Assistant Dean, Community and Culture

Position Summary

Columbia College seeks an Assistant Dean to lead the Undergraduate Community Initiative (UCI) program, the College’s central effort to cultivate intellectual community, meaningful dialogue, and sustained faculty–student engagement—grounded in a shared commitment to community stewardship beyond the classroom.

Reporting to the Dean of Columbia College, and working closely with the Community and Culture Faculty Adviser and the Chief of Staff to the Dean, the Assistant Dean will serve as the primary administrative leader of UCI—overseeing its programs, cultivating partnerships, and embedding its work in the intellectual and communal life of the College.

The role advances the College’s vision of a deeply connected undergraduate experience, anchored in academic excellence, community and culture, and well-being. Through a coherent set of programs and practices, the work of the Assistant Dean brings students, faculty, alumni, and staff into sustained engagement and deepens a shared sense of belonging across Columbia College.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the design and implementation of UCI’s programs, including faculty–student engagement initiatives, alumni conversations, storytelling programs, and co-curricular offerings, including the annual MLK Day Celebration
• Work closely with the Community and Culture Faculty Adviser and the Chief of Staff to shape and assess UCI’s offerings.
• Ensure a consistent cadence of programming across the academic year
• Support and expand student-led programs that foster connections across differences and promote dialogue
• Supervise and mentor a cohort of UCI Undergraduate Interns, cultivating their leadership and involvement in program development and execution
• Serve as UCI’s primary liaison to Columbia College offices and campus partners, including Undergraduate Student Life, the Center for the Core Curriculum, University Life and College Development and Alumni Relations. Collaborate on cross-unit initiatives and programming
• Oversee UCI’s budget, staffing, communications, and event logistics
• Meet with individual students or groups of students interested in advancing community stewardship or seeking counsel about community building issues

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Four to six years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience working with college students in one or more of the following areas is required: academic advising, college teaching, academic support program, academic administration
• Proven ability to operate effectively in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment, managing multiple competing priorities with sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism
• Strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills, with the ability to manage complex workflows and drive initiatives to completion
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize information and prepare executive-level materials
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, problem-solve, and handle sensitive information with a high degree of confidentiality
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic team environment
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred (Masters, PhD or EdD)
• Demonstrated experience managing strategic initiatives, cross-functional projects, or institutional priorities
• Strong interest in the relationship between academic life and the broader student experience