Associate Dean of Students, Director of the LGBT Resource Center

Student and 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, wellness, social justice, 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.

   

Associate Dean of Students, Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center (LGBT RC) is a senior staff member within the Office of the Dean of Students (DOS), directly reporting to the Senior Associate Dean of Students for the Centers for Student Equity, Empowerment, and Belonging. This role advocates and provides vision, leadership, and coordination for the LGBTQ+ identified students, advise several student organizations, implement intercultural and intersectional longitudinal co-curricular programs, strategic priorities and initiatives within the Division of Student and Campus Life on Cornell University’s campus of 24,000 students. Associate Dean of Students, Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center and supervises the LGBT Resource Center Assistant Director, furthering Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center mission to acknowledge and celebrate the rich diversity that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender students bring to Cornell and actively foster a supportive and inclusive campus community. As a leader in the Centers, this position regularly participates in collaborative programming and training efforts, particularly in campus-wide efforts promoting student mental health and well-being. This position should anticipate supporting student groups during non-traditional business hours including evenings and weekends.    

The Associate Dean also serves as an extension of the Dean of Students and responds to campus-wide initiatives and issues as directed, including crisis and expressive activities (encampments, protests, rallies, controversial speakers, labor disruptions, etc.) Additionally, serves as a rotating Administrator On-Call for the University, providing after-hours crisis response and support.

Success Factors

• Creativity and competency in student-centered program design and implementation focused on students’ identity development and exploration, leadership development, and an increased sense of belonging.
• Knowledge and drive to continue learning of student trends, specifically related to supporting LGBTQ+ student success and student development
• Collaborative and responsive to managing multiple relationships and projects in a fast-paced professional office, flexibly adapting to new priorities, anticipating needs, and being nimble and responsive as projects and needs change.
• Ability to build relationships and maintain trust, to assess and balance the needs of various stakeholders, and to identify and advocate for achievable solutions.
• A commitment to working collaboratively in a student-centered environment committed to the important values of shared governance, with enthusiasm for supporting a student body that is broadly diverse with regard to gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and (dis)ability, among other factors.

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