Director of Engagement and Inclusion

Carthage College seeks an experienced and student-centered professional to serve as Director of Student Engagement and Inclusion. This position provides leadership within the Office of Student Life and oversees the Engagement and Inclusion Center (EIC), by developing programs, relationships and strategies that strengthen student belonging, engagement, and retention..

The Director manages an office budget, supervises student staff, and leads key functions. Serving as an institutional resource, this position requires engagement with students to ensure networks and support structures enable students for success. This role also contributes to student organization conduct processes and Title IX efforts.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Work in a collaborative capacity with the Office of Student Life to create and execute strategies to reduce barriers to student access, belonging, retention, and success.

• Develop, lead, and coordinate in conjunction with the Dean of Students and Associate Provost for Retention and Inclusion, the EIC activities for students, staff, and faculty.
• Evaluate and advance existing inclusion programming to foster student belonging.
• Research and propose innovative new strategies to create a sense of belonging for students.
• Contribute to overall institutional retention goals.
• Design and coordinate programming and initiatives to support college campus affinity based student organizations in partnership with Student Involvement, i.e. Black Student Union, Mi Gente, My Brother's Keeper, Muslim Student Association, etc.).

• Partner with Student Involvement and provide guidance and support to new proposed student organizations.
• Support and promote the Health and Counseling Center and other academic resources with underrepresented students.
• Create and deliver learning and capacity building for students around belonging and inclusion.
• Teach in the College Success Seminar program.
• Provide coaching, training, tools, and resources to support Engagement and Inclusion programs and initiatives.
• Develop and facilitate educational opportunities related to belonging and inclusion for the campus community, including safe zone training.
• Practice and refine a restorative justice program to address bias incidents that occur between students, staff, and faculty.

• Serve on the Student Success Team (Front-line cross-functional retention committee) to collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data.

• Measure and monitor the impact of programming, and assist with providing any needed student data. Make modification to programming to maximize impact.

• Collaborate with college departments to demonstrate progress in the retention, graduation rates of underrepresented groups.

• Work with the Marketing and Communications department to update EIC website information and monitor social media.
• Manage budget and assessment projects.
• Participate in local, state, and national inclusion networks and partnerships to ensure practices and policies are in keeping with the most effective practices to improve underrepresented students' graduation rates.
• Maintain an active presence and engagement with students, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Work with the Title IX coordinator and serve as a trained Title IX investigator.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervise student staff members. Carry out supervisory duties in accordance with college policies and applicable employment laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualification Requirements

• Master's Degree (preferred) in higher education leadership, counseling, or related field.
• Experience working with student conduct processes and student organizations.
• Requires excellent oral and written communication skills to effectively communicate with faculty, staff, students, and families.

• Requires the ability to build rapport and utilize tact and proper judgment while providing academic, personal and social support to students, including an understanding of and ability to appropriately enforce the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and Title IX Amendment of 1972.

• Requires the ability to use standard office equipment and technology, including a telephone, keyboard, and personal computer and tools such as Microsoft Office Suite and various Google applications.

• Minimum of 5 years full time professional experience.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, planning, reasoning, organizational, and project management skills.

• Experience working with underrepresented/underserved populations.
• Experience with Workday and Microsoft Excel are highly valued.

How to Apply

We will review applications on a rolling basis starting October 12, 2026. The position will remain open until filled. All applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for three references. Apply online using the link below, and submit all materials through the "Resume Upload" section.

Located on the shore of Lake Michigan in the thriving Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, Carthage College blends the best liberal arts traditions with desirable degree programs, transformative learning opportunities, and personal attention from dedicated faculty and staff. Our beautiful campus, an 80-acre arboretum with stunning lake views, is home to 2,600 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students. Founded in 1847, Carthage is consistently named a Best Midwestern College by The Princeton Review and a Most Innovative School by U.S. News & World Report. All Carthage employees play a vital part in the success of our students, as we work together to create an environment where all can achieve their true potential. Grow with Carthage.

Carthage College is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse community. We welcome applications from a broad spectrum of people, including members of ethnic minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.

This position requires a background screening