing enrollment, elevating the Columbia brand, strengthening philanthropy, and improving operational efficiency.

Within this framework, the Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel will serve as a steward of institutional integrity and a trusted partner to the President, Cabinet, and Board. The GC will guide the College through complex legal and regulatory environments, ensuring that the pursuit of creativity and innovation rests upon a strong foundation of sound governance and responsible decision-making.

The Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel will lead a comprehensive legal affairs and compliance function that protects the College’s interests, fosters a culture of transparency, and promotes effective collaboration among senior leaders, trustees, faculty, staff, and students. The role offers an opportunity to reimagine how legal strategy aligns with the College’s creative and academic enterprise, balancing compliance with innovation and policy with possibility.

As Columbia continues to evolve, the General Counsel will be instrumental in advancing initiatives that promote operational excellence, risk awareness, and a deepened culture of accountability.

KEY LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES:

Champion Institutional Integrity and Stewardship

The General Counsel will serve as the College’s guardian of integrity—ensuring that Columbia’s policies, practices, and governance structures align with applicable laws, ethical standards, and the College’s mission.

Serve as Strategic Partner and Trusted Advisor

Working closely with President Bolton, the Board of Trustees, and senior leadership, the GC will offer balanced, solutions oriented counsel on matters involving governance, employment, contracts, student affairs, intellectual property, compliance, and external relations.

Advance Enterprise Risk Management and Compliance Excellence

The GC will oversee a unified risk and compliance framework that anticipates challenges, mitigates liabilities, and integrates risk assessment into strategic planning and decision-making.

Foster Inclusion and Ethical Leadership

The GC will advance Columbia’s commitment to inclusive excellence, ensuring that institutional policies promote fairness and respect in all areas of campus life.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel provide executive leadership and operational oversight for:

• Comprehensive legal strategy and representation of the College in all matters of law and policy;
• Regulatory compliance in areas such as Title IX, Clery Act, ADA/Section 504, labor and employment, intellectual property, and privacy;
• Enterprise risk management, including contract review, insurance, and institutional risk mitigation strategies;
• Policy development and revision, ensuring consistency with federal, state, and local laws;
• Oversight of external counsel and management of legal budgets and resources;
• Training and capacity building for administrators, faculty, and staff on compliance, ethics, and risk awareness;
• Collaboration with key stakeholders across campus to advance institutional priorities and safeguard Columbia’s mission.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and membership in good standing in the bar of Illinois or eligibility for admission within one year of hire;
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible legal experience, preferably in higher education or in a complex nonprofit, corporate, or governmental setting;
• Demonstrated expertise in higher education law, labor and employment law, contracts, governance, compliance, and risk management;
• Ability to translate legal complexity into practical guidance that empowers decision-making and innovation;
• Record of success as a collaborative, transparent, and forward-thinking leader who inspires trust across constituencies;
• Commitment to inclusion; cultural competence in working with creative communities;
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and analytical skills, with sound judgment and personal integrity;
• Proven ability to advise boards, presidents, and senior leadership teams with discretion, empathy, and strategic insight.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT:

Shantay N. Bolton, Ph. D
President and Chief Executive Officer

Shantay N. Bolton, Ph.D. is President and Chief Executive Officer of Columbia College Chicago. As the College’s 11th president, Dr. Bolton leads the institution in its mission to provide a comprehensive education in media arts, technology, and business within a context of enlightened liberal arts education. Dr. Bolton was most recently the Special Advisor to the President and Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Business Officer at the Georgia Institute of Technology with responsibility for administrative policy development, oversight of the strategic enterprise and operational functions. Before this role, she served as the Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Administrative Officer at Washington University in St. Louis, and as the first Vice President & Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Tulane University.

Dr. Bolton has more than 20 years of experience in business operations, human resources, leadership development, employee engagement, talent management and strategic training projects through organizational change initiatives.

She also provides thought leadership on generational differences in the workplace and coaching multigenerational project leaders. As the creator of E3©: Engage, Educate, Empower an Action Learning Model for Employee Engagement and Coaching, she uses it as the foundation to build teams in government, corporate, higher education and nonprofit industries. She is also a two-time Titan 100 recipient (St. Louis and Atlanta), recognized for her “reputable, distinguished and highly preeminent” contribution to higher education.

Dr. Bolton is a professional devoted to connecting theory to practical application through the building of human capital assets with recognized strengths in setting strategic direction and implementing initiatives that enhance organizational performance.

Dr. Bolton is a 2019 Aspen Economic Opportunities Fellow, Certified MBTI Practitioner, Certified Executive Coach (ICF-ACTP), Certified Business Coach (ICF-ACTP), Organizational Development Certified Professional and 6-Thinking Hats/Parallel Thinking Trainer. The founder of both the Tulane University Leadership Institute (TULI) and the Washington University in St. Louis Institute for Leadership Excellence (ILE). She is a graduate of Alabama A&M University, bachelor’s in psychology, master’s in counseling psychology; Walden University, Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology (Industrial concentration) and a MBA in Corporate Business from Florida International University.

WHY IS THIS A COMPELLING POSITION?

Columbia College Chicago offers a uniquely inspiring environment for creative professionals who value innovation, collaboration, and purpose-driven work. As a college dedicated to the arts, media, and communication, Columbia fosters a culture that celebrates originality and empowers individuals to transform ideas into impact. Working here means being part of an institution that encourages both students and employees to think boldly and shape the future of creative industries.

One of the most compelling reasons to join Columbia College Chicago is its strong commitment to professional growth and career development. Through its Career Center, the college provides extensive support not only for students but for the entire community — including personalized guidance, networking opportunities, and access to a thriving creative network across Chicago and beyond. The impressive outcomes of Columbia graduates reflect this dedication, with 96% employed within a year of graduation and 75% working in their field or a related creative industry. This culture of continuous learning and mentorship extends to the staff, where curiosity and professional evolution are deeply encouraged.

Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Columbia’s campus offers access to one of the nation’s most dynamic cultural and creative ecosystems. The college’s close connection to the city’s arts, design, and media communities provides daily inspiration and opportunities for collaboration. Employees are part of a vibrant, inclusive environment that values diversity of thought, background, and expression, a cornerstone of Columbia’s mission to champion creativity as a force for positive change.

LOCATION:

Chicago offers the perfect balance of opportunity, culture, and community. It’s a vibrant city where innovation meets creativity, providing endless possibilities for career growth across industries like technology, business, and the arts.

Beyond work, Chicago’s world-class dining, music, and architecture — along with its welcoming neighborhoods and lakefront lifestyle — make it an inspiring place to live. With its central location, affordable cost of living, and strong sense of community, Chicago is a city where both careers and people thrive.

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INTERVIEW PROCESS:

ZRG provides our global Clients with a rigorous and patented assessment platform grounded in data and analytics. Our interview process includes the following:

1. Initial interviews with ZRG

2. ZRG presentation of candidates to Client for calibration and discussion; Client selects candidates for consideration and initial interviews

3. Candidates complete ZRG’s on-line assessment

4. Finalist candidates advance to second and third round interviews with broader leadership team

5. Formal referencing

6. Offer extended

ABOUT ZRG PARTNERS:

ZRG is a global talent advisory firm that is changing the way companies hire and manage talent. ZRG’s data-driven approach to executive and professional search has been changing the way clients think about how to find top talent. The company’s digital Zi platform combines talent intelligence, candidate insights, and process improvement to dramatically deliver executive searches quicker and with proven better results.

Dakota Doman
Managing Director
ddoman@zrgpartners.com

Dakota Doman is a dynamic and visionary executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning higher education administration, executive search, organizational strategy, and governmental affairs. He is a Managing Director in ZRG’s Education Practice, bringing a comprehensive perspective on leadership needs within academic institutions, especially Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Before ZRG, Dakota was the President and Managing Principal of TM2 Executive Search, the only search firm founded to provide executive talent solutions to HBCUs, where his work focused on inclusive leadership recruitment, strategic talent pipelines, and governance transformation, contributing to successful placements in C-suite and senior academic roles across the country

Link to complete bio for Dakota Doman.

Jerel Booker
Principal
jbooker@zrgpartners.com

Jerel Booker is a seasoned executive specializing in talent strategy, organizational growth, and executive search, with over two decades of leadership experience across higher education, K–12, and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, he served as Associate Managing Principal and Chief Operating Officer at TM² Executive Search, where he conducted national executive searches and oversaw enterprise operations - aligning people, processes, and performance to drive organizational growth and client impact.

Link to complete bio for Jerel Booker.

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