Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Gender Equity Resource Center

Cornell University • Ithaca, NY

7d • $82,735 - $97,864 • Onsite

About The Position

Student and Campus Life (SCL) inspires transformation in all Cornell students on their journey of individual, academic and personal evolution. Our division is comprised of leading student affairs experts who support our campus on pressing student life matters including public service, health, wellbeing, connection and belonging, residential living, food services, sports, recreation, career services, and student activities and organizations including sorority and fraternity life. We provide support and services to roughly 25,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on multiple campuses in the U.S. and abroad. The Office of the Dean of Students (DOS) cultivates the holistic growth and development of students through advocacy, empowerment, and education. We enhance the student experience by offering comprehensive support and resources, providing co-curricular opportunities, and fostering a sense of belonging. The Centers for Equity, Empowerment, and Belonging (The Centers) are comprised of resource centers, empowerment units, and affinity groups within the Office of the Dean of Students to support the holistic development of the student experience by creating engagement opportunities, support services, and initiatives focused on student equity, belonging, and inclusion. Through transformational learning in the co-curricular experience, we strive to foster a greater sense of belonging, empowerment, and emotional intelligence, and help students thrive. The area is comprised of identity-based centers and offices that support and empower students from historically marginalized backgrounds while also providing all Cornell community members with opportunities to deepen their understanding of racial justice and equity, expand their allyship skills, engage in dialogue across differences, and be a part of the movement for positive social change. The Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Gender Equity Center (Gen Eq) is a senior staff member within the Office of the Dean of Students (DOS), directly reporting to the Senior Associate Dean of Students for the Centers for Student Equity, Empowerment, and Belonging. This role provides vision, leadership, and advocacy for women and gender-expansive students while advancing strategic priorities and initiatives within the Division of Student and Campus Life on Cornell University’s campus, which serves approximately 24,000 students. The Associate Dean leads the Gender Equity Center and supervises the Gen Eq Assistant Director, furthering GenEq’s mission to acknowledge and celebrate the diverse contributions that women and gender-expansive students bring to Cornell and fostering a supportive and inclusive campus community. As a leader in the Centers, this position participates in collaborative programming and training efforts, especially in campus-wide initiatives supporting student mental health and well-being. Additionally, this position serves as a rotating Administrator On-Call for the University, managing after-hours crisis-response situations and supporting protest and expressive activities (such as encampments, rallies, controversial speakers, and labor disruptions), and assisting with protest management. Success Factors Creativity and competency in student-centered program design and implementation focused on students’ identity development and exploration, leadership development, and an increased sense of belonging. Knowledge and drive to continue learning of student trends, specifically related to supporting women and gender-expansive student success and student development. Collaborative and responsive to managing multiple relationships and projects in a fast-paced professional office, flexibly adapting to new priorities, anticipating needs, and being nimble and responsive as projects and needs change. Ability to build relationships and maintain trust, to assess and balance the needs of various stakeholders, and to identify and advocate for achievable solutions. A commitment to working collaboratively in a student-centered environment committed to the important values of shared governance, with enthusiasm for supporting a student body that is broadly diverse with regard to gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and (dis)ability, among other factors.

Requirements

• Master’s degree and three (3) - five (5) years of professional experience in College Student Development, Student Affairs Administration, Higher Education, Diversity Education, Social Justice Education, Social Work, Counseling, or closely related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Applied knowledge of student development theory and student affairs trends related to advocating and supporting women, gender expansive students and other marginalized communities.
• Demonstrated understanding of the student experience, particularly concerning equity and the unique needs of women and gender-expansive students.
• Experience supervising professional staff
• Multicultural competency and experience working with and/or advising diverse student organizations
• Experience building collaborative partnerships with faculty, administrators, students, parents/families, community partners, and alumni.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, planning, reasoning, organizational, and project management skills, with an ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Ability to serve on-call and respond to crisis situations and expressive activity according to organizational protocol, including evening and weekend work as required.
• Demonstrated skill in understanding of cultural differences.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) - seven (7) years of progress work experience in higher education or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience working with issues of gender equity, women and gender expansive students.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and oversee activities or protests, ensuring safety, compliance, and the respectful expression of diverse viewpoints.
• Experience managing multiple budgets, including stewarding gift funds.
• Experience creating programming or engaging in outreach on topics of intersecting identities, identity formation, mental health, cultural nuances, and/or empowerment.
• Demonstrated experience with crisis management and case management of students navigating difficult situations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees