Assistant Director Professional Development, Graduate Recruitment and Retention

Overview

General Description / Primary Purpose The Assistant Director for Professional Development, Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention supports the Silverfield College of Education and Human Services in developing, coordinating, and implementing initiatives that strengthen graduate student success. This role oversees professional development programming, leads recruitment strategies to attract high-potential graduate students, and develops retention and engagement initiatives that promote timely degree completion.

The Assistant Director works collaboratively with faculty, staff, campus partners, and external organizations to enhance the graduate student experience and elevate the college’s academic reputation. There may be occasional out of office travel required for this position.

Professional Development (Primary Area)

• Work with faculty to develop, implement, and assess a comprehensive graduate professional development curriculum aligned with career readiness, research skill-building, and educator preparation.
• Coordinate workshops, seminars, panels, and networking events in partnership with faculty, alumni, and employer organizations.
• Provide individualized and group advising related to academic planning, career exploration, job market preparation, and professional skill-building.
• Track student progress and engagement to identify professional development needs and measure program outcomes.
• Maintain resources (guides, online modules, handbooks, digital content) to support student professional growth.

Graduate Student Recruitment

• Lead the planning and execution of targeted recruitment strategies for masters and doctoral programs within the Silverfield College of Education.
• Collaborate with program coordinators and the graduate school on recruitment messaging, application pipelines, and yield strategies.
• Coordinate participation in recruitment events such as graduate fairs, information sessions, webinars, and community partnerships.
• Collect and analyze recruitment data to assess trends, identify barriers, and recommend improvements.
• Develop recruitment materials and digital content highlighting program strengths, faculty expertise, and student success.

Graduate Student Retention and Success

• Design and implement retention-focused initiatives such as mentoring programs, orientation activities, cohort-building events, and academic support resources.
• Monitor student progress and connect students to academic, social, wellness, and financial support services.
• Facilitate early-alert and intervention processes for students experiencing academic or personal challenges.
• Conduct climate assessments or feedback surveys to identify graduate student needs and inform program improvements.
• Develop recognition and engagement opportunities that support belonging and persistence.