Senior Associate Dean for Academic Diversity and Professional Development

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $121,700 - $175,500

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice Dean, the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Diversity and Professional Development works to develop and implement policies, direct new initiatives, and organize activities to enhance the diversity and inclusion efforts of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, overseeing the Office of Academic Diversity and Inclusion (OADI). Columbia's understanding of academic diversity encompasses a wide representation of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, nationalities, and military experiences. This incumbent will partner with multiple constituencies within the School, the University, and beyond to promote the institution as a community for which diversity is an intellectual category and an academic commitment, that fosters an environment of inclusion, and facilitates access of underrepresented individuals to graduate education. This incumbent will uphold the superlative standards of admission to graduate study at Columbia, and will work to recruit first-rate students prepared for the highest levels of academic performance; will also work closely with departments and programs on issues related to advising, academic achievement, degree completion, pedagogical initiatives, academic opportunities, and professional advancement

The Senior Associate Dean also oversees two professional development units of the Graduate School: the GSAS Writing Studio, and GSAS Compass, the office of graduate career development. The Writing Studio is dedicated to supporting hundreds of Arts and Sciences doctoral and master's students in the process of writing the dissertations and theses. The Studio forms and facilitates dissertation-writing groups within and among departments and programs; hosts workshops and events, writing sprints, one-on-one consultations. The Studio has a staff Director and Assistant Director, two half-time graduate Writing Fellows, 8 hourly consultants, and has capacity for additional staff upon the development of new programs. GSAS Compass is the career development unit that offers a variety of career development services tailored to GSAS MA and PhD students, including career development workshops, employer events, networking opportunities, and one-on-one advisement. Compass also manages GSAS Connect, a tailored database of jobs and internships for graduate students and recent alumni in various stages of their careers. Compass has a staff Director, Associate Director, and Assistant Director; and 3-4 graduate student fellows and interns.

Responsibilities

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  Collaborates with academic departments to enhance recruitment and retention of a diverse student body. Examines and improves current processes for maintaining a diverse student collective. Actively recruits on behalf of the School's programs at local, state, and national venues. (5%)

  
  
• Works closely with GSAS Student Affairs and with academic programs to create diversity programming. Serves as a resource and partner for faculty. Oversees initiatives to enhance the graduate community through a commitment to diversity in the curriculum. Manages the Graduate School's Summer Research Program for Underrepresented Minority Undergraduates (SRP Program). (10%)
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  Works with departments and programs with issues related to advising, academic achievement, degree completion, pedagogical initiatives, academic opportunities, and professional development. (5%)

  
  
• Develops methodologies to assess efforts within GSAS and its departments/programs with regard to diversity and inclusion. Collects, analyzes, and presents data as they relate to diversity initiatives, provides feedback on the effectiveness of the School's efforts and suggestions for continued improvement. Monitors and interprets national trends and peer institution efforts, and seeks benchmarks for successful diversity initiatives. (5%)
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  Meets, advises, mentors, and collaborates with students, prospective students, alumni, faculty, community members, and staff as a visible and accessible member of the Graduate School community. Oversees the daily activities of the Office of Academic Diversity. (15%)

  
  
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  Seeks opportunities for funding and scholarship related to diversity initiatives. Initiates, and participates in cross-disciplinary research and educational funding opportunities. (5%)

  
  
• Engages in professional development activities; represents the Graduate School at institutional, inter-university, and other forums that support the mission of the Office of Diversity specifically and diversity and inclusion generally; other duties as assigned. (10%)
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  Supervises professional staff in OADI, the Writing Studio, and Compass, and oversees the directors' management of graduate student fellows and interns. (20%)

  
  
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  Cultivates opportunities for institutional collaboration through membership and participation in the GCC (Graduate Career Consortium). (10%)

  
  
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  Collaborates with campus partners tasked with professional development, such as the Center for Teaching and Learning. (10%)

  
  
• Will collaborate to develop a GSAS fellowships operation among GSAS units, including Compass, the Studio, Student Affairs, and Financial Aid. (10%)
  
  
• Other related duties as assigned. (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced degree required; at least 5-7 years of successful administrative and pedagogical experience in a university setting;
• Experience must reflect the ability to work collaboratively with students, academic and student life administrators, faculty, alumni, and community members, and to contribute to and function effectively within a diverse graduate school environment. Documented experience working with underrepresented students in higher education required.
• Proven experience in all aspects of event planning and programming, creating large- and small-scale events throughout the year.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, strong collaborative skills for team work and consensus building; demonstrated leadership ability; strong quantitative analytic and presentation skills required; ability to work independently on concurrent projects under pressure of multiple deadlines essential; a willingness to work evenings and some weekends expected.

Preferred Qualifications

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  PhD preferred.

  
  

Other Requirements

• Interested individuals must supply a resume and cover letter to be considered an applicant. Finalists may be asked to submit a writing sample.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.