Senior Assistant Director - Centennial Scholars

James Madison University•Harrisonburg, VA

25d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Assistant Director for Centennial Scholars is responsible for the design, development, and delivery programs that advance academic success, financial literacy, and students’ ability to effectively navigate university systems at James Madison University. This role leads the implementation of programs that builds students’ social capital—ensuring they understand, access, and leverage institutional resources, policies, and opportunities. In addition, the position serves as the coordinator researching and leading the submission process for grants focused on student access and academic success while working to develop partnerships with college access programs across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
3–5 years of experience in college access, student success, or advising initiatives.
Demonstrated experience in program development and delivery for under-served student populations.
Experience with grant research, writing, or management.
Strong understanding of challenges facing first-generation, limited-income and/or under-served student populations.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in education, higher education, or related field
Experience developing financial literacy or student success curricula
Experience building partnerships with K–12 schools and community organizations
Familiarity with federal grant compliance (e.g., EDGAR, U.S. Department of Education)

Responsibilities

Work directly with Centennial and Valley Scholars participants supporting academic success, navigating barriers, and developing plans for programs of study, career and graduate plans.
Advise approximately 90 students on a caseload, utilize a structured system for advising students through regular contact in-person, and electronic communication by utilizing established systems for case notes and participant data tracking.
Support students in developing individualized success plans that align academic goals with career and post-graduate pathways.
Identify systemic barriers to student success and design programmatic interventions.
Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement for programs that promote academic success, including structured academic planning, progress monitoring, and skill-building initiatives.
Build partnerships with campus stakeholders with the goal of expanding outreach to the greater first generation student body.
Create initiatives that increase students’ social capital by demystifying how JMU operates (e.g., navigating academic policies, utilizing campus resources, engaging faculty, and accessing high-impact opportunities such as internships, research, and study abroad).
Utilize data-informed practices to assess program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
Participate in Centennial Scholars selection by assisting with the academic and essay review and supporting the candidate interview process.
Serves as a member of the selection committee.
Coordinate efforts to identify, research, and pursue external funding opportunities, including federal, state, and private grants.
Develop competitive grant proposals aligned with program priorities in college access, persistence, and completion in collaboration with a team within the Division of Access and Enrollment.
Build and sustain partnerships with K–12 school systems, TRIO programs, and community-based organizations committed to increasing college access.
Represent Centennial Scholars in regional and statewide college access networks such as VCAN and First Gen Forward.
Supervise graduate assistants and student staff supporting program delivery, while establishing clear workflows and expectations for program implementation, student engagement, and data tracking.
Ensure operational excellence across programming, communications, and student-facing services.