Assistant to the Assistant Dean, AAD AAP

About the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University (Cornell AAP) is home to nearly 1000 students, 120 faculty, and 65 staff members who come together from around the world to take up some of today's most urgent challenges and advance research, inquiry, and design to build a more just and sustainable future. A vital college at one of the nation's foremost research universities, Cornell AAP bridges fields and faculty with five departments, 20 degree programs, 18 faculty-led labs, and the Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities, a platform for building partnerships that make positive impact in our cities and communities nationally and internationally. Cornell AAP's departments include Architecture, Art, and Planning, as well as the new multicollege Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate, jointly led by the S.C. Johnson College of Business, and the multicollege Department of Design Tech, administered by Cornell AAP in partnership with Cornell Bowers CIS, Cornell Engineering, the College of Human Ecology, and Cornell Tech. The college is housed across three locations (Ithaca, NY, New York City, and Rome, Italy) each with world-class facilities and cutting-edge technologies. Cornell AAP is about acts of transformation. We are committed to building a caring, inclusive, and rigorous community around our shared priorities — Creative + Critical Practices; Sustainability + Social Impact; Design + Emerging Technologies; and the Future of Cities + Development — that enable us to reimagine and reshape the world in radically new ways, every day. 

The Opportunity

Are you a highly organized, detail-oriented professional with a passion for making a difference? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where collaboration and communication are key? Join the Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD) team at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning as the Assistant to the Assistant Dean, where you will play a crucial role in supporting the college’s fundraising and engagement efforts.

As the Assistant to the Assistant Dean, you will be at the heart of the AAD team, providing essential administrative support to the Assistant Dean and contributing to the smooth operation of events, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship activities. In this role, you’ll manage complex travel logistics, coordinate high-level events, and handle donor communications, all while ensuring that the Assistant Dean’s calendar and office runs efficiently. Your contributions will directly impact the college’s ability to engage alumni, donors, and students, fostering connections that support the AAP’s mission.

Key Responsibilities:

• Administrative Support: Manage the Assistant Dean’s calendar, coordinate travel arrangements, and prepare meeting agendas, briefings, and expense reports. Serve as the primary point of contact for inquiries related to the AAD office and the dissemination of the AAP Alumni newsletter.
• Event and Stewardship Support: Lead the coordination of donor events, high-level meetings, and alumni engagement activities, handling logistics such as venues, catering, invitations, and registration. Support donor acknowledgment processes and assist with prospective student visits.
• Advisory Council Support: Assist in managing the AAP Advisory Council by coordinating meetings/venues, maintaining membership information, and ensuring effective communication with Council members.
• Office Operations: Oversee day-to-day office operations, monitor and prepare budgets, and process travel reimbursements and payments. Collaborate with the Assistant Dean and colleagues to manage office space and equipment needs. Act as the primary point of contact for the AAD office at the college of AAP. This includes interfacing with alumni, donors, advisory council members, gift officers, and others, both inside and outside of the university.
• Professional Development and Special Projects: Engage in professional development opportunities and contribute to special projects and initiatives.

Success Factors:

• A proactive, resourceful individual with excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• A strong, diplomatic communicator, both in writing and in person, capable of building effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented, with a knack for coordinating complex logistics, from travel arrangements to high-profile events.
• Adept at managing budgets and financial processes, with a commitment to accuracy and efficiency.
• Collaborative, flexible, and committed to contributing to a positive team environment.
• Steady demeanor with a solution orientation.

At Cornell University, we value diversity a