University of Connecticut

JOB SUMMARY

The University of Connecticut (UConn), the public flagship university of the state of Connecticut, seeks a strategic and experienced leader to serve as the next Director of Student Activities.

UConn is among the top public universities in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report and is Connecticut’s sole public research university. Founded in 1881, UConn has 14 Schools and Colleges on multiple campuses. The University consists of its main campus in Storrs, four regional campuses, a Law School and Graduate Business Center in Hartford, and a hospital and Medical and Dental Schools at UConn Health. UConn offers a broad range of academic choices and students learn from outstanding faculty who are widely recognized for their cutting-edge research and expertise.

UConn seeks a leader who takes initiative and has the collaborative and interpersonal skills to operate effectively with multiple constituencies and achieve results. The Director of Student Activities will possess a history of successful leadership in student activities/development and demonstrated evidence of collaboration with students, faculty, and staff across the institution. The Director will provide vision, strategic direction, and leadership for a talented team of professionals, graduate assistants, and several hundred student employees. The Student Activities team is comprised of the following areas: Fraternity and Sorority Life, Major Events and Programming, Leadership and Organization Development, Trustee Student Organization Support, Business Affairs, Community Outreach Programs, and Marketing and Graphic Design.

Reporting to Tadarrayl Starke, Ed.D., Vice Provost for Undergraduate Student Success, the Director of Student Activities will be an experienced leader who understands current trends in student affairs and strongly believes in the essential link between engagement, inclusion and belonging, and student success. With genuine liking and respect for students and with strong academic values, the Director will inspire a highly talented team at UConn. The Director will participate in campus-wide conversations about the quality of student life, promote student development and belonging through curricular and co-curricular experiences, engender trust through transparency in policy development and decision-making, and demonstrate a commitment to shared governance by building consensus among faculty, staff, and students.

UConn’s work in holistic student success reaffirms the importance of our students’ voices and experiences in building an effective engagement and student success strategy. As a result, the Director is expected to maintain a strong relationship with undergraduate and graduate students to promote their development, success, and belonging through curricular and co-curricular engagement.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Expectations for Leadership

Reporting directly to Vice Provost Tadarrayl Starke, the Director of Student Activities will be an experienced leader who understands current trends in student affairs and in campus programming/student involvement and is prepared to lead in conversations about engagement, belonging, and student success on the Storrs campus and the four regional campuses.

The Director will be expected to:

• Develop a strategic vision and provide operational direction for Student Activities at UConn.
• Serve as a resource for student engagement and the student experience to promote accessible, holistic, and equitable student success.
• Reinforce a culture of collaboration and communication within Student Activities programs and services.
• Advance UConn’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice goals within the Student Activities framework.
• Listen to and promote the student voice in developing programming, curricular and co-curricular experiences, and engagement opportunities that build their sense of belonging to the UConn campus community and contribute to their overall student success.
• Invest in staff development and establish a best-practice learning organization.
• Support student engagement and leadership development programming across the UConn system.

The nature of the work in Student Activities requires that the Director is attentive to issues of risk management; is committed to compliance with campus, local, state, and federal laws; and is comfortable in a high visibility student and campus-facing role. As the UConn system is made up of multiple campuses, the Director is expected to build and develop relationships across the system to ensure equitable and accessible student engagement programming. Further, the Director will recognize that the staff, including many undergraduate and graduate students, are seeking mentoring, connections throughout the division and the university, and support for their highest professional aspirations. The professional development of individuals as well as a commitment to supporting the department as a learning organization, are priorities for the Director.

PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES

UConn’s next Director of Student Activities will build on a strong base of programs and departments within the division that support the intellectual, emotional, and social development and success of undergraduate and graduate students while promoting the values of diversity and community. The ideal candidate will have the following professional qualities:

• The Director will have a proven record of broad, progressive senior-level administrative management and leadership experience in student services/student activities over a period of at least eight years; understanding of the mission of flagship public universities with high levels of community engagement; and experience supervising full-time professional staff.
• As a key strategist and spokesperson for the changing needs of students, the Director will have a track record of successfully advocating for student needs with the senior administrative team, faculty, and others by utilizing research, data, best practices, and innovative programming to address emerging issues on campus.
• The Director will be a patient and steady presence with students and colleagues and will value collegiality, inclusiveness and optimism; have the ability to build trust and communicate effectively with tact and wisdom; take genuine pleasure in the company of students, faculty, and staff; leverage the well-established and respectful relationships and commitment to seeking and valuing student input that characterizes the existing student-administration relationships; and demonstrate the ability to listen and to connect with openness to new ideas.
• The successful candidate will show sensitivity, approachability and warmth, the highest sense of integrity and ethics and will demonstrate energy and grace under pressure.
• The Director will have excellent communication skills, strategic and critical thinking, awareness of risk management and compliance expectations, and a proactive approach to promoting new and best practices are all necessary for success in this role.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in an appropriate and relevant discipline or field, preferably higher education administration or student personnel.
• At least 8 years of broad, progressive senior-level administrative management and leadership experience in student services/student activities
• Proven skill in fostering collaborative, consultative, and meaningful partnerships among student affairs/success staff and university constituents.
• Demonstrated history of leading the development/implementation of student programming engaging undergraduate and/or graduate students at a large, complex institution.
• Experience in effective budget management and evidence-based resource allocation, awareness of liability exposure and risk mitigation, and the ability to address fiscal constraints collaboratively and creatively.
• Demonstrated experience in program evaluation, assessment, and using data to make informed decisions regarding programming, resource allocation, and/or development of student engagement practices.
• A record of accomplishment in fostering change management, process improvement, and the development and implementation of effective policies and processes.
• Experience demonstrating highly refined active listening and effective communication skills.
• A clear capacity for effective conflict resolution and mediation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctoral degree in higher education or related discipline or field of study.
• Experience in fundraising and resource development.
• Ability to formulate and shape strategic thinking and planning within the broader contexts of a postsecondary institution and the national higher education landscape.
• Demonstrated experience in providing professional development opportunities to staff and creating a highly collegial and interconnected team.
• Experience developing successful federal, state, or private philanthropic grant or supplemental funding proposals.
• Evidence of leadership in professional associations as a visible, student-centered administrator and leader who contributes to national research and forums.
• Experience working in a college system comprised of multiple campuses.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

The salary range for this position will be $130,000-$150,000.

This is a full-time, twelve-month position based on the UConn Storrs campus. The University offers a competitive salary, and outstanding benefits, including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. For additional information regarding benefits, visit: https://hr.uconn.edu/employee-benefits-overview/ and review the Management/Confidential section.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #498927 to upload a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

Evaluation of applications will begin on April 7, 2025, and continue until the position is filled.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.

The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce. The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner. This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all. We strongly respect each individual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer.