Director, Lewis Global Studies Center

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

Global Studies Center

Job Description

This position has an anticipated start-date of Spring 2026.

Job Summary

Serve as the strategic leader of the Lewis Global Studies Center (LGSC) at Smith College, advancing Smith's mission to prepare women for global citizenship and leadership. Shape and advance Smith’s global strategy initiatives by collaborating with campus-wide leadership and providing strategic management of education abroad, international students and scholars, and LGSC-affiliated programs; through this work, ensure academic integrity, strong partnerships, and alignment with institutional priorities. Represent the College on international issues and advise leadership on opportunities and risks. Collaborate with the faculty liaison and LGSC Steering Committee to integrate global learning across the curriculum, to deepen international and intercultural engagement for students, faculty, and staff, and cultivate an understanding of the global context of a Smith education. Oversee international risk management, student travel, and scholar engagement in campus life. Manage the LGSC staff and budget, as well as long- and short-term planning, operating procedures, and policy-setting for the Office for International Study (OIS) and International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO).

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

Lewis Global Studies Center Administration: (35%)

• Provide strategic leadership for education abroad and international student and scholar services in close collaboration with LGSC staff. Offer executive supervision for the directors and managers of all units, overseeing the Center’s key operations to ensure that resources, procedures, budgeting, staffing, and impact evaluation are managed through sustainable and innovative approaches that advance Smith's mission. Ensure consistent communication of the Center’s mission across digital platforms.
• Oversee assessment strategies and outcomes for the regular review of education abroad and international student programming. Lead assessment of Smith's international travel policies, international education risks, and compliance with local fiscal, labor, and regulatory policies. Provide strategic leadership in evaluating Smith's international travel policies, identifying and mitigating international education risks, and ensuring full compliance with fiscal, labor, and regulatory standards.
• Work closely with the Associate Provost to advance Smith’s global strategy initiatives, manage all international agreements, contracts and MOUs, and ensure LGSC policies align with Smith’s HR, IT, Finance, and other administrative standards. Collaborate with the Provost’s Office to provide guidance and support to faculty seeking to develop international affiliations and global projects. Support the College in shaping institutional global priorities through collaboration with senior leadership, faculty, and campus partners.  
• In partnership with the faculty liaison, co-chair the LGSC Steering Committee to shape strategic planning for co-curricular and academic programming. Together with the faculty liaison, provide strategic leadership to ensure that key academic programs—such as the Interdisciplinary Studies Diploma Program and the Translation Studies Concentration—are effectively supported through cross-campus administrative offices. Oversee professional development workshops for faculty and staff on global learning, intercultural communication, risk management, faculty-led program pedagogy, and related topics.
• Manage external grants, projects, and gifts associated with the Center. Provide analyses and evaluate the effectiveness of office programs to improve programs and services.

Education Abroad: (20%)

• Supervise and collaborate with the education abroad staff members to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for education abroad programming. 
• Coordinate Smith's compliance with local labor, fiscal, immigration, and academic policies at the different education abroad sites.
• Oversee content and delivery of annual training and professional development to directors, especially around risk assessment and crisis management, in coordination with the Associate Director for Education Abroad. 
• With the Associate