"Academic Student Support Program/ Project Director (HEO) - Impact Justice Program, Division of the Provost"

Position Details

Hunter College of the City University of New York, a distinguished public university, values learning in the liberal arts and sciences as a cornerstone of individual development and a vital foundation for a more just and inclusive society.

Impact Justice is a new initiative at Hunter College that advances access, belonging, and success for students impacted by the criminal legal system. The program is rooted in an asset-based, healing-informed framework that centers racial equity and community accountability. The mission is to increase educational opportunity, wellness, and leadership among justice-impacted students through collaborative, culturally affirming support and partnerships.

In collaboration with community organizations and campus stakeholders, Impact Justice supports a continuum of services including peer mentorship, academic and career advising, connection to concrete needs, leadership development, and pathways to civic and public service. In collaboration with the Humanities Action Lab, the program also seeks to support public education and policy change through community storytelling, participatory research, and curated projects.

Impact Justice is a college-wide initiative dedicated to supporting justice-impacted students—those who are formerly incarcerated, system-involved, or otherwise affected by the criminal legal system. Housed jointly at Hunter College’s main campus and Silberman School of Social Work, the initiative recognizes mass incarceration as a public health issue that profoundly affects individuals, families, and communities. The program provides support and a safe space for students throughout their journey at Hunter, leading up to graduation and beyond. By addressing the educational, emotional, and social well-being of students, Impact Justice serves as both a support network and a hub for advocacy that seeks to repair the harms caused by incarceration and advance systemic change, while advocating for the abolition of carceral logics by prioritizing education, health, housing, and other social needs.

Vision

To build and establish a model that cultivates belonging and healing, centering health equity and holistic wellness as essential to educational success. Impact Justice aims to create an environment where justice-impacted students can thrive, lead and have a successful educational experience from the beginning of college through graduation.

Core Components

• Dedicated Space: Satellite hubs at Silberman, East Harlem community-based organization, CBO and main campus for gathering, programming, and support.
• Holistic Support: Case management, trauma-informed advising, FAFSA/financial aid navigation, and counseling support.
• Community & Peer Mentorship: Trained peer mentors from similar lived experience providing connection, guidance, and support.
• Learning & Leadership: Credit-bearing internships for students; storytelling and action learning labs in collaboration with the Human Action Lab.
• Campus Integration: Liaisons in financial aid, counseling, advising, and other departments trained in working with justice-impacted students.
• Cultural Programming: Events, workshops, and celebrations to foster belonging and amplify community wisdom, both on and off-campus.

Job Duties

Reporting to the designated senior administrator, the Impact Justice Director will provide leadership and strategic vision to build and sustain the program in its inaugural years.

The Director will:

• Lead the development and implementation of a student success program for justice-impacted students.
• Design and oversee academic support structures, wraparound services, and co-curricular learning opportunities.
• Recruit, supervise, and support program staff and peer mentors.
• Coordinate onboarding, outreach, and eligibility pathways in collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Ensure that program operations reflect a commitment to restorative justice, equity, and healing-centered practices.
• Serve as an advocate for viewing incarceration and reentry as both educational and public health challenges, ensuring that the program’s practices reflect this holistic approach.
• Develop a tracking system and tools to assess student progress, retention, and success metrics.
• Cultivate and steward partnerships across CUNY, community organizations, reentry networks, and public systems.
• Coordinate grant funding and collaborate with the development office.
• Liaise with relevant offices, including Financial Aid, Admissions, Advising, Emergency Support & Research Center, and Faculty Affairs.
• Prepare budgets, actively monitor and optimize spending, oversee program funding and ensure grant compliance.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to develop public programming, storytelling projects, and research aligned with the program’s mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; PhD, JD or an appropriate equivalent strongly preferred.
• Social work, education, or related fields preferred.
• Eight years’ related experience required, including at least five years of experience in a leadership position in a program serving justice-impacted individuals, or 5+ years of relevant experience in community-based program management or higher ed.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to issues of incarceration, reentry, and equity in education.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of student success strategies to improve academic success, retention and degree completion.
• Experience in grant management and grant budgeting.
• People with lived experience involving the justice system are encouraged to apply.

CUNY Title Overview

Directs a comprehensive student support program.

• Develops, recommends, and implements program goals and objectives to meet students' specialized needs and develops a range of responsive programs
• Oversees the integration of diverse services with internal and external partners to meet a broad range of student needs
• Collaborates with academic and student support departments to ensure students are utilizing available services and programming; collaborates with counselors, mentors, and others assisting students
• Collects data for, analyzes, and reports on activities and outcomes, recommending program improvements; writes proposals and reports to internal and external stakeholders
• Directs all service operations, facilities, and staff
• Performs related duties as assigned.

CUNY Title

Higher Education Officer

FLSA

Exempt

Compensation and Benefits

Salary commensurate with education and experience. Salary range is $126,333 - $155,388.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

CUNY is in the process of implementing salary schedule increases. Once implemented, salaries of eligible employees will be adjusted by 3.5% effective 9/1/26, in accordance with the terms of the PSC-CUNY collective bargaining agreement.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online by accessing the CUNY Portal on City University of New York job website https://cuny.jobs/ and following the CUNYFirst Job System Instructions. To search for this vacancy, click on Search Job Listings, select More Options To Search For CUNY Jobs and enter the Job Opening ID number 30982. Click on the "Apply Now" button and follow the application instructions.