Job Description for the Assistant Director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education position. Review job description, requirements, and qualifications. Apply or register interest for the position.

Title: Assistant Director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday - Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Student Life

Department: The Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education

Location: Elon Campus

Position Summary

The Division of Student Life provides premier student-centered services, programs, and experiences that integrate in- and out-of-class learning, promote holistic student development, and facilitate student engagement in a vibrant, supportive residential community. Within the Division of Student Life, this position is part of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE) and reports to the Associate Director of the CREDE.

The Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education (CREDE) at Elon University is a space for all students, dedicated to fostering empowerment, well-being, and holistic growth. While we welcome and support the entire campus community, we place particular emphasis on elevating the experiences of ALANAM (African American/Black, Latinx/Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Native American, Alaskan Native, and Multiracial) students. Through inclusive resources, educational programs, and community-driven initiatives, the CREDE promotes cultural awareness, intercultural competence, and a deep sense of belonging for everyone. Our work centers self-exploration and cultivates understanding across the diverse identities that enrich our university.

The Assistant Director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education is part of a six-person team committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through education, advocacy, and community building. This full-time, 12-month position shares responsibility for the daily operations of CREDE, including supervising, mentoring, and advising students and student leaders.

The Assistant Director develops and implements services and initiatives that support the intellectual and social needs of all students with an emphasis on Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Native American, and Indigenous students. The Assistant Director also promotes campus-wide understanding of the identities, cultures, and experiences of these communities and collaborates with administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners to foster a supportive and inclusive environment that affirms and values Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Native American, and Indigenous students, faculty, and staff.

Elon is proud to have been named to the list of Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs each of the past six years. For additional information about working with the Division of Student Life, visit: https://www.elon.edu/u/administration/student-life/about/work-with-us/

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Completed bachelor’s degree and 2-3 years of experience required or completed master’s degree in higher education, student personnel, or related field and 1-2 years of experience (including graduate assistantships/apprenticeships) in diversity, equity, and inclusion work or a related functional area in higher education strongly preferred.

Preferred Education and Experience

Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Personnel or other related field

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Theoretical knowledge of student development and identity formation, including experience working with underserved/underrepresented student populations, specifically Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Native American and Indigenous students.
Ability to work with a wide range of students, staff, and faculty in a diverse college setting.
Previous experience working and providing programs with and for college students and student groups, particularly students who identify as Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Native American/ Indigenous
Demonstrated effectiveness working with students to foster cohesiveness and inclusivity between and among diverse populations.

Job Duties

• The Assistant Director assists in the management of the overall operations of CREDE. This work includes but is not limited to:
  • Supporting all students, including international and U.S. born and raised Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Native American and Indigenous students, providing race and ethnicity related advocacy, services, and programs that promote identity development, intellectual achievement, personal success, and social belonging.
  • Designing, implementing, marketing, and assessing programs that reflect the diversity within Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Native American and Indigenous communities across national, ethnic, and racial background, and fostering opportunities for all students to explore how race and ethnicity intersect with other aspects of identity.
  • Collaborating with campus departments and student organizations to create cultural affirming and educationally transformative experiences that promote cross-cultural engagement and cultural appreciation with a focus on Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Native American and Indigenous identities.
  • Leading CREDE's programmatic initiatives and committees including but not limited to AAPI History Month, Native American History Month, and Multiracial Awareness Week ensuring programs are accessible, inclusive, and educationally impactful for the wider campus community.
  • Serving as the liaison with key offices such as Admissions and New Student Programs and supporting welcome events and orientation programs.
  • Working collaboratively on inclusive excellence efforts with other university offices and centers including but not limited to the Center for Access and Success, Gender & LGBTQIA Center, Global Education Center, Office of Disability Services, Center for Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development, Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life, and Interdisciplinary studies minors.
  • Managing the API Community Room
• Intercultural Programming, Learning, and Development
  • Developing and facilitating intercultural and development programs that cultivate intercultural competence, inclusive leadership, and respectful engagement across diverse identities, drawing on identity expertise, skilled facilitation, campus relationships, and culturally grounded examples to create meaningful learning experiences.
  • Contributing to campus-wide initiatives and committees that advance student belonging, success, and the university’s goals for inclusive excellence. 
• CREDE’s Cross Functional-Team Initiatives
  • In collaboration with the CREDE team, coordinating, enhancing, and implementing the S.M.A.R.T. (Student Mentors Advising Rising Talent) Program, including the recruitment, selection, training, and supervision of mentors. 
  • Contributing to the coordination and ongoing development of CREDE’s Ignite: Leading with Identity & Purpose Student Coordinator Development Pathway by implementing a shared program framework, establishing common learning outcomes, coordinating calendars, and promoting consistent expectations for student leadership development, supervision, and assessment. Collaborate with fellow Assistant Directors to review program progress, share effective practices, assess student learning, and identify opportunities for additional student support.
• Supervisory Responsibilities
  • Responsible for the daily operations of CREDE, which includes supervising, mentoring and advising students. Supervisors of student employees implement the ElonGROW (Guided Reflection on Work) model in their supervisory practices by facilitating regular guided reflection conversations that connect workplace learning with students’ broader educational and career goals, ensuring a consistent, developmental approach to student employment across the university.
  • Advising and supporting Asian/Pacific Islander Student Association (APSA) and other related student groups and/or organizations.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Supports departmental strategic planning, goal setting, priority completion, evaluation and assessment, and data-driven decision-making Supports university events, including, but not limited to: Convocations, Commencement, Family Weekend, and events related to Admissions and/or New Student Orientation.
  • Serves as a member of a Student Life Care and Response Team, which includes either serving in a rotational on-call emergency response role or providing initial outreach and follow-up support for student concerns.
  • Serves on university, divisional, or departmental committees, task forces, and search committees.
  • Other related duties as assigned by the Associate Director of CREDE and the Assistant Dean of Students/Director of CREDE
• Inclusive Community Building Community is foundational to Elon and a shared responsibility within our residential campus. All who work at Elon should demonstrate an understanding of and engagement with Elon’s foundational commitment to relationships, mentoring and collaboration in a close-knit residential community. We embrace the shared responsibility to foster inclusive excellence within a strong residential community. Accordingly, employees are expected to join together and build connections in activities that foster an active and engaged campus environment and engage in professional development to support the shared responsibility of enriching diversity, equity, and inclusion through meaningful relationships and mentoring at Elon. Employees are encouraged to, for example, attend or participate in campus activities such as College Coffee, Numen Lumen, campus cultural events, athletic events, continuing education, professional development opportunities and trainings, employee resource groups and other university-sponsored activities to demonstrate an active commitment to the Elon community.

Special Instructions to Applicants: Serves as a member of a Student Life Care and Response Team, which includes either serving in a rotational on-call emergency response role or providing initial outreach and follow-up support for student concerns.