Executive Director of Student Success and Retention

Bennett College•Greensboro, NC

About The Position

The Executive Director of Student Success and Retention provides visionary, strategic, and data-informed leadership for all programs, services, and initiatives designed to elevate student persistence, retention, and overall success. Reporting to the Chief Academic Officer, the Executive Director oversees the Division of Student Success, which includes student life, wellness, accessibility, retention operations, success coaching, counseling, career readiness, and co-curricular engagement. This position plays a critical role in fostering a supportive, inclusive, and engaging learning environment that promotes academic achievement, social-emotional development, and workforce preparation. Additionally, the Executive Director serves as the Title III Activity Director for all activities pertaining to student success and retention, ensuring federal compliance, effective implementation, strategic planning, and alignment of Title III initiatives with institutional goals.

Requirements

Strategic, mission-driven leadership
High emotional intelligence and cultural competency
Data-informed decision-making
Effective supervision and team building
Student-centered philosophy and holistic support approach
Master’s degree required
Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership in student success, student affairs, or retention within higher education, preferably at a liberal arts or HBCU institution.
Demonstrated effectiveness in improving student outcomes (retention, persistence, graduation).
Experience managing federal grants (Title III experience strongly preferred).
Proven commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and serving underrepresented student communities.
Strong analytical, communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Student Success and Retention Leadership Provide executive-level oversight of programs designed to strengthen persistence, increase retention, and support degree completion.
Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Institutional Effectiveness, and Enrollment Management to analyze student data, identify trends, and implement interventions for at-risk populations.
Supervise and support the Coordinator First-Year Experience and Retention, Coordinator of Student Engagement, Success Coaches, and Retention personnel, ensuring consistent delivery of high-impact practices.
Oversee success plans and individualized interventions for students experiencing academic, personal, or financial challenges.
Lead campus-wide retention, re-enrollment, and early-alert initiatives in partnership with faculty, advisors, and student support teams.
Title III Activity Director – Student Success & Retention Serve as the Title III Activity Director for all student success and retention-related activities.
Ensure full federal compliance with Title III guidelines, activity objectives, reporting requirements, and allowable expenditures.
Develop annual implementation plans, budgets, performance metrics, and outcome reports to meet federal and institutional expectations.
Collaborate with Grants Administration and Institutional Effectiveness to manage evaluations, audits, and progress reporting.
Align Title III projects with institutional strategic priorities, accreditation standards, and retention goals.
Career and Graduate School Readiness Create and strengthen pipelines for internships, career preparation, and postgraduate pathways.
Expand partnerships with industry, employers, and graduate/professional programs.
Integrate career-readiness competencies into student success and co-curricular initiatives.
Student Engagement and Co-Curricular Development Provide oversight to ensure a vibrant calendar of leadership, cultural, and engagement programs.
Collaborate with Residence Life to develop living-learning environments that enhance academic progress and wellness.
Promote inclusive and mission-aligned student organizations that advance Bennett’s core values.
Student Well-Being and Holistic Support Supervise the Director of Counseling, Senior Wellness Director, and Director of Accessibility Services to facilitate integrated wellness, mental health, and accessibility services.
Lead initiatives promoting belonging, social-emotional growth, and a supportive campus climate.
Maintain partnerships with health providers to strengthen crisis response and wellness programming.
Data-Driven Leadership and Continuous Improvement Collaborate with Institutional Effectiveness to collect, analyze, and interpret student success metrics for decision-making and reporting.
Utilize dashboards, predictive analytics, and assessment tools to guide program enhancements.
Contribute to institutional accreditation efforts, strategic planning, and federal reporting tied to student outcomes.
Executive Leadership and Supervision Provide strong, collaborative leadership to directors, coordinators, and professional staff within the Division of Student Success.
Implement consistent professional development, performance evaluations, and accountability structures.
Represent the Division on campus-wide committees related to enrollment, retention, crisis management, assessment, and student engagement.