Assistant Director of Student Services (2 Open)

Cornell University•Ithaca, NY

52d•Onsite

About The Position

The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) at Cornell University is seeking to fill multiple Assistant Director of Student Services positions. These roles are crucial for enhancing a student-centered experience and improving academic advising and student success initiatives. Reporting to senior leadership within Student Experience, the Assistant Director will act as a primary advising resource and advocate for both undergraduate and graduate students across AAP's programs and locations. The positions require creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking to support a diverse student body. AAP is particularly interested in candidates who can innovate academic advising by integrating proactive, inclusive, and data-informed practices to support student well-being, persistence, and success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 2 to 4 years relevant experience or equivalent combination.
Demonstrated experience working with a broad array of stakeholders to craft and implement collaborative, high-quality academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular programming and events.
Experience in program design, delivery, and evaluation.
Ability to connect with students of all backgrounds and experience levels; experience advising them on academic, professional, and personal goals.
Strong public speaking, writing, and editing skills.
Demonstrated project management, organizational skills, and detail orientation.
Must be able to balance significant complexity and competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to exercise a high degree of discretion in dealing with confidential information in accordance with University policies and FERPA regulations.
Ability to attend meetings and events across campus.
Ability to travel occasionally as needed outside of campus to attend conferences, trainings, and/or meetings with stakeholders and external vendors, although travel outside the university is expected to be limited to one or two times a year.
Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Nice To Haves

Master’s in Higher Education
3-5 years of experience.
Track record of success in a higher education environment and/or deep familiarity with programs and fields connected to Architecture, Art, Planning, Design or Real-Estate.

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive academic advising to undergraduate and graduate students across AAP programs, supporting degree planning, policies, and co-curricular engagement.
Serve as a primary point of contact for student concerns, including those in distress or experiencing academic difficulty, and connect them with appropriate campus resources.
Collaborate with faculty, college leadership, and campus partners (e.g., Cornell Health, CAPS, Dean of Students, Student Disability Services) to deliver holistic student support.
Develop and implement creative, student-centered advising strategies that advance innovative pathways for academic success and well-being.
Analyze trends related to student performance and persistence, using data to inform proactive interventions and continuous improvement of advising practices.
Design and deliver student transition programming, including orientation, pre-enrollment initiatives, Family Weekend, and commencement-related efforts.
Create targeted communications and resources to support student success, particularly for first-year, transfer, and students navigating complex academic pathways.
Contribute to the development and delivery of student success programs such as academic support initiatives and peer mentorship programs.
Advise and support student organizations, including leadership development, training, and alignment with university policies and practices.
Promote a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing while advocating for students in college and university forums and contributing to collaborative initiatives across AAP.