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Associate Director, Center for African & African American Studies

Employer
University of Colorado Boulder
Location
Colorado, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Sep 24, 2021


Job Summary

The University of Colorado Boulder is searching for a Center for African and African American Studies Associate Director! The Associate Director position serves as a key role in the newly created Center for African and African American Studies (CAAAS). The position reports to, and partners with, the CAAAS Faculty Director. The incumbent leads the programmatic and communication efforts of the CAAAS, which includes co-conceptualizing and developing culturally relevant and intersectional programmatic offerings, creating staple programs, and managing messaging and imaging across multiple outlets. This includes developing and implementing the student services program, crafted to create a sense of inclusion for students who view the University of Colorado Boulder as unwelcoming; provide opportunities for students from different groups within the African American/Black community to share their points of view; build community across differences; and promote students' academic success and retention. In addition, this position supervises a team of student workers, interns and volunteers dedicated to advancing the Center’s key initiatives including the student services, research, arts, and health and wellness programs; community-building; philanthropy and community outreach; and more.

The CAAAS is the focal point for Black culture at CU Boulder. It is a multi-purpose space where scholars, students, artists, activists and allies come together to study Africa, African Americans, and the African diaspora. This position also works to cultivate greater connections with the broader CU and Boulder community in ways that promote the Center’s objectives with regard to showcasing and sharing African, African American, and African Diasporan history, culture, arts, and scholarship. The incumbent advises students and student organizations, assists with CAAAS initiatives and works collaboratively with campus partners such as Student Affairs and the Office of Diversity, Equity & Community Engagement (ODECE).
The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Center for African and African American Studies (https://www.colorado.edu/center/caaas/) is an interdisciplinary Center within the Graduate School that facilitates intellectual exchange and interdisciplinary engagement with scholars, artists, students, and community members on a broad spectrum of topics that range from history, culture, politics and economics, to education, religion, law and language, to literature, music, dance, theater and art. Drawing on faculty with research, creative work, and teaching expertise in African, African American, and African Diaspora Studies throughout CU, the CAAAS is the central research, teaching, performance, exhibit, consciousness-raising, and community-building space dedicated to Black culture on the Boulder campus.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Programming, Implementation, Development and Facilitation:
  • Plan, develop, and implement programs, services, activities, and strategies that promote critical dialogue and social change around multiculturalism, campus climate, and issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Work with student groups on planning their events. Determine and coordinate staffing and other logistical needs.
  • Assure issues of safety, security, and risk management are addressed.
  • Assess program effectiveness and recommend changes in program content, procedures, and policies, as appropriate.
  • Recommend the development of new activities and programs.
  • Oversee promotion of the CAAAS to increase audiences and participation.

Advising and Student Support:
  • Provide advising services to African American/Black students.
  • Provide services that support and guide African American/Black undergraduate and graduate student success, provide advising about academic and personal development resources to students engaged in ethnic specific, multicultural, and/or cross cultural studies, programs, services, and organizations. Refer students to appropriate campus and community services.
  • Plan, develop, and implement advising strategies that address campus climate issues impacting students individually and in student organizations.
  • Conduct comprehensive analyses of students’ issues and needs and provide solutions and alternatives to problem areas.

Supervision and Operation:
  • Hire, train, mentor, and supervise the work of undergraduate student coordinators and interns, graduate interns, and paraprofessionals in close partnership with the CAAAS Director.
  • Help create operational policies and procedures in close partnership with the CAAAS Director.
Campus Leadership and Strategic Partnerships:
  • Develop and maintain relationships with partners, on and off campus, critical to the CAAS’ success.
  • Serve as a liaison with other programs, centers and departments on the Boulder campus and in the community; and convene and facilitate meetings of the CAAAS Advisory Board.
  • Promote collaborations among various student, staff, faculty, and community constituencies with interests in African, African American, and African Diaspora Studies.
  • Work with faculty, academic departments, and department management to help resolve specific student academic issues.
  • Serve as a representative of the CAAAS and be visible at campus and community events.
  • Create new partnerships and beneficial collaborations on campus and in the Boulder community.

Professional Development:
  • Keep tabs on changing and evolving trends regarding: African American/Black students; African, African American, and African Diaspora Studies; multicultural education/counseling; racial and cultural identity development, etc.
  • Stay on top of student trends in higher education, particularly low-income and first-generation college populations.


What You Should Know

  • Some weekend and evening hours are required.


What We Can Offer

  • The salary range for this position is $50,000 - $70,000 annually.


Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements
Be collaborative. Be excited. Be Boulder.

What We Require
  • Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university.
    • A combination of education and/or experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
  • Two (2) years of post-bachelor experience working with first-generation, underrepresented undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and/or staff.


What You Will Need

  • Strong communication, interpersonal, and student development skills to interact successfully with an increasingly diverse array of students, parents, faculty, alumni, and university constituents.
  • Proven track record of working effectively with and build strategic relations with individuals and groups from varied cultures and backgrounds.
  • Resourcefulness, initiative, and the ability to thrive in ambiguity.
  • Proven ability to provide high-impact, culturally engaging educational and experiential programs.
  • Experience working with under­represented/underserved students and cultural programming for first time incoming college students to graduate students.
  • Experience developing and implementing multicultural competencies/theories in student programming for marginalized communities.
  • Knowledge of standard methodologies to support diversity within institutions of higher education.
  • Excellent organizational skills and an ability to prioritize and complete simultaneous projects within deadlines.
  • Skill in mediation and dispute resolution.
  • Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and communicate data in a clear and concise format.
  • Ability to think critically and creatively and have a high standard of integrity.
  • Proficiency using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and a knowledge of desktop publishing.
  • Ability to develop, implement, facilitate, and assess cultural and social justice programs, activities, and experiences that support a diverse and expansive campus community.
  • Possess a commitment to social justice and equity.
  • Ability to navigate sensitive situations and understand community and team building, leadership development, and collaboration.


What We Would Like You To Have

  • Master’s Degree in African American Studies, higher education administration, student affairs, counseling or a related field.
  • Three (3) years of relevant full-time professional experience in post-secondary education administration, including advising students/student organizations or programming planning and engaging with a variety of communities.
  • Leadership experience in retention program development and diversity programming/education.
  • Experience in project management and/or student program planning.


Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:
  1. A current resume.
  2. A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by October 19, 2021 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu


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