Director of the Glover Alston Intercultural Center

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman’s vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.  

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college’s working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).

POSITION PURPOSE

Reporting to the Senior Director of Identity and Belonging, the Director of the Glover Alston Intercultural Center (GAIC) ensures that the GAIC functions as a supportive and affirming campus space for cultivating intercultural competence, cultural humility, and social justice education. The Director provides programs and experiences that help the entire Whitman student body understand their relationships to systems of oppression and to one another. Through collaborative opportunities, the Director fosters community healing, connection, and liberation. Additionally, the Director plays a key role in targeted belonging efforts for First-Generation/Working Class (FG/WC) students, disabled students, veteran students, and international students, while also executing programming that brings students across identities together to learn, engage, and grow in their ability to communicate across differences.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Identity and Belonging (60%) 

• Oversee the operation of the Glover Alston Intercultural Center (GAIC), including the Inclusive Excellence Food Pantry, Clothing Closet, and Textbook Lending Library.
• Develop, implement, assess, and enhance GAIC programming, resources, and services to meet the evolving needs of students, with a focus on minoritized communities. 
• Collaborate with campus and community partners to support underrepresented students through guest speakers, film screenings, select heritage month celebrations, and recruitment activities (e.g., Orientation, Summer Fly-In, annual RA training, Visitors Day, etc.). 
• Guide students in navigating campus resources for academic and personal support. 
• Recruit, train, and supervise student employees to assist with facility management and program delivery, fostering identity development, cultural humility, cultural wealth, and cultural pluralism.
• Co-advise the Power & Privilege Symposium student leadership team and support identity-based affinity groups in advancing their mission an DEIA initiatives.  

Management (15%) 

• Supervise, mentor, coach and evaluate student employees. 
• Manage allocated funds to support the Center’s operations and programs.  
• Collaborate on marketing and outreach strategies to promote GAIC services.  
• Serve as a resource on College policies for current and prospective students.

Leadership and Professional Development (10%) 

• Serve on institutional committees related to the advancement of inclusive excellence at the College. 
• Build and foster vital relationships with colleagues across the campus. 
• Pursue ongoing professional development to stay current on DEIA concepts and higher education issues.  

Assessment (10%) 

• Establish data-driven goals and benchmarks that prioritize student needs related to identity and belonging. 
• Develop and implement assessment protocols to measure the GAIC’s programs’ success, aligning with Division and College goals. 
• Provide quarterly and annual reports on progress, including financial and staffing assessments. 

College and Division Service (5%) 

• Support Inclusive Excellence initiatives and institutional priorities and adapt to evolving needs to foster campus equity and inclusion.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Specifically,

• Deep understanding of DEIA principles in higher education with knowledge of systemic barriers impacting marginalized communities and the ability to design programs that foster belonging and empowerment.
• Skilled in designing, implementing and evaluating programs focused on intercultural competence, social justice education, and identity-based support, with experience using assessment tools to measure effectiveness and student engagement.
• Proven ability to mentor, support, and advocate for students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, including first-generation/working-class, disabled, veteran, and international students.
• Ability to plan, organize, and execute events, workshops, and initiatives that advance the mission of the Glover Alston Intercultural Center, including budgeting, logistics, and outreach.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, and coaching student employees, fostering their leadership development and engagement.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships across diverse constituencies, including students, faculty, staff, and external partners, and  navigate institutional structures and advocate for student needs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage various audiences in meaningful dialogue around identity, belonging, and social justice topics.
• Proficient in managing student center operations, including overseeing physical spaces, coordinating resource distribution, and maintaining an inclusive and affirming environment.
• Familiar with social media, newsletters, and other tools to promote programs and services.
• Ability to address evolving student and institutional needs with a problem-solving and student-centered approach.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s degree. 
• 3 years of full-time, professional experience in higher education or related field (graduate degree in related field can be used in place of 2 years of experience). 
• Experience working with historically marginalized communities. 
• Experience working with students in a programmatic and advisory capacity. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Demonstrated understanding and familiarity with key DEIA concepts. 
• Experience studying and advocating for issues of justice. 
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships.
• OR a combination of relevant education, training, and experience. Whitman values diverse pathways to acquiring skills and knowledge and encourages applicants to demonstrate how their background aligns with the role.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Graduate degree. 

Please note that while the description details both required and preferred qualifications, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply.

BENEFITS

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.

403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a 10% matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.

Paid Time Off: 20 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.

Tuition Remission – Dependent Children

Employee tuition waiver for two Whitman courses per semester.

Employee Assistance Program

Relocation benefits for eligible employees.

Learn more about benefits eligibility here. 

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Application review will begin on April 1, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. 

START DATE

July 1, 2025

Salary : $70,434 - $78,030