Senior Assistant Director - Centennial Scholars
Listed on 2026-07-24
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Education / Teaching
Education Administration, Academic, University Professor, Academic Advising & Student Services
Senior Assistant Director - Centennial Scholars
State Role
Title:
Administrative and Professional Faculty
Position Type:
Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)
Position Status:
Full-Time
FLSA Status:
Exempt:
Not Eligible for Overtime
College/Division:
Student Access and Inclusion
Department: 100576 - Centennial Scholars Program E&G
Pay Range: $55,000 - $60,000
Beginning Review Date: 08/19/2026
About JMU:
Mission:
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.
Vision:
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.
Who We Are:
Situated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff.
The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty. JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.
and Responsibilities
1. Student Advising
- Work directly with Centennial and Valley Scholars participants supporting academic success, navigating barriers, and developing plans for programs of study, career and graduate plans.
- Advise approximately 90 students on a caseload, utilize a structured system for advising students through regular contact in-person, and electronic communication by utilizing established systems for case notes and participant data tracking.
- Support students in developing individualized success plans that align academic goals with career and post-graduate pathways.
- Identify systemic barriers to student success and design programmatic interventions.
2. Program Creation and Delivery
- Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement for programs that promote academic success, including structured academic planning, progress monitoring, and skill-building initiatives. Build partnerships with campus stakeholders with the goal of expanding outreach to the greater first generation student body.
- Create initiatives that increase students' social capital by demystifying how JMU operates (e.g., navigating academic policies, utilizing campus resources, engaging faculty, and accessing high-impact opportunities such as internships, research, and study abroad).
- Utilize data-informed practices to assess program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
- Participate in Centennial Scholars selection by assisting with the academic and essay review and supporting the candidate interview process. Serves as a member of the selection committee.
3. Grant Research, Writing, and Resource Development
- Coordinate efforts to identify, research, and pursue external funding opportunities, including federal, state, and private grants.
- Develop competitive grant proposals aligned with program priorities in college access, persistence, and completion in collaboration with a team within the Division of Access and Enrollment.
4. Access Partnerships and Pipeline Development
- Build and sustain partnerships with K–12 school systems, TRIO programs, and community-based organizations committed to increasing college access.
- Represent Centennial Scholars in regional and statewide college access networks such as VCAN and First Gen Forward.
5. Supervision and Program Operations
- Supervise graduate assistants and student staff supporting program delivery, while establishing clear workflows and expectations for program implementation, student engagement, and data tracking.
- Ensure operational excellence across programming, communications, and student-facing services.
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