Assistant Dean, Community Connection and Belonging

Penn State University•University Park, IL

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The College of the Liberal Arts is seeking a visionary Assistant Dean for Community Connection and Belonging to help design and guide strategic priorities in fostering student connection, inclusion, and belonging; enhancing student success; and educating for democracy, civic engagement, and leadership across the College of the Liberal Arts. Reporting directly to the Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts, and as a key member of the Dean’s core leadership team, the Assistant Dean for Community Connection and Belonging will champion student engagement and belonging through comprehensive and equity-driven initiatives. This is a full-time, 44-week administrative position. The Assistant Dean for Community Connection and Belonging will serve as Chair of the College’s Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Transformation (CoDIT), leading strategic initiatives that cultivate a culture of belonging. They will be responsible for building and maintaining collaborative relationships with broad and inclusive groups, student organizations, campus partners in student services, and community stakeholders to support student retention and success, and career readiness through inclusive programming and strategic partnerships. As a key resource across the College, they will partner with the Liberal Arts recruitment coordinator, and other college partners, to attract a broad and inclusive pool of undergraduate and graduate students and develop programs that affirm student belonging, promote cross-cultural understanding, and empower student leadership. This role will administer a Community Connection and Belonging budget and use data insights to inform programming and policy recommendations; collaborate with the scholarships office to manage funding that supports access and opportunity for our broad and inclusive student population; and work with academic departmental and program-level committees to advance equity and inclusion goals. Other responsibilities include representing the College in University-wide and external initiatives that foster inclusion and belonging, especially as they relate to student connection, support, success, retention, and career readiness. The Assistant Dean for Community Connection and Belonging will identify and facilitate access to resources and programs that enhance students’ sense of belonging and engagement; monitor trends and best practices in relevant areas of inclusion and belonging, and use findings to enhance support services; and partner with the College's Alumni Relations and Development unit in fundraising initiatives related to inclusion and belonging.

Requirements

A Master’s degree or higher is required.
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in higher education or a similarly complex organization is required.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated success in furthering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives.
Excellent relationship-building skills.
Ability to steward multiple priorities, lead strategic initiatives, and align work priorities with leadership.
A record of progressive career development.
A demonstrated profile of solution-oriented problem solving.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. or equivalent is strongly preferred.
Background in the humanities or social sciences.
Demonstrated project management skills.
Individuals with faculty credentials/qualifications will be appointed to the position with a faculty affiliation.

Responsibilities

Serve as Chair of the College’s Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Transformation (CoDIT), leading strategic initiatives that cultivate a culture of belonging.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with broad and inclusive groups, student organizations, campus partners in student services, and community stakeholders to support student retention and success, and career readiness through inclusive programming and strategic partnerships.
Partner with the Liberal Arts recruitment coordinator, and other college partners, to attract a broad and inclusive pool of undergraduate and graduate students and develop programs that affirm student belonging, promote cross-cultural understanding, and empower student leadership.
Administer a Community Connection and Belonging budget and use data insights to inform programming and policy recommendations.
Collaborate with the scholarships office to manage funding that supports access and opportunity for our broad and inclusive student population.
Work with academic departmental and program-level committees to advance equity and inclusion goals.
Represent the College in University-wide and external initiatives that foster inclusion and belonging, especially as they relate to student connection, support, success, retention, and career readiness.
Identify and facilitate access to resources and programs that enhance students’ sense of belonging and engagement.
Monitor trends and best practices in relevant areas of inclusion and belonging, and use findings to enhance support services.
Partner with the College's Alumni Relations and Development unit in fundraising initiatives related to inclusion and belonging.