Executive Director, Belonging and Servingness

The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) is a forward-thinking, student success-oriented team of professionals committed to its role in strategically engineering and implementing the co-curricular out-of-class student experience. Staff members within the Division of Student Affairs are expected to positively contribute to our mission of supporting students in the co-curricular environment and provide an experience that inspires students academically, intellectually, personally, and emotionally.

The Executive Director, Belonging and Servingness is a high-level campus leader responsible for fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and supported with special emphasis on students from diverse, marginalized, and historically underserved backgrounds. The Executive Director, in collaboration with the Vice President for Student Affairs, sets the division’s vision for student success initiatives related to belonging and servingness, ensuring they align with broader institutional goals for equity and inclusion. Additionally, the Executive Director provides administrative leadership, vision, and direction to the university’s Cultural and Resource Centers, including supervision of the directors of APASS/NASS, the César Chávez Cultural Center, the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, and the Center for Women’s and Gender Equity.

Another key responsibility of the Executive Director is serving as Chair of the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Steering Committee, including facilitating university communications that promote a culture of belonging and servingness. They lead the university’s HSI initiatives, including—but not limited to—preparing the university’s annual application for HSI designation, developing and implementing university-wide signature HSI programs, and collaborating with campus partners to foster a welcoming and supportive environment. The emphasis on servingness relates directly to HSI work, moving beyond enrollment metrics to ensure the university meaningfully serves its diverse populations through tailored support and improved outcomes.

The Executive Director serves as a member of the Division of Student Affairs to:

• Provide vision, direction, and administrative leadership for the Cultural and Resource Centers including supervision of the Directors of APASS/NASS, the César Chávez Cultural Center, the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, and the Center for Women’s and Gender Equity.
• Lead the university’s Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) initiatives, including but not limited to preparing the university’s annual application for HSI designation and fostering a university-wide culture of servingness through the development and implementation of signature HSI programs, as well as supporting division- and department-specific programming.
• Chair the HSI Steering Committee, including facilitating university communications that strengthen a culture of belonging and servingness, and creating and supporting committees or task forces related to HSI initiatives.
• Oversee faculty fellows, graduate assistants, interns, and student workers dedicated to supporting HSI programs and services, and signature belonging programs.
• Implement and assess signature belonging programs, including Unite and Catalyst, and develop new programming that advances the university’s commitment to belonging and servingness.
• Serve on the Student Affairs Executive Leadership Team, acting as a key advisor and partner to the Vice President for Student Affairs in cultivating a healthy campus climate.
• Serve on divisional and university-wide committees as appropriate.
• Collaborate with university leaders to create cultures of belonging across divisions and departments both within and beyond Student Affairs.