Associate Director for American Indian and Indigenous Student Empowerment

Student & Campus Life (SCL) inspires transformation in all Cornell students on their journey of individual, academic and personal evolution. Our division is comprised of leading student affairs experts who support our campus on pressing student life matters including public service, health, wellbeing, connection and belonging, residential living, food services, sports, recreation, career services, and student activities and organizations including sorority and fraternity life. We provide support and services to roughly 25,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on multiple campuses in the U.S. and abroad.

The Office of the Dean of Students (DOS) cultivates the holistic growth and development of students through advocacy, empowerment, and education. We enhance the student experience by offering comprehensive support and resources, providing co-curricular opportunities, and fostering a sense of belonging.

The Centers for Equity, Empowerment, and Belonging (The Centers) are comprised of resource centers, empowerment units, and affinity groups within the Office of the Dean of Students to support the holistic development of the student experience by creating engagement opportunities, support services, and initiatives focused on student equity, belonging, and inclusion. Through transformational learning in the co-curricular experience, we strive to foster a greater sense of belonging, empowerment, and emotional intelligence, and help students thrive. The area is comprised of identity-based centers and offices that support and empower students from historically marginalized backgrounds while also providing all Cornell community members with opportunities to deepen their understanding of racial justice and equity, expand their allyship skills, engage in dialogue across differences and be a part of the movement for positive social change.

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students and Director of the LGBT Resource Center within The Centers for Equity, Empowerment, and Belonging, this position serves as the primary point of contact for Indigenous and American Indian Students. The Associate Director advances the mission of the Office of the Dean of Students by fostering student belonging, engagement, leadership development, and holistic well-being among American Indian and Indigenous students. The Associate Director is instrumental in implementing educational programs to raise awareness and collaborating with campus partners to help mitigate the challenges of American Indian and Indigenous students may face in their transition to and navigation of Cornell. This position serves in an Administrator on-call rotation responding to crisis-related situations after-hours, including navigating high-level issues of physical and psychological safety.

This is a live-in optional position residing in Akwe:kon, Cornell’s Indigenous program house. If the live-in option is chosen, the anticipated salary of this position is $62,400. If the live-in option is not chosen, the anticipated salary range is $74,500 - $78,000; final offer will be dependent on candidate education, experience, qualifications and other compensable factors. There is no visa sponsorship for this position. This position requires occasional night and weekend hours.

Success Factors:

- Commitment to cultivating an inclusive space where students can feel welcomed and able to engage and learn from others who have had life experiences and hold social identities that are similar and different from their own, as well as understanding the needs of students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds at the intersection of multiple identities.
- Drive to obtain and continually learn knowledge of best practice and student trends, specifically related to supporting student success and development, particularly among historically underrepresented and/or marginalized student groups. One should be able to foster a supportive and student-centered environment to empower and equip students with skills and strategies to engage in self-advocacy, coalition, building and governance.
- Strong program and event planning skills to implement, assess, and support various programs and workshops for students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Adaptable to new priorities and agile in managing multiple relationships and projects.
- Capable of fostering student leadership development through advising, training, guidance, and reflection opportunities for various student organizational leaders and student staff to achieve their goals and missions and meet their job expectations. Maintains a supportive and student-centered environment that empowers and equips students with skills and strategies to engage in self-advocacy, coalition building, and governance.
- An ability to work part of a dynamic and flexible team in a fast-paced professional office and to interact collaboratively with diverse audiences to effectively affect change from within systems, build relationships, maintain trust, and identify and advocate for achievable solutions.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Required Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree and 3 to 5 years of full-time professional experience, or equivalent combination of experience and education.
- Direct experience with and knowledge of American Indian and Indigenous students, communities, culture, and issues is essential, along with the ability for meaningful and appropriate interaction with people from a wide range of ethnic, social, and cultural backgrounds.
- Ability to serve as an advocate for individuals of all ethnicities, genders, ages, and backgrounds.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to multi-task under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience with events planning and development of programs.
- Must exercise sound judgment and respect highly confidential information.
- Intercultural competency and experience advising diverse groups of students.
- Strong understanding of student issues, trends, and ability to proactively respond to a wide array of issues or emerging student needs.
- Experience advising or working closely with students from diverse and or historically marginalized populations
- Ability to take initiative, follow directives, work independently, and contribute to a diverse team environment.
- Ability to advise students with sound judgment, including making appropriate referrals, setting boundaries, and empowering students with self-advocacy skills and strategies.
- Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
- Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Master's degree in College Student Development, Student Affairs Administration, Higher Education, Educational Administration or related field.
- 2-4 years full-time professional experience working with American Indian and Indigenous students in some capacity.
- Direct support of students from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Knowledge of indigenous, native and or first nations.
- Experience working with diverse college student populations in a student affairs setting.

University Job Title:
Coord Program II

Job Family:
Student Services

Level:
F

Pay Rate Type:
Salary

Pay Range:
$72,209.00 - $80,619.00

Remote Option Availability:
Onsite

Company:
Endowed

Contact Name:
Bri Muscente

Contact Email:
[email protected]

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

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Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

- Prior relevant work or industry experience
- Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
- Unique applicable skills
- Academic Discipline

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2026-10-01