Associate Director of Multicultural Student Development

Appalachian State University is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and offers a challenging academic environment, energetic campus life, and breathtaking location. Appalachian combines the best attributes of a small liberal arts college with those of a large research university. Known for its value and affordability, Appalachian enrolls over 18,000 students and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Small classes and close interactions between faculty and students create a strong sense of community, which has become an Appalachian hallmark. Appalachian, located in Boone, N.C., is one of 16 universities in the University of North Carolina system.

The Division of Student Development at Appalachian State University invites applications for the position of Associate Director of Multicultural Student Development.

PRIMARY PURPOSE: The Associate Director is responsible for promoting academic, social, emotional, and overall personal growth of all students. The Associate Director will be working with the campus community to create an institution and community climate of inclusive diversity and justice, advocating for access and equity in higher education, and offering educational opportunities to the campus. This position develops initiatives promoting engagement within the campus community; cultivating a climate of awareness that supports a welcoming and holistic experience for faculty, staff, and students. Additionally, the Associate Director collaborates with campus partners developing and delivering general inclusive diversity and social justice programs, workshops, and initiatives. As a member of the Multicultural Student Development team, this position represents the department on various committees and at public engagements. The Associate Director will be an active participant in creating sustained dialogue regarding diversity, multicultural, and social justice topics. This position reports to the Director of Multicultural Student Development. More information about the Office of Multicultural Student Development can be found by visiting http://multicultural.appstate.edu/.

SERVICES PROVIDED: Multicultural Student Development assists in preparing students to be transformational leaders in a diverse world. Specific responsibilities of the Associate Director include mentoring and supporting students from underrepresented populations, advising the Women's Center and LGBT Center, hiring and supervising student staff, coordinating training for graduate assistants, interns, and volunteers of all three Multicultural Student Development identity centers, overseeing graduate assistant recruitment, and developing and teaching of multicultural leadership and social justice courses. Additionally, this position promotes academic and personal growth to students, faculty, and staff while promoting a climate of inclusion through advocacy and on-demand or ad hoc workshops, presentations, activity facilitation, and educational programming. The Associate Director facilitates and models inclusivity through outreach efforts in addition to approaching students attentively with affirmation and acknowledgement of all intersections of identities. This position will support an environment that is inclusive and responsive to the needs of the Appalachian State University community. Duties also include supervising three graduate students.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND PRINCIPLE WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

• Collaborate with Director and Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Development to establish goals and objectives for multicultural, social justice, and inclusive programming.
• This position works on an ongoing basis with departments such as: Admissions, Financial Aid, Office of International Education and Development, Equity, Diversity and Compliance, Student Engagement and Leadership, Office of the Dean of Students, College of Education, and various other colleges and academic departments related to education, cultural programming, and initiatives with a focus on recruitment, retention, and success of underrepresented students.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervise two identity center Graduate Assistants (GA), one for the Henderson Springs LGBT Resource Center and one for the Women’s Center. Assist the GAs in the daily operations of the Henderson Springs LGBT Resource Center and Women’s Center including budgeting, coordinating volunteer staff, and implementing center initiatives.
• Supervise one initiative focused GA focused on Equity in Action, Intersect Social Justice Retreat, and Sustained Dialogue.
• Advise and assist in implementing Equity in Action; an annual social justice conference coordinated by a student led board.
• Co-direct Intersect Social Justice Retreat; an annual weekend retreat dedicated to basic social justice concepts, identity exploration, and implementation of knowledge.
• Serve as a member of the Sustained Dialogue Advisory Board; assisting with successful implementation of Sustained Dialogue per standards set by national Sustained Dialogue Institute (http://sustaineddialogue.org/)
• Promote academic and personal growth to students, faculty, and staff while promoting a climate of inclusion through advocacy and on-demand or ad hoc workshops, presentations, activity facilitation, and educational programming which are rooted in a deep understanding of power, privilege, intersectionality, and social justice.
• Collaborate, design, implement, and assess educational programs around diversity, inclusion, and social justice with offices, departments, and individuals across campus.
• Coordinate process for undergraduate and graduate interns within the office and centers including interviews, selection, and project assignment.
• Have an opportunity to serve as an instructor for HPC3542 Multicultural Leadership, a social justice and multicultural education course within the leadership minor.
• Mentor, advise, and counsel students from underrepresented populations.
• Identify students needing campus support and services aiding their ability to succeed at the institution and persist to graduation.
• Assist with coordination and implementation of Multicultural Student Development and center initiatives.
• Serve on divisional and campus committees addressing various diversity, inclusion, and social justice issues on campus.
• Recruit, train, promote and coordinate opportunities for student volunteers.
• Assist in oversight of the dissemination of resources, activities, and amenities to students through social media, email, electronic bulletin boards, departmental calendar, etc.