Graduate Assistant - Literacy Specialist

Job Description

The Upward Bound Programs Literacy Specialist (LS) is responsible for developing and delivering best practices in reading and writing development for the program’s high school participants. This 20‑hour per week position is funded through the University’s Regents Service Program and requires collaboration with the Program’s Academic Services Coordinator and leadership staff to refine strategies for improving student test and course outcomes, engagement with reading, and the development of critical‑thinking skills.

• Provide daily reading and writing coaching sessions across content areas.
• Conduct literacy interventions targeting fluency; text interpretation; critique & discussion; the writing process, grammar & revision.
• Coach students through written products such as personal statement narratives, scholarship essays, research papers, assignments for Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement coursework, student resumes, and other projects as needed.
• Facilitate the delivery of a UB/UBMS Book Club to increase student literacy engagement and use multimodal strategies to develop reading, writing, and listening skills.
• Deliver workshops and lessons related to increasing student understanding and readiness for the English, Reading, and Writing sections of the ACT and SAT exams.
• Assist in training and supervising a team of undergraduate academic coaches to enhance their tutoring skills and professional development.

• Enrolled in at least six graduate credits t be formally accepted into a program of study; graduate special students ineligible for this position.
• Familiarity with best practices in reading and writing development for high school students.
• Demonstrates a knowledge of literacy support strategies and services.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Understanding of educational access and issues related to low‑income and first‑generation students in K‑12 and higher education.
• Strong technology, organization, programming, and evaluation skills.

• Experience with tutoring and/or instruction.
• Familiarity with scholarship and admissions essay preparation and university undergraduate admissions.
• Understanding of Nevada high school curriculum, common core state standards in English Language Arts and Literacy, and college readiness benchmarks.
• Academic program in English, Creative Writing, Secondary Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, Equity and Diversity, Counseling or Social Work.

This is a 20‑hour per week Master’s or Doctoral Graduate Assistant position. The Upward Bound office is open Monday through Friday from 3:00PM to 6:00PM. Students are responsible for ensuring that all required weekly hours are completed. The position also requires attendance one Saturday each month for the program’s College Preparatory Saturday Sessions, which run 8:00AM–3:00PM.

Grade Graduate Assistant. 10‑month graduate assistantship providing a monthly stipend of $1,700, with university grant‑in‑aid benefits, up to nine credits, and health insurance. Exempt. Full‑Time Equivalent 50.0%.

• Resume/CV – required.
• Cover Letter – required.
• Contact Information for Three Professional References – required.
• Unofficial Transcript – required.

Posting closes 06/19/2026.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age, disability, gender, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race, color, or religion. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that it operates.