Graduate Assistant - Transpersonal Wilderness Therapy

Position Title: Graduate Assistant - Transpersonal Wilderness Therapy
# of Openings: 1
Department/Program: MTC Wilderness 12060
Work Location: Hybrid On-Site/Remote
Campus Location: Nalanda Campus
Reports to: Mica Graves
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt/Hourly
FTE: 18% (7 hrs/week)
Compensation: $20 per hour and $2,250 scholarship for the academic year

Application Deadline: 3/31/25 or until filled

Job Summary

The Nature-Based Transpersonal Counseling department (formerly TWT) seeks a returning student to serve as Graduate Assistant. In this position, the GA will develop leadership and facilitation skills, learn about organizational planning, practice instructing hard skills and facilitating community-building events, and explore developments in the field of nature-based therapy / transpersonal ecotherapy.

Job Duties & Responsibilities
The Graduate Assistant will have 4 main areas of responsibility: 1) As a student ambassador, serve as a resource for prospective students and assist at admissions interviews; 2) Establish and maintain connections with related organizations, including Naropa’s Joanna Macy Center and plan community-building events for current students and the wider Naropa community; 3) Provide instruction and support for students’ trip planning, including food purchasing and gear organization; 4) Research trends in Ecopsychology and Wilderness Therapy, particularly concerning the topics of diversity, accessibility and land relationships.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Must be a current graduate student at Naropa University in good standing.
• Knowledge of backpacking, including food preparation, safety considerations, water purification techniques, LNT, navigation, and use and maintenance of stoves and other essential gear
• Teaching or leadership experiencing demonstrating ability to instruct and guide others
• Experience with co-leadership and group dynamics, showing ability to communicate clearly, with ability to resolve minor conflicts in a respectful way
• Self-motivated and independent working style
• All job candidates must demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of and appreciation for the values of Naropa University and the capacity to demonstrate an integration and embodiment of these values as evidenced in work, communication, collaboration styles, and other general workplace behaviors.

Physical Requirements & Environmental Conditions:
In the classrooms and on campus may experience: interruptions, distractions, heat, cold, dust and/or dampness. As a graduate assistant, you may spend extended periods time with any of the following:
•Reading academic texts and materials, student papers, etc.
•Operating personal computer and audio-visual equipment
•Standing or sitting for hours at a time
•Moving between campus for classes and meetings

Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Fall Break, 4th Thursday and Friday in November, and Winter Break, the last two weeks in December encompassing the Christmas holiday as well as New Year’s.

Naropa’s health and welfare benefits include the following: medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching, and a variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.

A comprehensive benefits package is available to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Employees who work 20 – 29 hours each week are eligible for only the employer-paid short-term & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment, and the retirement plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

Employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in Naropa’s retirement plan only, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

All regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including student workers, accrue sick leave benefits. Full-time and part-time staff positions accrue vacation and personal time. All leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.

The University recognizes the importance of including its employees in its organizational mission and values and welcomes employees into the classroom to “touch the magic.” Specifically, regular employees are provided generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members.

Naropa University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP). CIC-TEP is a network of CIC colleges and universities willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other CIC participating institutions (full-time as designated by the employer/institution). Additional information can be found here: https://www.cic.edu/member-services/tuition-exchange-program. 

Naropa University is an equal opportunity, non-discriminatory employer and Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.

Salary : $20 - $2,250