Director of Student Affairs

Overview

Mission Driven, Community Focused About | Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (cdrewu.edu)

Charles R. Drew University is located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles and was founded in 1966 in the wake of the Watts uprising. CDU was founded to address inadequate medical care in the region and to provide equitable medical education opportunities for underrepresented students.

The Director of Student Life and Affairs, Belonging and Development serves as a key leadership role within the Division of Student Affairs at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU). Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Affairs, the Director provides leadership and oversight for all non-academic aspects of student life and serves as a key member of the Vice Provost Management Team as an advocate for students.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Administration

• Develop comprehensive strategic plans targeting student persistence, retention, and graduation/completion rates
• Create, implement, and assess proactive strategies to identify and address barriers to student persistence and completion
• Develop plans and budgets, and manage all operations of functions to support non-academic student services
• Manage budget, personnel, and resources allocated to student life programming to maximize impact on retention and student success
• Develop and prepare regular assessment reports on retention and completion metrics to inform continuous improvement efforts
• Serve on the Student Affairs leadership team to ensure seamless integration of services across all units

Student Retention and Persistence

• Develop, implement, and assess data-driven strategies to increase student retention, persistence, and graduation rates
• Design and execute comprehensive belonging initiatives that create strong student-institution connections linked to improved retention
• Establish clear retention goals, benchmarks, and key performance indicators for student persistence
• Collaborate with academic programs to develop integrated support systems for students at risk of attrition
• Develop early alert systems and intervention strategies for students showing signs of disengagement
• Lead initiatives addressing the unique retention challenges of first-generation, underrepresented, and non-traditional students
• Design specific programming to support students through key transition and milestone points that represent high attrition risk

Student Engagement and Development

• Develop and implement strategies to increase student retention and enhance student satisfaction through meaningful engagement
• In partnership with other Student Affairs units and academic programs, address the current shortfalls in retention strategies, factors influencing retention, and develop a strategy for retaining first-year students
• Oversee planning and implementation of student activities, including new student orientations, Gradfest, campus traditions, and cultural events designed to foster belonging and connection
• Develop and progress opportunities for civic engagement, leadership development, and community building
• Develop and implement effective strategies to foster career development and education about various health pathways
• Develop and implement effective outreach strategies to connect students with relevant services and resources
• Develop initiatives that foster an inclusive campus community, celebrate diversity, and strengthen students' sense of belonging

Career Services for Health Professional Students

• Develop and implement comprehensive career development programs tailored to health professional students that support retention and post-graduation success
• Establish relationships with healthcare employers, residency programs, and professional schools to create pathways for student placement
• Coordinate specialized workshops on healthcare career planning, application processes for residencies/fellowships, and professional licensing requirements
• Provide individualized career counseling for students pursuing various health professions
• Partner with alumni in healthcare fields to develop mentorship programs and…