Assistant Dean & Director, Intercultural Center

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

Swarthmore’s Intercultural Center (IC) provides programs and services that support the personal and intellectual development of Asian American, Latinx/e, Multiracial, Native American, Black, Queer (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender), low-income, international, students with disabilities, and first-generation college students at Swarthmore College. The Center assumes broad responsibility for the creation of a supportive environment which promotes the students' full participation in the College’s co-curricular life and enhances the sensitivity of the larger community to the needs, interests, and culture of its students. In addition, the IC promotes systemic change toward a multicultural perspective across the institution, and fosters community-building and collaboration among diverse groups both within and outside of the college.

The opportunity:

Swarthmore College seeks an Assistant Dean and Director of the Intercultural Center, a senior member of the Division of Student Affairs who provides leadership and strategic oversight of all aspects of the Intercultural Center. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence, this position works closely with the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, other staff, faculty, and alumni in developing resources for improving the quality of campus life for students of color and advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives. Responsibilities include supervising staff and interns, advising students, providing logistical support for programs and events; planning special projects supported by the office; drafting and preparing correspondence and documents; professional interactions with other members of the College community, outside visitors, and vendors. The position is also responsible for all administrative functions of the office such as reports, budgets, data and file archiving. The director will focus primarily on the development, supervision, and execution of programs supporting the activities of the Intercultural Center at Swarthmore College.

As a Student Dean, they are an academic advisor to 8-10 students each year. They are the primary point of contact for a caseload of students, providing wide ranging advising and support to students on issues including academic performance (e.g. course warnings, academic probation, etc.), initiating and returning from personal and medical leaves of absence, managing health and/or personal issues, and helping students who are experiencing social or adjustment challenges. As a member of the Student Dean team, they work closely with colleagues in student health and wellness and/or counseling and psychological services on student cases involving complex and/or crisis situations. Student Deans also serve as communications liaisons with faculty, staff, and students’ families/guardians.

Essential Responsibilities

Director of the Intercultural Center

• Develop vision, objectives, and goals that implement educational student development and programs that speak to the particular needs and experiences of students in conjunction with IC staff, interns and student group leaders.
  • Serve as the public face and primary ambassador for the IC to both on- and off-campus constituencies; prepare and deliver speeches and public presentations in numerous settings to a wide range of internal and external audiences.
  • Lead and support IC staff members, along with student interns, to prepare for large-scale programs including Heritage Month, IC Open House, IC Awards and Month, and other special events.
  • Offer individualized trainings and workshops educating the campus community about cultural competency
  • Exercise professional judgment and specialized knowledge by providing accountability, advice, consultation, and guidance to individual students, IC interns, student volunteers, and affiliated student organizations including support for effective navigation and negotiation of campus policies, rules, regulations in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
• Develop and/or exercise compet