Assistant Director, Queer and Trans Student Success and Engagement

Roger Williams University•Bristol, RI

22h

About The Position

Roger Williams University seeks an Assistant Director, Queer and Trans Student Success and Engagement to join their team. This role is primarily assigned to the Queer and Trans Resource and Advocacy Center (QTRAC) and reports to the Director of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The position coordinates student support, academic coaching, mentoring, student leadership development, LGBTQIA+ education, and community-building programs for all students, with a focus on queer, trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, questioning, asexual, and intersex students, as well as allied students. The role utilizes an intersectional approach to enhance access, belonging, retention, persistence, well-being, leadership, and full participation in university life. The Assistant Director supports prospective, pre-college, and enrolled students, and contributes to selected alumni-engagement activities. Responsibilities encompass academic coaching, mentoring, student organization advising, peer mentoring, programming, training, assessment, communications, and campus partnerships. The role also provides education, student support, and resource navigation concerning gender identity, sexual orientation, chosen name and pronoun processes, facilities, housing, and other student-facing systems. The Assistant Director collaborates with the supervisor and university offices responsible for policy, compliance, housing, facilities, and student records, and supports broader Division of Equity and Inclusion priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
A minimum of 2 to 3 years relevant experience with academic coaching, mentoring, student support, education, or program development, including experience gained through professional roles, graduate assistantships, internships, student leadership, peer education, residence life and housing, new student orientation, admissions, student activities, resource navigation, or related work.
Relevant experience includes, but is not limited to, supporting access, belonging, retention, persistence, and success for queer, trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, questioning, asexual, intersex, and allied students, including first-generation students and students whose experiences are shaped by intersectionality.
Experience developing, implementing, or facilitating programs, events, workshops, trainings, or student engagement initiatives related to gender identity, sexual orientation, allyship, student support, inclusive practice, social justice education, or queer and trans student engagement.
Strong written and oral communication skills across various audiences.
Experience using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and related tools.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, education, counseling, social work, sociology, social justice, ethnic studies, gender and sexuality studies, multicultural education, public health, communications, business, or a related field.
Professional experience in a higher education, nonprofit, education, community-based, or student support setting related to LGBTQIA+ student services, queer and trans student support, gender and sexuality programs, student engagement, inclusive practice, or queer and trans community building.
Experience supporting queer and trans student initiatives, such as Safe Zone education, Lavender Graduation, queer and trans peer mentoring, trans student support, referrals and partnerships with responsible offices, resource navigation through established university processes, or LGBTQIA+ student organizations.
Experience designing, facilitating, and assessing recurring education or training programs for students, faculty, staff, or campus partners.
Knowledge in one or more of the following areas: student development theory, queer and trans identity development, sexual orientation and gender identity development, intersectionality, trauma-informed practice, and campus policies and practices affecting LGBTQIA+ students, including Title IX, student conduct, bias response, privacy, and campus safety.
Experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting data to assess student needs, program participation, learning outcomes, student engagement, or program effectiveness.
Experience supervising undergraduate students, graduate students, interns, peer educators, or volunteers.
Experience with website maintenance, social media, digital communications, marketing, or outreach.

Responsibilities

Provide academic coaching, mentoring, referral, and follow-up for students, with particular attention to first-generation students and the ways intersectionality shapes queer and trans student experiences.
Support student access, retention, persistence, belonging, identity development, leadership, and full participation in university life.
Assist students with resource navigation through established university processes, referrals, and partnerships with responsible offices related to wellness, family concerns, bias experiences, academic success, and campus participation.
Partner with advising, tutoring, counseling, Residence Life and Housing, accessibility, health services, Title IX, student conduct, public safety, career education, financial aid, faculty, admissions, and other offices to reduce barriers and coordinate student support.
Track student contacts, referrals, support themes, climate concerns, and student success trends for review with the supervisor and relevant partners.
Support prospective, pre-college, and enrolled students through programs and short-term projects tied to access, persistence, retention, and success, and contribute to selected alumni-engagement activities.
Develop, maintain, implement, and evaluate QTRAC services, programs, events, workshops, and student engagement initiatives.
Coordinate LGBTQIA+ programs grounded in queer and trans identity development, wellness, leadership, belonging, community building, and joy.
Coordinate signature programs and visibility events such as Lavender Graduation, Coming Out Day, Trans Week of Remembrance, Trans Day of Visibility, Pride Week, queer and trans wellness programs, and community-building events.
Create measurable program goals, learning outcomes, timelines, logistics plans, assessment tools, and post-program reports.
Use student feedback and participation data to recommend improvements to QTRAC programs and services.
Develop and deliver education on gender identity, sexual orientation, allyship, pronouns, chosen names, facilities, queer and trans student support, and student-facing systems using approved university information and practices.
Provide education and resource guidance to campus partners, in collaboration with the supervisor and responsible university offices, to support queer and trans student engagement and success.
Refer questions involving policy interpretation, compliance, student records, housing, facilities, or institutional procedures to the responsible university office.
Track training registration, attendance, learning outcomes, feedback, curriculum updates, and follow-up needs.
Identify and share approved practices related to queer and trans student support with campus partners and Division leadership.
Advise assigned recognized student organizations and student leaders connected to QTRAC, including LGBTQIA+, queer and trans, gender justice, and allied student organizations.
Maintain regular engagement with assigned student organizations and student leaders through meetings with organization presidents, executive boards, resident assistants, area coordinators, and relevant campus partners.
Attend selected evening and weekend events as needed.
Provide mentorship, continuity, conflict navigation, and leadership coaching for student organization presidents, executive boards, resident assistants, peer leaders, and emerging student leaders.
Support student leaders with program planning, budget management, university policies, risk management, and organizational sustainability.
Assist student groups with funding processes, room reservations, purchasing, event preparation, administrative steps, and campus liaison work.
Partner with Residence Life and Housing to support approved residential communities through student-leader development, education, programming, community meetings, and referrals.
Support the work of the Division of Equity and Inclusion, including assigned projects that advance broader divisional priorities.
Attend regular one-on-one supervisory meetings with the Director, Center meetings, Division meetings, and other assigned campus meetings.
Serve as an active participant on assigned committees, working groups, and campus partnerships related to queer and trans student access, persistence, retention, belonging, safety, well-being, and success.
Participate in admissions and yield events, new student orientation, welcome and move-in programs, open houses, admitted-student events, pre-college programs, alumni events, and outreach activities on and off campus.
Partner with alumni, faculty, staff, students, and community partners on short-term projects that support queer and trans student access, persistence, retention, and success.
Collect and report appropriate program, participation, referral, and outcome information consistent with FERPA, university privacy and data-governance requirements, and principles of data minimization.
Maintain accurate records related to student contacts, referrals, programs, trainings, spending, attendance, assessment results, student support trends, and annual reporting.
Track referrals, follow-up needs, participation, program outcomes, training outcomes, and student support themes for review with the supervisor and relevant partners.
Prepare concise reports, summaries, and recommendations based on program outcomes, student feedback, assessment findings, and student support trends.
Use appropriate program, participation, referral, and outcome information to identify barriers, assess effectiveness, document impact, and improve QTRAC programs and services.
Assist with social media, website updates, newsletters, marketing materials, and other web-based communications for QTRAC and the Division.
Help manage daily QTRAC operations, including space use, student-facing resources, supplies, equipment, scheduling, calendars, files, and general office workflow.
Assist in the supervision and development of undergraduate and graduate student staff and volunteers.
Track and report assigned spending in alignment with university policies and purchasing requirements.
Report concerns related to safety, facilities, maintenance, accessibility, technology, and operations.
Support a welcoming, organized, accessible, and student-centered QTRAC environment.
Participate in required training and ongoing professional development.