Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students in the Division of Student Affairs, the inaugural Director of LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center (“Center”) will be charged with laying the foundation for and ensuring the immediate and ongoing success of the new Center at Boston University. The Center opened in Fall 2023, and the director will play a critical role in developing nascent programs and services to address and enhance a sense of belonging for all queer students on the Charles Rivers Campus, Medical Campus, and Fenway Campus regardless of degree program. In addition, the student-focused Center director will collaborate with the director and staff of the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty and Staff, which is located in the same building—making BU the first higher education institution to have two centers focused on community members with LGBTQIA+ identities. The ideal director candidate for the student-focused Center will demonstrate excellence in the following areas of competence:
Intersectional Community Building: Curating a space and program that supports the myriad of intersectional identities and communities within the LGBTQIA+ community is essential. The director will collaborate effectively with various student organizations and established communities to foster a connection with the Center and staff. Utilizing the philosophy and teaching of Howard Thurman as an underpinning, the Center will become a space where people can deeply explore their identities, create coalitions of established groups, and learn to build coalitions across these groups.

Co-Curricular Programming: The director will facilitate a myriad of small and large-scale programs that stimulate and encourage active inquiry, meaningful dialogue, or celebrate the LGBTIQIA+ community. These programs may include National Coming Out Day, Trans Day of Visibility/Remembrance, LGBTQIA+ History Month events, conversations with faculty, Pride Month celebrations, ally programs, career panels, training seminars, lavender orientation/ceremony, as well as other programs to promote awareness and understanding of current and past LGBTQIA+ matters.

Curation of Physical Space: Capitalizing on a newly renovated, 3,200 square foot facility, the director will establish a strong, visible presence within the suite and will be responsible for the overall vision and operation of the physical space. To this end, the director will ensure the suite is adequately staffed for service and security considerations during and beyond typical business hours. The creation and revision of policies that govern the use of the suite to maximize its use will be of critical importance, as will the consistent assessment of the facility condition and ability to reasonably meet student needs.

Collaboration: Successful collaborations are critical to the effectiveness of the director and the Center. The director will partner broadly with campus constituents such as but not limited to Development/Alumni Relations, LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff, Residence Life/Housing, Student Activities, Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground, Student Health Services, Community & Inclusion, Government/Community Affairs, the Newbury Center, International Students and Scholars Office, and Athletics. Cultivating and sustaining meaningful relationships across the University is essential to creating a world-class, cross-pollinated residential experience for LGBTQIA+ students.

Culture of Care & Advocacy: The director will be committed to the academic and personal success of LGBTQIA+ students. This includes providing support to students in crisis, making referrals to appropriate resources, and ensuring that all students have access to the resources they need to thrive. The director will advocate for the wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ students throughout the university enterprise and will collaborate extensively with the Dean of Students Office, Auxiliary Services, LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff, and Student Health to ensure LGBTQIA+ students have healthy and affirming experiences while participating in campus programs.

Administration: The director will demonstrate a history of success managing university budgets; hiring, supervising, and on-boarding professional or student staff; representing student interests on university-wide committees; developing goals that align with an institutional strategic plan; collaborating with units and departments across the university; and producing annual reports for university leadership.

Required Skills

To be considered for this position, candidates should have a master’s degree in higher education/student affairs, diversity & inclusion, women, gender and sexuality studies, or a related field, as well as 5-7 years of professional student affairs work experience. The successful candidate will possess openness, responsiveness, approachability, understanding of others’ perspectives and the demonstrated ability to maintain and build relationships through collaboration. A resume and cover letter must be submitted for applications to be considered complete.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Required Experience

To be considered for this position, candidates should have a master’s degree in higher education/student affairs, diversity & inclusion, women, gender and sexuality studies, or a related field, as well as 5-7 years of professional student affairs work experience. The successful candidate will possess openness, responsiveness, approachability, understanding of others’ perspectives and the demonstrated ability to maintain and build relationships through collaboration. A resume and cover letter must be submitted for applications to be considered complete.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.