Program Coordinator for BLUEprint & Community Mentoring

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the success of a world-class research institution. We are concerned uniquely with the institutional change required for visioning and realizing a more socially just university.

Toward that end, Student Affairs invites applications for a Program Coordinator for BLUEprint & Community Mentoring at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center (PRCC). This role is primarily responsible for the BLUEprint Peer Mentoring Program along with additional areas of support including, but not limited to, educational program development and implementation, student advocacy, and support.

The BLUEprint Program is certified by the College Reading and Learning Association, focusing on offering academic, cultural, and social support to first-year and change-of-campus students, particularly those who identify as students of color, through peer mentoring.

Additionally, while supporting community-based mentoring opportunities, this position supports the Director and Assistant/Associate Director in all day-to-day matters within the scope of maintaining the administrative functions of the PRCC and providing direct support to our various student communities.

The Program Coordinator has responsibilities that include but are not limited to the following:

BLUEprint Peer Mentoring Program

The Program Coordinator will hold primary responsibility for sustaining the BLUEprint Peer Mentoring Program. The program is a structured student support program that operates under a significant amount of administrative and logistical coordination, some of which takes place on evenings and weekends. Some responsibilities related to BLUEprint include:

• Oversight and implementation of the overall peer mentoring program and curriculum

• Advise and provide primary oversight of peer mentor leaders and the development of comprehensive training. Maintain and sustain continued program certification

• The Program Coordinator will co-manage the budget for the mentoring program along with the Assistant Director

• Supervise a full-time Graduate Assistant for Mentoring and Community Engagement

• Develop and enact the metrics for measuring the effectiveness of student initiatives (BLUEprint, etc.) related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community formation; including continued research and program assessments as needed

Community Engagement & Support:

• Lead programs and services that promote student development and learning for traditionally underrepresented student populations

• Provide outreach, advice, training, and resources to campus student leaders to help create and maintain an equitable and inclusive environment

• Provide individual and group consultations for students and student organizations related to campus climate concerns, inclusive policies, and practices, and managing interpersonal dynamics and dialogues

• Collaborate with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) staff in Student Affairs to develop innovative strategies that address issues such as racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia/heterosexism, and other forms of systematic forms of exclusion and marginalization in higher education that impede access, or deny success;

• Collaborate with colleagues in Student Affairs, Educational Equity (Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs), Penn State Global, and other faculty and staff to support academic and co-curricular programming across the university

• Assist the Director and larger PRCC staff in the development and implementation of departmental vision and strategic plan that aligns with the Student Affairs and the University community

• Serve as a professional liaison with several campus departments and serve as the PRCC representative on several University-wide committees that specifically address issues of diversity and inclusion at Penn State

Education:

Bachelors required and 3+ years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

• Demonstrated knowledge and application of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and practices working with students and colleagues.

• Demonstrated knowledge of first-year students of color and their college experiences as well as a strong commitment to supporting students of color and other minoritized student populations

• Demonstrated knowledge of the challenges facing students, staff, and faculty from historically underrepresented communities, including people with disabilities, people of color, queer, transgender, gender diverse, first-generation, low-income, international, immigrant, undocumented, tribal, and Indigenous communities

• Demonstrated knowledge of the challenges facing students, staff, and faculty from historically underrepresented communities

• Demonstrated ability to develop and facilitate workshop/training curricula on racism, social justice, cultural enrichment, and inclusion, and other related areas.

• Demonstrated knowledge of student development and skills in support of student communities and their associated organizations

• Experience with program development, implementation, and assessment in student affairs or related student services

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, writing, and organizational skills

This position requires the following clearances: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check

The Pennsylvania State University and Student Affairs are committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission. Student Affairs upholds that mission through our commitment to developing an equity-minded community that fosters students' academic, social, cultural, and personal growth.

To learn more about Community and Belonging in Student Affairs at Penn State, please visit: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/community-belonging

More information on the community of State College and its many amenities can be found here: https://happyvalley.com.