Associate Director of Military Outreach and Student Support

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service. We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What You Will Do:

The Associate Director, Military Outreach and Student Support is directly accountable for the growth, engagement, and success of NLU’s military-connected student population. This role provides strategic leadership and institutional oversight for the coordination, delivery, and continuous improvement of comprehensive wraparound support services for veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and their dependents.

Serving both online and on-campus learners, the Associate Director leads cross-campus collaboration among enrollment, partnerships, academic affairs, student success, financial aid, compliance, career services, and student engagement to advance military-specific enrollment, retention, and engagement goals. The role also leads the development of high-impact external partnerships with military installations, veteran service organizations, and community agencies to strengthen recruitment pipelines and support student success across the lifecycle.

Essential Responsibilities

Military Outreach, Lead and Partnership Development

• Directly accountable for lead development through a comprehensive military outreach strategy to attract active-duty service members, veterans and military-affiliated students
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with military installations, veteran service organizations, government agencies and community-based organizations designed to grow enrollment.
• Oversee participation in military and veteran recruiting events, education fairs and community engagements.
• Analyze Outreach and Enrollment data to assess recruitment tactics and inform strategy.
• Represent university in local, regional and national military-affiliated networks and professional associations.
• Develop on-campus and virtual NLU events, designed to engage current military students and attract prospective military students through social and resource-driven activities.

Student Success, Retention & Connection

• Serve as a visible institutional leader and advocate for military-connected students within the university and to key external partners.
• Be the first point of contact for enrolled military-connected students to understand benefits, resources and the NLU experience for military and veteran students.
• Direct tailored onboarding and holistic support throughout the student journey by monitoring student progress, implementing intervention strategies when necessary, and facilitating enriching programming.
• Foster a sense of belonging for both on-campus and online military-connected students through valuable content and high-impact engagement programs.
• Provide university with program specific feedback for expanding majors, certificates and credit for prior learning needs for this student demographic.
• Collaborate with and inform internal departments—including Career Bridge, Academic Advising, and Student Support Services—to create, strengthen and sustain a cohesive network of support for military-affiliated students.
• Lead the Military & Veterans Program Advisory Board.

Training & Institutional Capacity Building

• Be informed and up-to-date on military-connected student needs.
• In collaboration with Marketing and Communications, drive efforts to raise awareness of veterans' programs, services, and impact through targeted messaging and outreach campaigns.
• Lead, in conjunction with Student Engagement, the necessary training and consultation for faculty and staff to enhance inclusive practices and military cultural competence. Keep relevant faculty and staff member aware of key updates related to military education benefits and policies.

Assessment & Reporting

• Coordinate NLU’s Military Friendly® School submission process and other external recognitions.
• Lead Credit For Prior Learning initiatives to support military population.
• Monitor and report on student outcomes, engagement trends, and programming effectiveness.
• Use data to support strategic planning and continuous improvement efforts.

Other Administrative

• Direct operations of the Veteran Resource Center, including supported hours, resources on-site and provisions.
• Provide direction and leadership to student workers, interns, and/or an AmeriCorps VISTA member, aligning their work with military student success priorities.
• Assist Student Engagement Leadership with managing the budget for military and veterans’ programs, ensuring responsible and strategic use of resources to maximize impact.
• Define and conduct assessment plans and reports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Military affiliation (i.e. veteran, reservist, etc.), strongly preferred
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience supporting adult learners, military-connected students, veterans, and/or other nontraditional student populations, with demonstrated success driving growth, engagement, and retention.
• Strong understanding of military and veteran student experiences, including military culture, transition needs, and education benefits (e.g., GI Bill®, Tuition Assistance, Yellow Ribbon Program).
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the Chicagoland area.
• Proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to improve student support and retention outcomes.
• Proficiency with virtual meeting platforms (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams), CRM or case management systems (e.g., Salesforce, Navigate, or similar), Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel and PowerPoint), and learning management systems.
• Thorough knowledge of designing and delivering workshops, webinars, and support groups for adult and/or military-connected learners.
• Experience in higher education, enrollment management, student success, or military/veteran services.

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