Job description
Director, First-GEN+ Center
George Mason University invites qualified applicants for their next Director for the First-Gen+ Center. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.
George Mason University invites qualified applicants for their next Director for the First-Gen+ Center. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.
About the Department:
The First-Gen+ Center serves as an accessible starting point for students (and their families) to understand and connect with relevant university resources. The unit prioritizes data to better understand the student experience and proactively works toward improving the campus environment to serve students who identify as first-generation, undocumented, TPS, and/or with limited income. The Center enhances the student experience through services, programs, policy awareness, and educating the campus community.
Mission
The First-Gen+ Center supports students who are historically underrepresented in higher education and their allies while specifically centering college students who identify as first-generation, who identify as undocumented, have refugee status, and those who have families with limited income.
Vision
Excellence in the establishment of equitable, accessible, and sustainable practices that support the first-generation community.
About the Position:
The Director of the First-Gen+ Center promotes a campus community that engages in issues of diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing. This mid-level student affairs professional fosters an institutional culture that promotes events and offerings that are inclusive, social consciousness, and advocates for the needs of historically underrepresented populations, particularly for students who are first generation, undocumented, have Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA), have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), are refugees, and/or have limited income (First-Gen+).
This position collaborates with institutional and community stakeholders to advance information building, policy, advocacy, and success for these populations. This position provides leadership on intersectional outreach, contemporary educational best practices, and student-focused advocacy. This role also provides a structure for the development of education and preparedness for units, colleges, and schools to successfully support and facilitate growth for First-Gen+ populations towards their educational outcomes, identity development, engagement on campus, and overall personal enrichment.
This position has supervisory responsibilities; responsible for staff performance and accountable for conducting staff performance reviews for three (3) full-time Assistant Directors within the department.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in counseling, higher education, or related field; or equivalent combination of related education and experience;
- Experience working with diverse student populations;
- Experience managing budgets;
- Knowledge of issues, challenges, and opportunities facing institutions of higher education with regard to enrollment, equity, diversity, and student success;
- Skill in effective written and verbal communication; and
- Demonstrated ability to use basic technology to facilitate required work and ability to navigate the university systems.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ability to motivate, and serve as a strong advocate and coalition builder particularly with a range of diverse communities including students, faculty, external vendors, and donors;
- Ability to navigate competing priorities and solve complex problems;
- Ability to leverage faculty collaborations;
- Knowledge and experience of assessment strategies appropriate for student affairs;
- Ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and report data;
- Knowledge of cultural, socio‐economic, political, and environmental issues affecting matriculation, retention, and success of traditionally marginalized college students;
- Experience with performance and goal assessment and reporting;
- Advanced experience in multicultural competencies, and advocating for traditionally marginalized students;
- Experience working with and/or leading large, complex, interdisciplinary working groups; and
- Experience building and enhancing collaborative relationships in support of departmental, division, and/or institutional goals.
For full consideration, applicants must apply at
https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.
For Full Consideration, Apply by: 04/07/2023
blackflymedia.com is the go-to platform for job seekers looking for the best job postings from around the web. With a focus on quality, the platform guarantees that all job postings are from reliable sources and are up-to-date. It also offers a variety of tools to help users find the perfect job for them, such as searching by location and filtering by industry. Furthermore, blackflymedia.com provides helpful resources like resume tips and career advice to give job seekers an edge in their search. With its commitment to quality and user-friendliness, blackflymedia.com is the ideal place to find your next job.