Associate Director - Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center

Associate Director - Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Job Summary

The Associate Director is the senior full-time staff member for REEEC. The Associate Director provides academic leadership directs our interdisciplinary BA major and teaches courses in the REEES curriculum. The position is the staff supervisor for the Center, acts as its chief grant and financial officer, and directs advancement initiatives Together with the Director, the REEEC Associate Director is responsible for the overall operation of the center, including program development, coordination with other units in the Illinois Global Institute, grants management, and alumni relations and advancement.

• Provide academic advising for REEES BA majors and minors; monitor students' progress toward degree completion and graduation;
  Be a point of contact for students and handle difficult and challenging student academic and personal situations and issues
• Serve as fellowship coordinator for academic year and summer for the Center’s fellowship program, advising students on overseas programs and campus coursework as it pertains to fellowships
• Serve as liaison between students and other campus units
• Assist the Director with management of the Center's MA Program
• Coordinate student assistantship funding and other student funding when necessary
• Serve ex-officio as a member of the REEEC MA admissions committee
• Lead fellowship competitions
• Primary liaison between the Graduate College Fellowship Office and the U.S. Department of Education, managing correspondence and resolving issues related to grant reporting and fellowship systems, while ensuring compliance with evolving international education policies

• As Instructor, teach REEES courses including REEES proseminar for BA majors and MA’s (REES 495/550) and a general education undergraduate course such as REES 200
• Develop academic instructional materials including course syllabus and weekly instruction plans
• Hold office hours and provide guidance to students in the course as needed
• Grade student assignments and proctor exams
• Oversee the work of teaching assistants when that position is needed
• Develop curriculum for new REEES courses
• Develop online summer courses for REEES academic year courses

• Pursue professional development as a scholar in the field through advanced research activities in an area of Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
• Seek further training in emerging methods, themes, and topics that could contribute to REEEC program development, such as new REEES degree programs, courses, or grant initiatives
• Participate in conferences and academic networks in the field of Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies as well as other scholarly fields as they can contribute to REEEC program development

• Lead REEEC’S major federal grant projects and programs (including Department of State Title VIII grant, and others)
• Manage grant and gift execution to comply with university, donor and funding agencies’ guidelines, deadlines, and regulations
• Lead the preparation of grant proposals, narratives, and budgets in coordination with the director and center staff
• Oversee and manage grant and gift projects and programs; design and implement grant reporting and evaluation
• Attend meetings with federal grant agencies, other sponsors, and donors
• Build effective relationships with the University’s federal relations staff and the office of Sponsored Programs Administration, LAS Advancement and UI Foundation
• Develop and oversee the Center's budgets and financial policy

• Represent REEEC to prospective students and their families at a variety of recruiting events and information sessions; this includes presenting information to large groups
• Counsel, provide information and advice about Illinois generally, and about its admissions procedures specifically, to prospective students, applicants, their parents and secondary school counselors in a prompt, professional, and courteous manner
• Reach out and encourage prospective students to explore and eventually…