Director of ILEAD and Student Transition Programs

Penn State University•University Park, IL

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The College of Engineering seeks a Director for two complementary, college-wide initiatives that advance community, belonging, and student success: Impactful Leadership for Excellence, Advancement, and Discovery (ILEAD) and Student Transition Programs within the Center for Engineering Outreach and Inclusion. ILEAD, launched in 2022, is a leadership development initiative that empowers staff, faculty, and campus partners with skills to foster a respectful, collaborative, and engaging community. ILEAD is delivered through focused, 60-minute live short courses open to Penn State faculty and staff across campuses and programs; participants earn digital badges recognizing their commitment to leadership and professional growth. Student Transition Programs support undergraduate engineering students as they transition from Commonwealth Campuses and outside institutions to the College of Engineering at University Park, collaborate with Commonwealth Campus leaders to support students completing College of Engineering degrees across campuses, and broaden participation by building pathways to engineering for K-12 learners. Current transition efforts include the Student Transition Engineering Program at University Park (STEP-UP), Jump Start (a four-week virtual summer program focused on math and physics preparation), and the Commonwealth Engineering Scholars Leadership Conference (a three-day pre-semester orientation for change-of-campus students). The Director will provide strategic vision and operational leadership across these portfolios, including program planning and delivery, partnership development, assessment and continuous improvement, and outreach to expand participation and impact. We seek candidates eager to contribute within a community driven by impact and supported by the cornerstones of excellence, sustainability, social mobility, and equity. Through our College of Engineering Strategic Plan, we are committed to developing meaningful solutions to this critical challenge and to making significant strides toward a more diverse, inclusive community of belonging for all.

Requirements

An earned master’s or doctorate (Ph.D. or terminal degree) in engineering, education, student affairs/higher education, or a closely related field by the start date
Demonstrated experience designing, leading, and assessing professional development and/or student success programming
A record of advancing inclusive excellence through collaboration, community-building, and evidence-based practices
At least six years of relevant experience

Nice To Haves

Experience working with adult learners and/or undergraduate engineering students in higher education
Expertise in leadership development, organizational development, engineering education, student transition/retention initiatives, or related areas
Demonstrated success building partnerships across units (including with student organizations and campus leaders)
Experience with micro-credentials/digital badges, program evaluation, and data-informed student success practices

Responsibilities

Setting strategic direction and annual goals aligned with the College’s Strategic Plan
Coordinating and facilitating a portfolio of synchronous professional development short courses for ILEAD, including recruitment and support of instructors/facilitators and campus partners
Overseeing Student Transition Programs that support change-of-campus and transfer student success (e.g., STEP-UP, Jump Start, and the Commonwealth Engineering Scholars Leadership Conference), including collaboration with student organizations and Commonwealth Campus leaders
Overseeing program operations, including communications, registration/participant support workflows, and digital badge/credential processes as applicable
Developing and implementing assessment plans to evaluate participant experience and outcomes, using evidence to guide continuous improvement
Strengthening visibility and engagement across the College of Engineering, Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses, University Extension Programs, World Campus, and affiliated programs