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:

MENTORING, CONNECTING, AND PROGRAMMING:

• Manage a portfolio of mentoring and leadership programs to support engagement of all students on campus, particularly focusing on emerging and mature leaders; work collaboratively with the Division of Student Affairs (especially the Office of Student Involvement and Center for Student Success, Center for Faith and Spirituality), The Aspire Center, Institutional Advancement, and academic departments to drive student/alumni engagement and design programs in alignment with The Aspire Program’s nine competencies and the College’s Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan.
• 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.
• 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.
• Provide general and career coaching; serve as an Equity Coach for students in the ARISE program.
• Serve as an access advocate: Work with Center for Student Success and other members of the holistic advising team to help students understand financial, academic, career-related, and social support resources available to them on-and off-campus, including student employment, paid experiential learning opportunities, tutoring, and belonging events.
• Collaborate with community partners to identify and provide students access to resources beyond campus (in coordination with others on-campus engaged in similar work to provide a unified presence in the community and clear communication on-campus).
• 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:

• Utilize and provide support for technology tools related to the role, such as PeopleGrove (powers The Aspire Network).
• Participate in reporting, assessment, and evaluation activities and adapt initiatives accordingly; develop assessment measures, as needed.
• 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.
• Contribute to executing communication plans across mediums and channels, in accordance with departmental and campus guidelines. Utilize video, experiential tabling/pop-ups, social media, the website, and other tools to motivate on- and off-campus stakeholders to engage in programs and initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned or as opportunities emerge.

REQUIRED MINDSETS:

• Commitment to improving equity and inclusion.
• Optimistic and team-oriented; able to keep team goals in mind, even when working independently.
• Works well with ambiguity and is able to make decisions without always having all of the information.
• Thinks strategically and is able to prioritize.
• Adaptable and able to handle unforeseen events/requests with ease and cheerfulness.

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.

Institutional Information

Founded in 1847, Carthage College combines an environment of reflection and self-discovery with a culture of high expectation, so that our students uncover and ignite their true potential. As a four-year private liberal arts college with roots in the Lutheran tradition, we place a strong emphasis on both moral and intellectual values. Our prime location in Kenosha, Wisconsin, midway between Chicago and Milwaukee, allows students the opportunity to learn in a professional context. Our beautiful campus, an 80-acre arboretum on the shore of Lake Michigan is home to 150 scholars, 2,600 full-time students, and 400 part-time students. Our rich academic experience equips students with foundational knowledge and skills, preparing graduates to be lifelong learners and to lead meaningful, productive lives.

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.