Associate Director of Arts, Culture & Community Programming

Administrative

• Assist the Director in advancing La Casa's mission, goals, and strategic priorities, including contributing to strategic planning aligned with Student Affairs and university priorities.
• In the absence of the Director, may assume responsibility for La Casa operations.
• Maintain and update La Casa communications platforms, including website, newsletters, digital signage, and social media.
• Support the documentation and preservation of La Casa's programs, events, and community history through digital archives and storytelling initiatives.
• Coordinate the recruitment, hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation of student employees, interns, ambassadors, and/or graduate assistants.
• Provide professional learning experiences (e.g., leadership retreats, trainings, workshops) that support student staff in developing personal and professional skills.
• Advise students individually and in groups on identity development, belonging, and leadership, and provide appropriate recommendations and referrals.
• Utilize sound judgment when supporting students in problem solving, maintaining professional boundaries, and navigating conflict resolution.
• Reconcile expenses and ensure accurate financial tracking for programs and initiatives.
• Assist in securing funding through co-sponsorships, grants, and collaborations with SSIB leadership and Student Affairs Advancement.
• Maintain compliance with university policies, procedures, and applicable laws.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Arts, Cultural Programming & Workshops

• Develop and lead culturally responsive, interdisciplinary programs that promote student success, global awareness, intercultural engagement, and positive identity development.
• Design and facilitate educationally transformative workshops and trainings for students and campus stakeholders on equity, advocacy, wellness, storytelling, leadership, and community engagement.
• Design and implement programs that highlight the breadth of Latina/o/x/e and Hispanic cultures, histories, and lived experiences across the diaspora and engage students from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences while supporting student success, retention, and graduation outcomes.
• Lead and coordinate signature programs and initiatives (e.g., Latine Heritage Month, Congratulatory, cultural arts events).
• Collaborate with campus and community artists, performers, and cultural workers to curate exhibitions, performances, and arts-based experiences.
• Support opportunities for student creative expression and artistic development.
• Collaborate with campus and community partners to advance intercultural learning, civic responsibility, and global engagement through an intersectional, arts-centered lens.
• Assist in advancing student success and inclusion initiatives that support Latina/o/x/e and Hispanic students' persistence, sense of belonging, and graduation.
• Coordinate marketing timelines and promotional campaigns for arts, cultural, and community-based programs and initiatives.
• Collaborate with Student Affairs Marketing and Communications to support timely and effective promotion of programs and events.

Campus and Community Outreach & Engagement

• Support and coordinate La Casa's outreach efforts, including participation in campus resource fairs, off-campus presentations, community engagement initiatives, and special programs.
• Collaborate with Admissions and campus partners to plan and support recruitment, yield, and engagement initiatives (e.g., Admitted Student Days, Welcome Week) that showcase La Casa's programs, resources, and impact.
• Advise and/or co-advise affiliated student organizations, ambassador programs, and student leadership initiatives.
• Support alumni engagement and cultivate partnerships with alumni and community stakeholders.
• Develop and support partnerships with campus and community stakeholders, including co-sponsorship opportunities for programs and initiatives.
• Serve on campus-wide committees, task forces, and work groups to enhance the experiences of Latina/o/x/e and Hispanic students on campus and in the broader Urbana-Champaign community.

Assessment & Evaluation

• Implement assessment tools and program evaluations to measure engagement, learning outcomes, and impact.
• Collaborate with Student Affairs and SSIB Assessment to implement evaluation strategies that inform culturally aligned, data-driven program design.
• Contribute to semesterly and annual reports to support strategic planning and continuous improvement.
• Apply an outcomes-driven approach to the development and implementation of programs and services.
• Utilize data to inform program effectiveness and continuous improvement.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree.

Experience:

• A total of three (3) years (36 months) in education, training and/or work experience in cultural programming, arts administration, student affairs, community engagement, and/or social justice initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in arts and/or cultural programming, creative practice, production, and/or project coordination, including digital, auditory, visual, literary, media, and/or performing arts.
• Experience supporting student success, engagement, and belonging among students from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, including familiarity with the experiences and needs of Latina/o/x/e and Hispanic students.

Education:

• Master's degree in higher education administration, college student personnel, counseling, the creative arts, media, communications, or related field.
  

Experience:

• Experience mentoring, coordinating, and/or leading students, staff, interns, volunteers, or community members.
• Professional experience advising and creating leadership development opportunities for students and/or student organizations.
• Supervisory experience, including recruitment, hiring, training, and evaluation of student staff, interns, or employees.
• Experience facilitating training, mentorship, leadership development, and/or educational workshops.
• Experience developing community and public engagement programs.
• Experience with marketing, communications, and social media management.
• Experience implementing formative and summative assessment strategies.
• Experience managing projects and coordinating large-scale programs or events.
• Experience preserving archives, storytelling initiatives, or digital/media-based projects.
• Spanish fluency.

• Excellent relationship-building skills, as well as the desire and ability to motivate, mentor, and encourage students.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of cultural community care.
• Good independent judgment, initiative, and flexibility to adapt to students' and center operational needs.
• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy.
• Ability to demonstrate empathy, problem solving, professional boundaries, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to think creatively and show initiative to solve problems and improve working procedures.
• Strong project and time management abilities, including the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• High levels of professionalism and emotional maturity.
• Specific knowledge of Latina/o/x/e and Hispanic histories, cultures, identities, and issues impacting these communities.