William Paterson University invites applications for the twelve-month, full-time position of Assistant Director, Student Diversity and Inclusion.

Reporting to the Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion, the Assistant Director of Student Diversity & Inclusion will create and maintain cross-cultural community connections among students by designing, expanding, and maintaining student initiatives that support intercultural competence, and a sense of belonging within and around the Center for Diversity & Inclusion and the Black Cultural Center.  

Department overview

A commitment to diversity is one of the University’s core values. William Paterson is one of the most diverse colleges and universities in New Jersey with approximately 60% of the student body being students of color. The University has been designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) since 2015 with more than 30 percent of current students claiming Hispanic heritage.

The Center for Diversity & Inclusion and the Black Cultural Center support an intersectional environment where individuals of all cultures and identities come to be understood, included, and valued.  These two entities promote awareness and appreciation for heritage and descent and serve to build a community of cultural competence in and around the University.

For more information, please visit: https://www.wpunj.edu/diversity-and-inclusion/black-cultural-center.html

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provides oversight of the Black Cultural Center; researches and makes recommendations for resource expansion; establishes and nurtures a sense of community that results in a sustainable connection between multicultural student organizations and the Centers.
• Develops, implements, and facilitates LGBTQIA+ programs and resources to raise awareness and create ally training opportunities.
• Designs, implements, and maintains advocacy and support programs and connections for historically underrepresented, marginalized, and under resourced students; inclusive of identity, such as race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, ability, age, etc.
• Designs, implements, and maintains intentional educational programming (e.g. programs, events, workshops, and dialogues) that support social, cultural and global understanding and raise awareness and competency of students.
• Collaborates cross-functionally within Student Development areas to translate cultural competency into purposeful outcomes within student programs; develops and facilitates training for student employees across the division as requested.
• Develops mentoring programs that support First Generation college students; hires and supervises mentors.
• Maintains Center for Diversity & Inclusion and the Black Cultural Center Pioneer Life webpages, prepares and administers internal surveys, monitors and tracks attendance and participation at key events, etc.
• Conducts regular program assessment on a regular basis and compiles monthly and annual reports as directed.
• Assists in major division activities such as New Student Orientations, Welcome Weeks, Homecoming/Family Day, and civic engagement.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Counseling, Social Work, Gender Studies, History, or other related field.
• Two or more years working in a student focused position.

Preferred qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of student development theory.
• Experience working in a college and university setting.
• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering educational programming to students to address the complexities of privilege and oppression and appreciation of social identity and their intersectionality.
• Capable of communicating effectively in an online environment (Zoom, Teams, etc.)
• Demonstrated technology skills in advanced Excel.

Personal attributes and traits:

• Ability to work effectively in a complex inter/intra cultural environment.
• Desire and demonstrated ability to work with diverse student populations.
• Evidence of well-developed communication skills including active listening, empathy, and an ability to work toward shared understandings.
• Demonstrated, well-developed organizational, assessment, and management skills.
• Capable of taking an outcome-oriented approach in order to serve as a thought-partner on a wide range of issues.

Interested candidates will be prompted to:

Complete an application

Submit a cover letter & CV

Provide names/contacts of three professional references.

Submission of all documents listed above is required for consideration.

Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled. General questions related to this application process, please contact talent@wpunj.edu

About William Paterson:                                     

William Paterson University is the third most diverse public university in New Jersey. As a longstanding member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), we have been designated by the US Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. William Paterson University is also proud to be designated as a NASA MSI (Minority Serving Institution). The University offers more than 250 undergraduate and graduate academic programs that range from liberal arts and sciences to pre-professional and professional programs; it enrolls nearly 9,000 students from across the country and from over 40 nations. The University is situated on a beautiful, 380-acre suburban campus in Wayne, New Jersey, just twenty miles west of New York City.