Assistant director for community and belonging

Assistant Director for Community and Belonging


Division Summary
The Division of Student Life cultivates a dynamic, engaged, and inclusive community that enriches the student experience, promotes wellness and belonging, and supports the purposeful development of every student.

The student life team does this through complementing the academic program and enhancing the Mount Holyoke College student experience through co-curricular opportunities, community building, and cultivation of student leadership as well as by providing resources and support that enable student well-being. We work closely with the academic centers and our campus partners on specific initiatives such as Be Well at Mount Holyoke. We also coordinate many College-wide initiatives including New Student Orientation, Family & Friends Weekend, our Living Learning Communities, the MoZone Peer Education Program, Interfaith Education and Literacy, and the Leadership & Service Awards.

The Assistant Director for Community and Belonging a 12 month full-time position that reports directly to the Executive Director, Associate Dean of Students. The Assistant Director’s duties include a wide range of administrative and programmatic initiatives to further the work of Community and Belonging and plays an integral role in the College’s diversity and inclusion efforts. The Assistant Director serves as a campus leader in coordinating training, leadership opportunities and co-curricular programs aimed at building interfaith and cultural competency, humility and skills needed to engage across differences and thrive in a diverse community. The Assistant Director works closely with the Community and Belonging staff to foster all students’ holistic sense of belonging through advising, counseling, providing spiritual support, crisis support, and advocacy. The Assistant Director works closely with other campus wide departments (i.e., student life departments, Office of DEI, academic departments, etc) and must have the ability to see their work in the context of and in partnership with the work of others. A desire to engage with students and participate within the life of the College is key to this position.
Office of Community and Belonging The Office of Community and Belonging is committed to the holistic development and wellness of Mount Holyoke students using intersectional frameworks with a focus on identity, social justice, religion and spirituality, and liberatory consciousness. We create opportunities for those who gather and engage with The Office of Community and Belonging to feel empowered to ask and explore: “who I am, who do I want to be, and who do others think I am, and want me to be?
Enumerated responsibilities of the Assistant Director for Community and Belonging
Serve as a Multifaith resource for students
Develop and implement programmatic initiatives and services for Community and Belonging using an intersectional frameworks, interfaith cooperation, social justice, liberatory consciousness, and theological and ethical challenges of our times (i.e., speakers, intergroup and intragroup dialogues, Interfaith Lunch, Theology and Talk, etc.)
Support student access to worship and religious services for all students, including but not limited to spiritual companionship (pastoral/crisis support), and sacred spaces for contemplative and reflective practices
Provide student employee training (i.e, Interfaith Assistants, MoZone Peer Educators, Cultural Center Employees, etc)
Facilitate and provide student leaders and student organization intersectional training, included but not limited to Antiracism, Interfaith Literacy, Gender Inclusion, etc
Assist in the coordination and implementation of college traditions such as Blessing and Sending, Stoling Ceremony, Lavender Ceremony, First Gen Cording Ceremony, Hortense Parker, and the Trailblazers of Color Leadership Conference
Assist in the management, support, and advisement of the following SGA Committees: Students of Color, Lavender, and International Student Organizing Committee
Assist with the oversight, scheduling, and planning of cultural, heritage, and awareness celebrations
Support leadership development, interfaith cooperation, coalition building, and allyship among faith-based, cultural, and identity organizations and groups (annual retreat, training, meetings, etc.)
Assist with Religious Accommodations
Ensure the timely preparation for students to request religious accommodation in compliance with Massachusetts State Law by providing an updated multifaith calendar and a reminder early each semester to request their intended need for accommodation via the religious accommodation form on Colleague.
Collaborates closely with campus partners, especially Dining and Events Planning, in providing religious observance information ahead of high holidays and fasting observances, i.e. Passover, Ramadan, etc. to ensure the provision of religious dietary needs are met as well as offering celebratory items as part of our commitment to creating a sense of belonging for all of our students.
Supervise the Kitchen Manager/ Chef and Manager of the Wa-shin-an Japanese Teahouse and Garden
Assist in the operational support of the Safety Net which supports First-Generation and/ or Low Income students
Opportunities to serve as a campus representative for various five-college committees, including but not limited to diversity, equity and inclusion committees and initiatives
Opportunities to cultivate open and affirming worship and community spaces through an intersectional lens
Additional Division of Student Life roles as deemed appropriate and necessary for the care and support of students


Minimum Qualifications
3-5 years of progressive experience in higher education administration or related organizational experiences
Bachelor’s degree in a related field
A commitment to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus
Cultural competence, cultural humility, and experience working with students from various identities and lived experiences
Experience directly supporting International, BIPOC, First-Generation and Low- Income, LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, etc
Broad knowledge of issues and trends impacting undergraduate students in higher education
Proven ability to build and maintain strong working relationships including connections with local religious and faith leaders, college faculty, trustees, alums, and families
Strong leadership, problem solving, and organizational skills
Strong written and oral communication skills, as well as attention to detail
Proven affinity for students, and a desire to participate in the life of the College
Flexibility and the ability to handle multiple priorities
The willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends
Ability to work collaboratively while also acting independently, take initiative, use sound judgment, and decision-making skills

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the minimum qualifications, successful candidates should have the following:

Masters degree in Higher Administration Education, or related field; or Masters of Divinity degree or equivalent position within their tradition or practice
Expertise in providing interfaith and religious literacy, social justice, diversity and inclusion consultation, training, curricular and resources
Experience, knowledge, or understanding of what it means to work at a gender diverse women’s college
Extensive knowledge of faith traditions and religious literacy
Extensive knowledge of diverse liberation theologies (ie, womanist theology, feminist theology, black liberation theology, queer-affirming theology, etc).
Intergroup Dialogue facilitation experience or experience facilitating conversations across difference
Experience or familiarity with the Interfaith of America and the IA curriculum
Proven experience advising, mentoring, coaching, or supervising students

This position is full-time regular, exempt, 37.5 hr per week

Salary: $62,000.00-$64,000.00