Associate Director of BlackAfrican Student Engagement

Department

Job Summary
The Associate Director of Black/African Student Engagement is responsible for assisting students who identify as Black or with the African/African American culture as they transition to and enroll at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver). As part of the Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion (CMEI) the Associate Director plays a key role in fostering a sense of belonging providing comprehensive support and encouragement and guiding students to utilize academic cultural and personal resources to achieve success. This is accomplished through initiatives focused on student engagement academic success cultural pride empowerment volunteerism and leadership development. The role will follow the four tenants used to build this new identity program which are: Student Engagement and Programming Support and Resources Academic Collaboration and External Partnership

This role is a front line student-facing position that promotes a supportive affirming and inclusive environment concentrating on awareness and understanding and strengthening the co-curricular personal and cultural experiences of students. The position is responsible for creating and delivering a range of support services including workshops leadership development peer and professional mentoring and cultural awareness and social programs all designed to contribute to student success retention and persistence to graduation.

Key Responsibilities

Program and Initiative Development 40%

• Host a variety of social programming designed to create community and cultivate a sense of belonging for Black and African-identifying students. These programs include but are not limited to welcome socials monthly community-building activities.

• Lead all Black History Heritage month program design roll-out and collaboration along with other culturally-focused programs as determined throughout the course of the year creating a sense of belonging.

• Responsible for hosting biannual graduate recognition programming for fall and spring graduates through the annual Spring Black/African Graduation Celebration as well as a smaller fall program.

• Participate with CMEI leadership in the development planning and evaluation of the departments new Critical Discussion Series a social justice-based topical event series featuring the Critical Discussion on Race fall program as well as coordinating with other CMEI and university staff for integration of other programming into the series.

• Develop transitional programming and leverage existing campus positions and initiatives in support of transfer and incoming first year students including but not limited to orientation programming mentorship programs and other functions held during signature events such as Rowdy Rally and Ready Set ROWDY! Welcome month.

• Host periodic meet and greets with students as well as support meetings for students needing advocacy and resource support

• In partnership with relevant units (Care Center Academic Advising etc..) develop an early alert system that uses data to identify students who may be at risk of attrition proactively to provide direct support-related services and programmatic functions from across the institution.

Department Leadership 25%

• Serve as a key member of the CMEI leadership team contributing to the creation development and implementation of the BSSIs/BASEs vision and mission ensuring alignment with CMEI and the Universitys overall goals.

• Supervise support develop and evaluate 1 full-time staff member while overseeing a shared team of student staff interns and graduate students.

• Convene campus and external partners to collaboratively design deliver and review comprehensive services that support Black student success ensuring a holistic approach by leveraging expertise from various departments division and community organizations to create integrated and robust programs tailored to meet the needs of Black-identifying students.

• Lead with a lens that centers on Black African-American and multiracial students advocating for equity inclusion and social justice on campus.

• Lead the build out of mentoring and leadership development opportunities for Black/African-identifying students including collaborations with student organizations and campus partners such as our Black Student Association African Student Association and others.

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director to manage the Brother-to-Brother program and assist in the leadership and program development of this initiative collaborating with the professional and student staff.

Student Advocacy and Retention/Persistence Support 20%

• Act as a key advocate for Black/African American students addressing their concerns both inside and outside of the classroom and liaising with faculty and staff in support of student concerns.

• Establish a network of faculty members across various departments who can serve as key connections for black-identifying students fostering mentorship academic support and facilitating intentional conversations to promote student engagement and success

• Regularly collaborate with the MSU Denver Campus to Career Hub for identifying speakers internships and opportunities to introduce and develop entrepreneurial experiences to our Black/African American identifying students

• Utilize student success and advising platforms (e.g.: Navigate360) to proactively track academic progress identify students at risk of not being retained as well as off-path to graduation and implement timely interventions. Schedule meetings with students to provide advisement and support that strengthens their academic persistence.

• Actively participate in advising system discussions to advocate for the inclusion of culturally responsive advising practices to enhance the overall support structure for Black-identifying students

Campus and Community Engagement 10%

• Partner with external community leaders organizations and alumni to create support networks programming and mentorship for Black/African-Identifying students.

• Partner with our Enrollment Management team as well as various academic and concurrent enrollment programs to assist in raising awareness with local schools and community organizations about the BSSI/BASE initiatives and support at MSU Denver.

• Collaborate with departments academic programs and colleges/schools on campus (e.g.: Africana Studies Program Academic Advising etc.) to provide but not limited to key points of engagement support and major/minor selection for students as well as fostering an understanding of the unique challenges and needs of this population.

• Partner with university advancement to identify and secure funding through grants and partnerships to support the BSSI/BASEs initiatives.

Administrative Responsibilities 5%

• Responsible for regularly scheduled communications such as newsletters marketing and outreach to the Black and African Student community.

• Develop and manage the BSSI/BASE budget in coordination with the Executive Director of Student Life and Belonging. Ensure proper allocation of resources to support programming and operations.

• Conduct ongoing assessment of BSSI/BASE initiatives to measure impact and effectiveness. Regularly analyze data to measure retention and graduation outcomes enduring a strategic data driven approach to improving Black-identifying student success.

• Provide staff and event support for broader departments events and functions as needed.

• Other department and branch duties as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree

• Minimum of three years (3) experience creating coordinating or leading student engagement involvement or communitybuilding initiatives in a higher education or similar studentcentered setting.

• Experience in program and event creation management and implementation

• Previous experience supervising professional staff and student teams

• Experience developing and delivering programs services or studentsupport initiatives for Black/African American communities including culturally responsive advising mentorship advocacy or communitybuilding.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree

• Demonstrated experience advancing student success initiatives for historically underrepresented populations particularly Black/African first-generation college students.

• Experience developing partnerships across campus and external community organizations to support student engagement and success.

• Experience designing and facilitating social justice education leadership development or culturally responsive programming.

• Experience collaborating with alumni networks community partners or advancement teams to support student initiatives or program funding.

• Demonstrated experience facilitating and leading cross-functional working groups to collaboratively develop and implement strategic initiatives ensuring alignment and fostering trust among departments and stakeholders.

Work Hours

• Full-time 40 hours per week Exempt

• Monday Friday 8:00am 5:00pm

• Evenings and weekend work: As needed

• Completely onsite with opportunity for Hybrid work

• Travel: None

Instructions to Apply

For full consideration please submit the following documents:

• Resume

• Cover letter describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

If you are an Internal applicant please apply via the Career tab within the WorkDay Menu

Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meetALLrequired qualifications.

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Posting Representative

Posting Representative Email

Benefits

The Universitys benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical vision and dental free RTD pass tuition reimbursement as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans retirement plans and other programs such as accessto a long-term disability (LTD) MSU Denversbenefits websiteto learn more.

For a brief overview please see: University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at.

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty staff students and visitors. To Assist in achieving that goal we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique access-oriented campus community that values diversity equity and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students faculty and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.