Student Success, Inclusion & Belonging
Job SummaryReporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success, Inclusion and Belonging (SSIB), the Director of New Student and Family Experiences (NSFE) provides visionary leadership and strategic direction for the comprehensive development, engagement, and success of new first year and transfer undergraduate students. This senior leadership position is responsible for designing and implementing evidence-based programs and services that support a successful transition to university life, foster a strong sense of belonging, and enhance student achievement and familial engagement.
Student Success, Engagement, and Advocacy
- Lead the development and implementation of a university-wide strategy to support first-year student success including academic support, co-curricular, social, and wellness initiatives.
- Create and coordinate programs serving undergraduate first-year students, transfer students, and their parents such as new student registration programs, new student and parent orientation programs, new student welcome programs, and other activities that facilitate a successful transition for new students and their families.
- Collaborate with academic affairs, the colleges, student affairs, enrollment management, intercollegiate athletics, special events, diversity, equity and inclusion offices, and other stakeholders to provide cohesive and integrated first-year experience for move-in, living-learning communities, first year experience seminars, and other critical first year student services
- Partner with enrollment management/admissions to ensure alignment between recruitment, onboarding, and first-year engagement strategies.
- Support initiatives that increase first-year and transfer student retention, engagement, academic performance, and progression toward degree completion.
- Assist with policy development to support student orientation, transition and first-year experiences.
- Foster an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environment for a diverse population of students.
- Ensure integration of NSFE initiatives with university-wide student success platforms (e.g., IL App, Canvas, Slate, etc.) and communication systems to support a coordinated student lifecycle approach.
- Evaluate and implement emerging technologies and innovative practices to improve program delivery, engagement, and operational efficiency.
- Develop and implement enhanced risk mitigation and crisis response protocols for large-scale events such as registration and orientation and serve as a key contact for student and family concerns during onboarding, escalating issues to appropriate departments as needed.
- Provide oversight for programs related to engaging parents and families of students to support student success including parent and family orientation/transition services, ongoing resources to help families support their student(s), communication strategies (e.g., newsletter, family connections portal, list-serv, social media, websites, Slate, etc.) and Moms and Dads Association events.
- Representative of New Student and Family Experiences and/or Student Affairs on campus-wide and ad-hoc committees relating to new student and family experiences.
Administration and Supervision
- Lead all activities, operations, and services provided by NSFE.
- Provide budget planning and oversight, day to day supervision, conflict management, and strategic planning for NSFE.
- Oversee the hiring, onboarding, training, supervision, and evaluation for all NSFE professionals, support, and student staff.
- Serve as the university’s official liaison to the Mom’s and Dad’s Associations.
- Partner with Student Affairs Advancement to develop fundraising and sponsorship opportunities.
Assessment and Evaluation
- In conjunction with Student Affairs and SSIB Assessment to implement an assessment and evaluation strategy which informs a culturally significant approach to data-driven co-curricular design.
- Institute an outcomes-driven method to the development and implementation of educational programs.
- Provide leadership in reviewing the mission and goals of the New Student and Family Experiences and creating a strategic plan consistent with the Student Affairs Strategic Plan.
- Conduct regular program evaluations and coordinate objectives with Student Affairs and University goals.
- Use data-informed practices to assess the effectiveness of first-year programs and initiatives, and implement improvements aligned with institutional goals.
- Coordinate the production of reports for internal and external audiences.
Additional Physical DemandsPosition involves travel and working nights and weekends, occasionally.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
- Master’s degree in higher education administration, college student personnel, counseling, or related field.
Experience:
- Five (5) years of professional experience in collegiate student affairs or a similar administrative role in higher education.
- Demonstrated success designing and implementing effective, identity-conscious orientation/transitional programming and support services for new undergraduate first-year and transfer students.
- Demonstrated success engaging the parents and families of new undergraduate first year and transfer students.
- Demonstrated success creating, implementing, and administering large, complex, and comprehensive programmatic events.
- Experience developing successful retention and student success services for new undergraduate first year and transfer students.
- Experience supervising full time professionals and student staff.
- Experience working in complex, fast-paced, and political environments.
- Experience with strategic planning, problem solving, and assessment.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience:
- Experience working in New Student, Family, and/or First Year Experiences at a large, public college or university.
- Experience working with diverse students and families including international students, first-generation students, and students from populations historically underrepresented in higher education.
- Experience with crisis management and diplomatic communication with parents and families.
- Demonstrated experience using theoretical frameworks under-girding student identity development, social location, sense of belonging, and high impact practices for first year student success in developing student experiences.
- Experience in fundraising and collaborating with alumni/diverse constituents.
- Experience in facilitating policy review, reform, and development; and
- Experience in marketing and communication strategies (e.g., electronic newsletters, websites, social media).
- Demonstrated commitment to fairness and inclusion.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Leadership ability and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Strong problem solving skills.
- Ability to work autonomously and in a highly collaborative team setting.
- Ability to think independently and creatively, and to manage multiple tasks efficiently.
- Ability to take appropriate initiative and responsibility.
- Capable of establishing and maintaining effective, cooperative working relationships with diverse stakeholders, including students, colleagues, alumni, volunteer advisors, faculty, and community partners.
Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 2/2/2026. The budgeted salary range for the position is $95,000 to $105,000.
Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by
6:00 pm (Central Time) on Monday, December 1, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Please make sure to upload a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least three professional references when applying. Additionally, if you have your transcripts please upload those as well. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Keri Collins at keric@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits .
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal , or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu .
Requisition ID: 1033544
Job Category: Education & Student Services
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu
