Assistant Director - Paul Robeson Cultural Center

Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Full-time Education

Posted on April 25, 2024

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Assistant Director - Paul Robeson Cultural Center

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the success of a world-class research institution. We are concerned uniquely with the institutional change required for visioning and realizing a more socially just university.

Toward that end, Student Affairs invites applications for an Assistant Director for the Paul Robeson Cultural Center (PRCC) who is responsible for areas such as educational program development and implementation, student advocacy and advising, and outreach to the broader campus community regarding issues of racism, social justice, cultural enrichment, and inclusion. Additionally, this position supports the Director in all day-to-day matters within the scope of maintaining the administrative function of the PRCC and provides direct support and mentoring to our various student communities.

The Assistant Director has responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, the following:

Lead programs and services that promote student development and learning for traditionally underrepresented student populations
Implement existing and create new programs that support student learning, development, and community building; and, validate the experiences of students from various cultural backgrounds and heritages. Engage in collaboration with student organizations, academic departments, Student Affairs, and other campus units that contribute to a positive sense of belonging by students from various cultural backgrounds or cross-cultural engagement. Support the coordination of cultural heritage month celebrations
Hire, train, schedule, and guide student staff in upholding and advancing the mission of the PRCC and in accomplishing work expectations
Conduct useful benchmarks and other research to learn best practices and to develop ideas to enhance current initiatives in collaboration with the PRCC team. The outcomes will serve as data points and recommendations to the Director of the PRCC to continuously assess and improve programs and services
Serve as an advisor to the PRCC Student Liaison Advisory Board
Serve as a professional liaison with several campus departments and serve as the PRCC representative on several University-wide committees that specifically address issues of diversity and inclusion at Penn State
Provide supervision to the following positions:
Program Coordinator for Signature Programming and Identity/Affinity Community Support
Program Coordinator for BLUEprint and Community Mentoring

Student Mentoring:

The Assistant Director will have a significant role in directing and guiding the PRCC approach to community mentoring and support. Particularly, this role will provide and sustain a vision for the BLUEprint Peer Mentoring Program, sponsored by the PRCC, and certified by the College Reading and Learning Association, focusing on offering academic, cultural, and social support to first-year and change-of-campus students, particularly those who identify as students of color. Some responsibilities related to community mentoring include:

Oversight and implementation of the BLUEprint Peer Mentoring Program
Supervise the full-time BLUEprint & Community Mentoring Program Coordinator
Alongside with the Program Coordinator, advise and provide oversight to the peer mentor leaders and develop comprehensive training centered in student success. Additionally, the Assistant Director will co-manage the budget for the mentoring program
Develop and enact the metrics for measuring the effectiveness of student mentoring initiatives (BLUEprint, etc.) related to equity, inclusion, belonging and community formation; including continued research and program assessments as needed
Seek and apply for educational grants and continued program certification as needed

Community Support & Engagement:

Provide outreach, advice, training, and resources to campus student leaders to help create and maintain an equitable and inclusive environment
Provide individual and group consultations for students and student organizations related to campus climate concerns, inclusive policies, and practices, and managing interpersonal dynamics and dialogues
Collaborate with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) staff in Student Affairs to develop innovative strategies that address issues such as racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia/heterosexism, and other forms of systematic forms of exclusion and marginalization in higher education which impede access, or deny success
Coordinate campus efforts for the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP) with colleagues in Student Affairs

Education:

The position requires a master's degree plus a minimum of two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Skills and Knowledge

Demonstrated knowledge and application of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and practices working with students and colleagues;
Demonstrated knowledge of first-year students of color and their college experiences as well as a strong commitment to supporting students of color and other minoritized student populations;
Demonstrated knowledge of the challenges facing students, staff, and faculty from historically underrepresented communities, including people with disabilities, people of color, queer, transgender, gender diverse, first-generation, low-income, international, immigrant, undocumented, tribal and indigenous communities
Demonstrated knowledge of the challenges facing students, staff, and faculty from historically underrepresented communities;
Demonstrated ability to develop and facilitate workshop/training curricula on racism, social justice, cultural enrichment, and inclusion, and other related areas;
Demonstrated knowledge of student development and skills in support of student communities and their associated organizations
Experience with program development, implementation, and assessment in student affairs or related student services
Excellent interpersonal, communication, writing, and organizational skills

The Pennsylvania State University and Student Affairs are committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission. Student Affairs upholds that mission through our commitment to developing an equity-minded community that fosters students' academic, social, cultural, and personal growth.

Benefits for full-time employees at Penn State include (visit https://hr.psu.edu/benefits for more detailed information):

Medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans
Tuition discounts (including for a spouse and dependent children up to the age of 26)
Generous vacation time and sick time
16 paid holidays/campus closure days

To learn more about Community and Belonging in Student Affairs at Penn State, please visit: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/community-belonging

More information on the community of State College and its many amenities can be found here: https://happyvalley.com.

Apply online at https://psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Staff/job/Penn-State-University-Park/Assistant-Director---Paul-Robeson-Cultural-Center_REQ_0000053045-1

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go to http://www.police.psu.edu/clery/, which will also provide you with detail on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

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