Assistant Director, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Kenyon College is conducting a search for a qualified candidate to fill the position of Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADDEI) – who reports directly to the Dean for DEI and Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the Division of Student Affairs – is committed to student success in the classroom, residence, and co-curricular experience.  The Assistant Director has direct responsibility and administrative oversight as the coordinator of the Kenyon Educational Enrichment Program (KEEP)* and the Recognizing Each Other’s Ability to Conquer the Hill (REACH) Peer Mentoring Program**. The Assistant Director works closely with the Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, College faculty, and staff to support the retention of students from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, religious and national backgrounds. The Assistant Director also assists the Dean, Director and the Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in providing campus-wide programming to enrich the campus climate and quality of life for the Kenyon College community. The Assistant Director will partner with the Office of Student Engagement in providing direct support and coordination of multicultural student organizations. Within the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), this position will have a particular focus on supporting students of color by identifying and addressing barriers to their success, and carrying out efforts to support them.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Campus Programming

• Develop and implement programs that support institutional anti-racism initiatives;
• Coordinate the Kenyon Educational Enrichment Program (KEEP), working closely with KEEP Faculty Co-Directors, faculty, staff, and students. Supervise the KEEP Summer Coordinator, Serve as advisor to the first-year and sophomore class cohorts of KEEP Scholars;
• Coordinate the REACH Peer Mentoring Program for under-represented and first-generation students, including hiring, training and supervision of the student coordinators and mentors;
• Assist under-represented and first-generation students with their transition to college and remain accessible to them in order to provide assistance with academic, personal and social matters.  Monitor retention of under-represented and first-generation students; 
• Assist multicultural student organizations with general support including, but not limited to advising, budget planning, programming and leadership development through the Affinity Group Collective.
• Assist with the planning and coordination of cultural and heritage month celebrations, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Dialogue, and the Knox County MLK Celebration Breakfast (which alternates hosting colleges), among others;
• Coordinate with Alumni and Parent Engagement to plan the Alumni of Color Mentoring Initiative weekends and other affinity group anniversary celebrations;

Administrative Responsibilities

• Provide sound financial management for specific ODEI budget line items, including authorization of expenditures, and evaluation and presentation of budgetary needs;
• Produce reports on student progress to further identify and address barriers to success, so students may reach their maximum potential.

ASSOCIATED FUNCTIONS

Liaison with  Admissions Office

• Coordinate the KEEP cohort selection process in collaboration with the Office of Admissions;
• Collaborate with the Office of Admissions in efforts that aid in the recruitment of under-represented and first-generation students.

Liaison with Office of Student Engagement

• Assist Office of Student Engagement with programming and leadership development for multicultural student organizations and their members.
• Coordinate with Student Engagement staff in planning and implementing college-wide programming and events.

Student Affairs Division/College Responsibilities

• Advise students placed on academic conditional enrollment;
• Support the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean for DEI, and  the Director of ODEI on special projects and responsibilities within the Student Affairs Division;
• Attend Student Affairs Division staff meetings;
• Provide the Director of ODEI with a year-end report and other reports as requested;
• Fulfill on-call/on-duty responsibilities, as required, to provide assistance and support to students and staff;
• Participate in College and Student Affairs Division events and programs;
• Cooperate with other Student Affairs staff in conducting initial and in-service training programs for students on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and
• Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

The Assistant Director must have a demonstrated commitment to working for and knowledge about how to achieve cultural diversity, inclusion, and equity, and must appreciate the value of a liberal arts education. The Assistant Director also must have demonstrated experience and effectiveness in working with faculty, staff, and students to achieve program goals. Program planning, implementation and evaluation skills are required, as are excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated effectiveness in advising students and student organizations is essential, as is creativity and the ability to manage multiple priorities.  This position also requires working with multiple constituencies.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Director supervises the KEEP Summer Coordinator, student coordinators of REACH, and the Snowden student managers.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This is a full-time, 12-month salaried position. The work of the ADDEI does not lend itself to a regular 8:30am-4:30pm day, and includes evening and weekend responsibilities, including the on-call/on- duty rotation (approximately 2-3 weeks each semester)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Three to five years of experience working in education;
• A master’s degree in higher education, student personnel or a related area;
• Experience working with students of color in a college setting;
• Experience with providing linguistically diverse resources and support;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in advising student organizations
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Academic advising experience;
• Demonstrated experience and effectiveness in working closely with faculty, staff, and students to achieve common goals;
• Demonstrated skills in activity planning, implementation and evaluation.

*KEEP is a selective four-year program that provides academic, intellectual, and social encouragement and support to under-represented students. Scholars from diverse ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds are selected from each incoming class to participate. KEEP scholars represent a broad range of curricular and co-curricular interests and possess strong academic and social leadership potential.

Membership in KEEP begins with a six-week intensive summer academic experience during which the KEEP scholars work with faculty and staff in credit-bearing courses, participate in cocurricular opportunities, and work with faculty and staff on skill building.

** Consistent with best practices in the field, Kenyon's mentoring program – The REACH program recognizes the need to assist first-year and second-year under-represented and first-generation students in adjusting academically, emotionally, and socially to Kenyon College.

Kenyon College is a nationally prominent, private liberal arts college where academic excellence goes hand in hand with a strong sense of community and close relationships among students and professors.

Compensation and Benefits

Salaries at Kenyon are competitive and commensurate with experience. In addition to an attractive salary, Kenyon offers benefits for employees and their family members. Children of employees are eligible for 100% tuition waivers at Kenyon, and through the Great Lakes Colleges Association, children of employees are eligible for 90% tuition waivers at nineteen other of the nation's finest liberal arts colleges.

We also offer health, dental and vision insurance, TIAA retirement, and many other benefits, including provisions for a spouse, families, and domestic partners. Details about benefits as well as conditions of employment are described more fully in our Staff Handbook.

Kenyon is a unique place to live and work. To discover why it should be your next home, click here.

Kenyon College is an equal opportunity employer and applications from members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged. It is the College's policy to evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by institutional policy or state, local, or federal law. Kenyon College has a strong commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. Please visit our Diversity at Kenyon website.