Specialist - Curriculum Dev-Continuing

Curriculum Dev-Continuing•East Lansing, MI

About The Position

Our Unit: The MSU Pathways Persistence Programs in Undergraduate Education are an affirming, dynamic network of initiatives designed to support student persistence, academic excellence, and empowered community. Aligned with MSU’s commitment to ensure all students can learn, thrive, and graduate, these programs address barriers to success and create structures that promote equitable outcomes. Grounded in equity and social justice, the Pathways Persistence Programs work to close opportunity gaps and support students’ persistence toward graduation. The cohort programs within the unit—Bailey Scholars, Dow STEM Scholars, First-Generation Leadership & Innovation (FLI) Vanderploeg Scholars, the Residential Initiative on Sustainability and the Environment (RISE) and TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)—offer high-impact experiences such as mentoring, career development, and living-learning communities. Through evidence-based initiatives, largely funded by external sources, the Pathways Persistence Programs cultivate conditions that empower students to develop self-discovery of purpose, educational success, sense of belonging, empowered community, and well-being. Program Overview: The Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment (RISE) is a nationally recognized living-learning community at Michigan State University that engages undergraduate students in interdisciplinary study of environmental and sustainability challenges. RISE integrates academic coursework, faculty engagement, residential experience, and experiential learning to support student persistence, intellectual development, and preparation for sustainability-related careers and leadership. RISE enrolls students from diverse academic majors who share an interest in environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and systems-level thinking. Through a structured academic curriculum and residential community, students engage with faculty, peers, and campus partners to deepen their academic experience and connect learning with real-world environmental challenges. Michigan State University is advancing RISE 2.0 , a strategic initiative to strengthen the program’s academic foundation, expand interdisciplinary curriculum, deepen faculty engagement, enhance experiential learning pathways, and ensure the long-term sustainability and institutional integration of the program. As part of this effort, the Program Director will lead implementation of key priorities emerging from the RISE visioning process over the next year. As part of the Pathways Persistence Programs within Undergraduate Education, RISE contributes to MSU’s Student Success Strategic Plan by fostering belonging, interdisciplinary learning, and student engagement while advancing the university’s leadership in environmental education. Position Overview: The Program Director leads the design and delivery of the program’s academic curriculum, teaches RISE courses, provides supplemental academic advising and mentoring, and oversees program operations. Working closely with faculty, academic advisors, Residence Education and Housing Services, and campus partners, the Program Director ensures an integrated academic and residential experience that supports student success, interdisciplinary learning, and environmental engagement. This position will play a central leadership role in advancing RISE 2.0, guiding continued development of the program’s curriculum, faculty partnerships, and academic infrastructure. The Program Director will collaborate with campus partners and faculty to strengthen the program’s academic identity and support its continued evolution as a leading interdisciplinary living-learning community. The Program Director exercises independent judgment and provides leadership in curriculum development, teaching, student mentorship, program administration, partnership development, and assessment. This position reports within the Pathways Persistence Programs and serves as the primary academic and administrative leader of the RISE Program.

Requirements

Master’s degree in higher education, environmental studies, sustainability, student affairs, or a related field.
Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, academic program administration, curriculum development, teaching, advising, or student success programs.
Experience teaching undergraduate students and/or developing academic curriculum.
Demonstrated experience advising, mentoring, or supporting undergraduate students.
Experience managing academic programs, living-learning communities, or interdisciplinary educational initiatives.
Strong administrative, organizational, and program management skills.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, advisors, and campus partners.
Demonstrated commitment to student success, interdisciplinary education, and sustainability.

Nice To Haves

Terminal degree (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in environmental studies, sustainability, higher education, or a related field.
Experience teaching interdisciplinary environmental or sustainability-focused coursework.
Experience working with living-learning communities or residential academic programs.
Experience supervising staff and managing academic or student success programs.
Experience supporting experiential learning, research engagement, or sustainability initiatives.
Knowledge of environmental education, sustainability frameworks, and interdisciplinary learning models.
Experience with assessment, program evaluation, and data-informed program improvement.
Experience working in environments requiring occasional evening and weekend commitments.

Responsibilities

Curriculum Development/Teaching (40%) Design, develop, teach, and continuously refine the interdisciplinary academic curriculum for the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment (RISE), including credit-bearing courses such as the RISE-designated section(s) of UGS and other environmental and sustainability-focused academic experiences.
Provide curricular leadership through course design, instructional delivery, syllabus development, and assessment of student learning aligned with RISE program goals and interdisciplinary environmental education.
Integrate sustainability frameworks, environmental scholarship, systems thinking, leadership development, identity exploration, and academic skill-building into curriculum using evidence-based pedagogical practices.
Ensure alignment between academic curriculum, residential learning experiences, and program learning outcomes within the RISE living-learning community.
Collaborate with faculty across academic colleges and academic units to develop interdisciplinary curriculum, facilitate faculty engagement, and connect students with academic, research, and experiential learning opportunities.
Design and facilitate co-curricular educational programming, workshops, and seminars that complement academic coursework and support student intellectual development, leadership, and career exploration.
Support student engagement in experiential learning opportunities such as undergraduate research, internships, community-engaged learning, and sustainability initiatives.
Contribute to the ongoing evaluation and evolution of the RISE curriculum as part of the RISE 2.0 initiative, ensuring continued academic rigor, interdisciplinary integration, and alignment with institutional priorities.
Teach designated RISE courses, including first-year seminar courses and other sustainability-focused coursework, using inclusive, student-centered pedagogical practices.
Facilitate classroom environments that promote interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and student engagement with environmental and sustainability challenges.
Assess student learning and contribute to continuous improvement of course content and instructional approaches.
Administrative Leadership and Program Management (30%) Provide administrative leadership and operational oversight for the RISE Program, including program planning, implementation, and continuous improvement.
Lead the continued development and implementation of the RISE 2.0 initiative over the next year, building on the work of the RISE Visioning Committee to strengthen curriculum, faculty engagement, student leadership structures, and program sustainability.
Coordinate closely with Residence Education and Housing Services to ensure alignment between academic and residential components of the living-learning community.
Supervise and mentor graduate assistants, student employees, and other staff supporting the RISE Program.
Manage program operations, including fiscal management, student recruitment coordination, cohort management, communications, and signature program events.
Develop and manage the program’s financial resources, including responsibility for budget planning, forecasting, and ongoing stewardship of general funds, gift accounts, and endowment funds.
Ensure alignment of financial decisions with program priorities, institutional policies, and long-term sustainability goals.
Partner with the Student Success Development Office and University Advancement to steward existing donor relationships, expand alumni engagement, and support the development of additional philanthropic funding streams to strengthen and sustain the RISE Program.
Collaborate with campus partners, faculty, and academic leaders to support the long-term strategic direction and sustainability of the RISE Program.
Represent the RISE Program on institutional committees and initiatives related to sustainability, interdisciplinary education, and student success.
Supplemental Advising, Student Mentorship, and Academic Support (10%) Provide supplemental academic mentoring and developmental guidance to RISE students, focused on academic engagement, intellectual development, and connection to environmental and sustainability opportunities.
Collaborate with academic advisors and advising personnel supporting RISE students to ensure coordinated, holistic, and developmentally appropriate academic support.
Supervise and support advising staff and graduate assistants involved in student mentorship and academic support, ensuring alignment with program goals and student success priorities.
Facilitate student connections with faculty mentors, research opportunities, internships, and experiential learning aligned with students’ academic and career interests.
Foster a strong intellectual community within the residential learning environment that supports student persistence, engagement, and leadership development.
Note: This position provides supplemental mentoring and oversight of advising functions and does not serve as the student’s primary degree or major advisor.
Outreach, Partnerships, & Advocacy (10%) Lead the strategic recruitment and selection process for the RISE Program, ensuring an inclusive, interdisciplinary cohort of students with demonstrated interest in environmental and sustainability issues using equity-centered and data-informed practices.
Cultivate and sustain partnerships with academic colleges, sustainability-focused faculty, research centers, Residence Education and Housing Services, and campus units such as the Office of Sustainability, Undergraduate Research, and Education Abroad to expand academic and experiential learning opportunities for RISE students.
Develop collaborative relationships with community organizations, environmental nonprofits, and sustainability initiatives to create opportunities for student engagement, applied learning, and community-based environmental work.
Serve as an institutional advocate for interdisciplinary environmental education and living-learning communities by contributing to university sustainability initiatives and cross-campus collaborations.
Represent the RISE Program in campus, regional, and national sustainability and living-learning community networks, contributing to MSU’s leadership in environmental education.
Assessment, Program Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement (10%) Develop and implement assessment strategies to evaluate student learning outcomes, academic engagement, and program effectiveness.
Analyze student data, academic performance, and engagement metrics to inform curriculum refinement, program development, and student support strategies.
Prepare reports and presentations demonstrating program outcomes and impact.
Use data-informed decision-making to support the continued evolution and strengthening of the RISE Program as part of the RISE 2.0 initiative.