Assistant Director, Student Success

Who We Are
We, the Division of Student Affairs, are a student-focused organization that aims to empower student success and support personal development. We act daily to create, enhance, and sustain a culture of respect and inclusion in the workplace, focusing on equity and justice in its many forms, including racial, social, and environmental justice. We intentionally and relentlessly pursue excellence through introspection, vulnerability, empathy, compassion, learning, and courage. We value our internal and external partnerships as vital drivers of the ambitious goals we pursue. We celebrate and take pride in the following: 

• Named one of the “Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs” by Diverse Magazine.
• Serving a highly diverse student body (click here for more information).
• Leading the way as the #1 ranked institution in the AAU and #3 of all colleges and universities nationally in fostering our students' social mobility.
• Awarded multiple distinctions including philanthropic awards and research grants in experiential learning and career development, voter engagement, student engagement, health and wellness practices, and quality of residential life.

Click here for more about Student Affairs.

Required Qualifications (as evidenced by an attached resume):
Bachelor’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher). Three (3) years of full-time administrative experience or experience in higher education. Project management experience. Experience with advancing student success/retention-related initiatives. Experience working with diverse student populations.

Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in higher education or related field. Additional years (4+) of full-time administrative experience or experience in higher education. Event/initiative coordination experience. Experience with Google Workspace, including experience creating electronic forms, managing and organizing data, and running basic queries or reports. Experience supervising or supporting student employees.

Brief Description of Duties:
The Assistant Director of Student Success and Retention is a newly created position within the Division of Student Affairs responsible for advancing campus-wide student success initiatives, with a particular focus on identified and priority student populations. This position reports to the Strategic Lead for Student Success and Retention and resides in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. The Assistant Director provides strategic leadership for data-informed outreach, innovative programming, and coordinated retention efforts that strengthen student engagement and institutional outcomes.
The Assistant Director serves as a key connector between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, translating institutional retention priorities into effective programs, partnerships, and student-centered strategies. This role combines direct program oversight with supervisory responsibility, cross-divisional collaboration, and continuous assessment to ensure high-impact, scalable retention initiatives.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, administrative, and interpersonal skills; the ability to manage people and projects simultaneously; and a commitment to innovation, equity, and student-centered practice in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Strategic Planning, Innovation, and Collaboration

• Lead the implementation of retention initiatives that promote belonging, persistence, and academic momentum, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and best practices.
• Serve as a thought partner in the development of short- and long-term retention strategies, with particular emphasis on the first-year experience and early intervention.
• Identify emerging student needs and institutional gaps, proposing creative, evidence-based solutions and pilot initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues who are part of the Division of Undergraduate Education, the Undergraduate Student Success Team, and the SUNY Academic Momentum initiative.
• Work collaboratively