"Academic Advisor- McNair Program"

Job Summary

We are currently seeking skilled and team-oriented applicants for the following position: Academic Advisor- McNair Program- Project. This position is 100% grant-funded through September 30, 2026.

The McNair Program Academic Advisor counsels students in all aspects of the graduate school application process, especially PhD programs, including writing instruction and responding to students’ writing of statement of purpose, curriculum vitae, email communication, academic writing, and publishable research. This position assists with advising students in academic preparation for graduate school with a focus on culturally competent programming for success at the PhD level.

The Academic Advisor coordinates virtual events designed to prepare scholars for success at the graduate level, including keynote experiences, research presentations and facilitating other on-line opportunities for scholars to network with faculty, alumni and others in the graduate school pipeline. In creating virtual and in-person events, facilitate small groups on reading, vocabulary development, writing, relevant math, and research strategies. This position guides research projects by coordinating with students and faculty. Assists the director in content development and teaching of seminars, as well as development of program handbooks for faculty and student participants, development of program documents, correspondence and promotional materials, including maintaining the McNair website.

The Academic Advisor assists in the recruitment and retention of potential and current McNair Scholars through one-on-one meetings, collaboration with faculty, departments, and ongoing relationship building and collaboration with campus departments. This position guides students in responding to university requests to interview, preparing for interviews, and acceptances. In addition to supporting students in evaluating school and funding offers, and making the best choice as it aligns to their goals. This position will network with PhD granting institutions including Summer Research Initiatives (SRI) and Summer Research Opportunities (SRO) programs.

EWU is committed to supporting and promoting a workforce that is welcoming to all and encourages applicants of all backgrounds to apply for this position.

The salary for this position is $47,572 up to $57,099. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills. In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 13 paid holidays per year and fringe benefits, such as tuition waiver for employees and eligible family members, discounted EWU sports tickets, full access to our campus workout facilities at a minimum fee and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page: https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/benefits/insurance/.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• Experience in academic coaching, academic advising, counseling, or related field; working with groups and/or individuals, setting and completing goals, and encouraging persistence and resilience
• Understanding of and experience in the graduate school application process with a focus on student services or academic advising at the college level
• Strong knowledge of racial, economic, gender, LGBTQIA+, disability, and other areas of social justice, and the issues facing historically excluded and under-served undergraduate and graduate students, as well as how to incorporate this understanding into recruiting and preparing McNair participants for success at the graduate level
• Knowledge of the graduate school application process
• Excellent academic/technical writing skills
• Desire to teach/instruct in program seminars
• Understanding of the components of research writing
• Experience working with the target population of undergraduates who are low-income, first-generation in college, and from groups racially underrepresented at the graduate level
• Requires the ability to maintain a positive working relationship with McNair scholars, staff, faculty mentors, and work-study students while fulfilling key office responsibilities, using a culturally competent, anti-racist, critical, holistic approach in all aspects of the role to best serve students and meet program objectives
• General knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite programs
• Demonstrated ability to apply a responsive and flexible approach that is supportive of the needs including universal access of our students, faculty, staff and the public

Job Duties

• Assist students in academic preparation for graduate school using culturally competent and anti-racist strategies to best serve first generation, low-income, and underrepresented students for success in graduate school. Percent of Time: 25
• Guiding research projects. Percent of Time: 25
• Developing and facilitating Virtual Events to meet grant objectives, such as panels, keynote experiences, research presentation opportunities, and other scholarly activities virtually or in-person. Percent of Time: 15
• Assist in instruction of seminars in writing, research and preparing graduate school application documents, including statements of purpose, curriculum vitae and writing samples. Percent of Time: 15
• Assist in recruitment and retention of scholars in collaboration with campus departments, student services, community colleges, and community organizations; including celebrating scholar achievements. Percent of Time: 10
• Assist in the development of program documents, correspondence and promotional materials, including maintaining the McNair website. Percent of Time: 10
• Assist in planning and implementing day-to-day services of the McNair Scholar Program. Percent of Time: 10
• Assist and collaborate with director, faculty, and/or McNair staff in researching and staying up-to-date with the best practices serving first generation, low-income, and underrepresented students Percent of Time: 10

Salary Information

The salary for this position is $47,572 up to $57,099. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills.

Posting Date

02/26/2026

Screening to Begin: 03/16/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants

Submit your application materials through our online applications portal provided below. If you are unable to submit through the applicant portal, please contact Human Resources Services at (509) 359-2381.

To apply, visit https://jobs.hr.ewu.edu/postings/14495