Associate Director for Student Programs

Position Summary

The Associate Director for Student Programs & Activities reports to the Director of Campus Activities and leads the Student Activities unit at Western Carolina University. This role is responsible for creating meaningful opportunities for student engagement, leadership development, and campus involvement that enrich the student experience outside the classroom.

The Associate Director provides strategic leadership for student programming and leadership initiatives, ensuring alignment with departmental and divisional goals. This position oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of more than 100 programs each year that serve over 11,000 students.

This role supervises two full-time professional staff members and fosters a collaborative, high-performing team committed to student development, campus traditions, and building a vibrant campus community.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for student programming and leadership initiatives
• Oversee the planning and execution of large-scale campus events and institutional traditions
• Support and guide the student programming board and student organization operations
• Manage contracts for artists, speakers, and external vendors
• Serve as a member of the Student Government Association advising team
• Oversee unit’s departmental budgets and ensure responsible financial management
• Direct assessment efforts, including Continuous Improvement Reporting (CIR), to support institutional effectiveness and accreditation
• Serve on the departmental leadership team
• Provide on-site event support, including risk assessment and crowd management