Community Success and Belonging Specialist

Position Overview

The Community Success & Belonging Specialist (CSBS) within the Paul Robeson Cultural Center serves as an advocate, educator, and program leader focused on advancing student success, wellbeing, engagement, and retention.

This position develops, implements, and assesses programs and services that foster community, belonging, leadership development, and academic persistence, with particular attention to students who seek connection through the Paul Robeson Cultural Center and its affiliated communities.

The CSBS collaborates with campus partners to ensure students have access to resources, support networks, and leadership opportunities that contribute to their holistic success. This role uses data‑informed strategies to assess impact, identify emerging needs, and strengthen institutional practices that support student engagement and achievement.

This position reports to the Director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.

• Serve as a resource and advocate for students seeking community, connection, and support through the PRCC.
• Meet with student leaders and student organizations to assess needs, identify challenges, and provide consultation, referrals, and guidance.
• Facilitate the development of student support networks and leadership pathways.
• Serve as liaison to campus committees and initiatives aligned with student success and belonging.

• Design, implement, and assess academic, cultural, leadership, and community-building programs that promote engagement, retention, and student success.
• Coordinate logistics, secure resources, and manage operational planning for programs and signature initiatives (e.g., heritage month programming and related educational events).
• Develop sustainable program models that contribute to institutional goals related to recruitment, retention, and student engagement.

• Advises student organizations and leadership groups affiliated with the PRCC.
• Supports leadership development, organizational sustainability, policy navigation, and resource management.
• Assists student leaders in aligning programming with institutional policies and best practices.

• Conducts needs assessments and collects relevant data to inform program development and strategic planning.
• Evaluates program effectiveness and reports on measurable outcomes related to student engagement and success.
• Contributes to unit-level planning efforts focused on continuous improvement and impact assessment.

• Partners with campus units to support pre‑college, orientation, research, and co‑curricular initiatives that enhance student success and community engagement.
• Provides consultation and educational workshops to faculty, staff, and student groups on fostering inclusive learning and engagement environments.
• Serves as a subject matter resource to university stakeholders.

• Hires, supervises, trains, and evaluates undergraduate student staff and volunteers supporting PRCC initiatives.
• Maintains program‑related resources, supplies, and operational materials in collaboration with PRCC leadership.

This position works closely with PRCC community support areas and campus partners to advance coordinated efforts that enhance student engagement, persistence, and sense of belonging. The role contributes to broader Student Affairs initiatives aligned with student wellbeing, leadership development, and institutional success goals.

• Bachelor's Degree
• 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Required
  
  Certifications:
  
  None

This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.