Program Specialist for Equity and Community Connections

SUMMARY :

This unique dual-reporting position is designed to connect Carthage’s commitments to diversity, inclusivity, and career preparation. Networks of support are critical for all students and play an especially important role for students who have been historically marginalized in higher education. Through this role the Office of Equity and Inclusion and The Aspire Center intend to develop and collaboratively manage identity-focused programs that help students to build their personal/professional networks, develop leadership skills, and gain access to the experiences they need to set and meet their career goals.

You will be joining two teams that value diverse perspectives and backgrounds. We are committed to creating a diverse environment on-campus where everyone is welcome. Creating an inclusive environment for our students and faculty/staff starts with helping people to have a sense of belonging and nurturing safe spaces to develop cultural competence. Carthage is advancing new efforts to strengthen our campus community through a variety of campus initiatives, which include the College’s Anti-Racism Plan, commitment to Moon Shot for Equity, and development of our new Holistic Advising model to support students’ success on-campus and transition to meaningful lives after graduation.

The ideal candidate is someone who is flexible, creative, curious, and collaborative. While there will be opportunities to be engaged in a variety of identity and career/leadership development initiatives, the following will be primary areas of emphasis:

MENTORINIG, CONNECTING, AND PROGRAMMING :

• Nurture relationships with students and community members, based upon identity affiliations that highlight diverse perspectives and provide students with access to mentors, events, and networks.
• Lead the identity-based mentoring programs and provide management on The Aspire Network.
• Contribute to coordinating the ARISE program, an intercultural development program for first year students.
• Serve as a mentor to student leaders and advisors involved with identity-based and culturally-focused student organizations and support groups.
• Contribute to community-building initiatives, including supporting active usage of the campus Intercultural Center.
• Serve as an Equity Coach for students in the ARISE program.
• Work with the Exploratory Career Specialist and the Center for Student Success to help guide and connect students of color to the appropriate institutional resources.
• Collaborate with the Director of Community Engagement and Employer Relations to build partnerships with external organizations for student opportunities.
• Assist with targeted communication efforts to get students engaged in meaningful experiential learning and community engagement/service opportunities, especially students historically underrepresented in particular fields.

OPERATIONS AND CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT :

• Help to provide content for the MyAspire Plan to help strengthen intercultural competencies in the workplace.
• Assist with special major events, such as The Aspire Conference.
• Participate in relevant team meetings for the Office of Equity and Inclusion and The Aspire Center.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS :

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• All areas of study are invited to apply.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE :

• Ability to work effectively within a culturally diverse community of students/alumni, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to understanding cultural competence, unconscious bias, and historic inequities that influence students’ ability to succeed in and after college; comfortable engaging others in difficult conversations to build understanding and address inequities.
• Able to use technology required for the role, such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Google Workspace/GSuite, survey builder software (like Qualtrics), LinkedIn and similar productivity and social media tools. Video production/editing skills are a plus.
• Must have experience with data collection and making decisions with quantitative and/or qualitative data.
• Possess effective written and verbal communication skills across mediums with attentiveness to detail, tone, and audience.
• Experience prioritizing immediate and longer term work, as well as managing competing priorities.
• Available to work some evenings and weekends.

APPLY ONLINE

ABOUT THE ASPIRE CENTER :

The Aspire Center is the hub of activity for The Aspire Program with a scope of work that extends well beyond the work of a traditional career center - this 4-year career development program also helps students to develop skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, and creativity. Carthage’s location in the Milwaukee to Chicago corridor provides students access to a wide range of experiential learning and post-graduate opportunities, and its unique J-term and off-campus study programs have historically provided global options to expand students’ perspectives on the world.

The center consists of a small and growing team doing work that will make a real impact in both on- and off-campus communities. In an average day, we’re as likely to be strategizing about regional workforce development needs as planning a program with on-campus colleagues for first years to explore their sense of purpose. We’re like a start-up housed in an established organization, and we are looking for people who are energized by the trials and triumphs of building a new program.

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION :

The Office Equity and Inclusion for Culture Change is committed to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally engaged society. In support of the College’s priorities, the Office strives to create collaborative partnerships among Carthage College faculty and staff, community organizations, and students through programs, activities, and events that develop students’ professional skills, individual creativity, personal excellence, and social awareness. Through the Office team-based leadership approach and cross-functional integrated work with other departments, the commitment to institutionalizing diversity, equity, and inclusion occurs.

In 2020, the Intercultural Center for Equity, Advocacy, and Engagement was established as a hub for inclusive programming related to equity and inclusion. It is a space for students to gather, anti-racism training, and partner with community social justice organizations to form solid coalitions and support networks for students, faculty, and staff.

About Carthage

Located on the shore of Lake Michigan in the thriving Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, Carthage College blends the best liberal arts traditions with desirable degree programs, transformative learning opportunities, and personal attention from dedicated faculty and staff. Our beautiful campus, an 80-acre arboretum with stunning lake views, is home to 2,600 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students. Founded in 1847, Carthage is consistently named a Best Midwestern College by The Princeton Review and a Most Innovative School by U.S. News & World Report. All Carthage employees play a vital part in the success of our students, as we work together to create an environment where all can achieve their true potential. Grow with Carthage.

Carthage College is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse community. We welcome applications from a broad spectrum of people, including members of ethnic minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.