ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Central Michigan University [Recruiter]

, Michigan

Salary: $41,000 - $50,000

Employment Term: Full time

Country: United States

Reporting to the Director for the Office of Multicultural Academic Student Services (MASS), the Assistant Director of Student Engagement contributes to the overall mission of the MASS Office by providing advisement and education to students and Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). This position supports students through the exploration of identity development and fosters an active learning environment that enhances their awareness on the ways culture informs community and personhood. The assistant director provides support for MASS and the Division of University Engagement and Student Affairs with cultural programming that aligns with divisional goals. The assistant director also collaborates with campus partners on student engagement, recruitment, retention, progress, and completion initiatives. Further, they are responsible for various levels of academic support, post-secondary education preparation, student retention, and advocacy programs.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree, preferably in education, psychology, social work/sociology, leadership, human development or related area.
Three years of professional experience focused on program development, advising/counseling, community engagement, or equivalent combination of education and experience in the areas listed above.
Experience with advising undergraduates, including directing their participation and observing their growth in learning.
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence as it relates to the academic, personal, intellectual development of all students, faculty and staff.
Demonstrated experience with cultivating a culture of creativity, care, and concern.
Demonstrated ability to leverage highly effective and engaging verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated experience coordinating initiatives between different units, offices, divisions, organizations, and/or communities.
Ability to establish learning outcomes and assessing program effectiveness.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team environment.
Ability to work in a self-directed manner to meet due dates and to manage multiple tasks and activities.
Ability to work occasional nights and weekends.
Experienced proficiency with software applications, including Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe, Canva, Articulate, and Teams/WebEx/Zoom.
Ability to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree preferably in Latin American studies, higher education, social work, leadership, student affairs/personnel, human development and family studies or a related area of study.
Experience with program development and mentoring initiatives.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice, student support and student development.
Knowledge of graphic design and statistical software.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Oversees the planning, design, marketing, implementation, and assessment of campus-wide programs, events, cultural celebrations, and community service endeavors.
Creates educational programs that foster learning around issues related to social location and identity.
Serves as a resource person, advisor, advocate, and mentor for students.
Fosters and maintains relationships with campus and community partners in providing services that support student retention, benefit student health and well-being, and provides opportunities for academic and professional growth.
Analyzes institutional data related to issues that impact the student experience.
Provides data and assessment reports and/or presentations that highlight relevant departmental accomplishments, challenges, opportunities and recommendations to divisional leadership.
Maintains a detailed record of projects including workplans, student outcomes, and recommendations, where applicable.
Evaluates programming and responds to evolving needs.
Contributes to department/office operations and strategic planning and investigates/shares best practices to advance services, efficiencies, communication plans and initiatives.
Serves on various campus committees, panels, and events. Performs related responsibilities as required.
Conducts and attends some evening programs.
Additional duties as assigned.

Supervision Exercised:

None.

Employee Group: Professional & Administrative -Salary

Staff Pay Level:

Pay Range: $45,000 - $52,000

Division: University Engagement and Student Affairs

Department: Multicultural Academic Student Services

Position Status: Regular

Position End Date:

Employment Status: Full-Time

FTE: 1.0

Position Type: 12 month

Weekly Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed

Location: Mount Pleasant, MI

Posting Ends:

Open Until Filled: Yes

About the Department:

Multicultural Academic Student Services (MASS) supports the academic success, well-being, and graduation of multicultural students by providing culturally responsive programs, mentoring, advocacy, and community-building that promote persistence, engagement, and holistic development.

Message to Applicants:

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU's mission, vision, and leadership standards.

You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials by March 6, 2026.

About Central Michigan University [Recruiter]

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master's, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 men's and women's Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It's part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state's largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more are within easy reach of the city's central location in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

CMU Leadership Standards:

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

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