Director of Civic Engagement at George Mason University

[Announcement from SCRA-L]


Greetings!

George Mason University is hiring a university-level Director of Civic Engagement to open an Office of Civic Engagement, and both lead and coordinate cross-campus initiatives and partnerships. This is an emerging emphasis at GMU, and the director position is new. It would be an exciting time to take it on, and a potential fit for a community psychologist. For more information see: https://jobs.gmu.edu/postings/43222. Deadline is 9/1.

Please share widely!

  

Best,

Lauren

Lauren B. Cattaneo
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
George Mason University
4400 University Drive, MSN 3F5
Fairfax, VA 22030

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Director of Civic Engagement

George Mason University invites application for the position of Director of Civic Engagement.

George Mason University invites highly qualified candidates to apply for our Director of Civic Engagement position. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment. 

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, the Director of Civic Engagement will open a new Civic Engagement Office to provide university-wide leadership for community engagement initiatives and civic partnerships. This position was established in conjunction with Mason’s strategic plan to strengthen the institutional commitment to civic engagement and community-based educational experiences. Mason is positioned to elevate our existing strengths in Civic Engagement (along with Undergraduate Research and Entrepreneurship) as a part of the Mason Impact, our new program to enhance student academic engagement through project-based learning. The Commonwealth of Virginia has also raised the profile of civic engagement by including it as a core competency for higher education.

We are searching for a professional with local and national experience to provide leadership and support for Mason’s institutional commitment to civic and community engagement through establishing the Civic Engagement Office. The Director will play a key role in strategic planning to leverage Mason’s existing strengths and expand opportunities for faculty, students, and community partners. The overall goal will be to increase the number of students, faculty, and partners participating in high-quality civic engagement projects at Mason, and ultimately, to position Mason as a national leader in Civic Engagement. The Director’s responsibilities will include:

• Establishing a Civic Engagement Office and an advisory board for civic engagement at Mason;
• Working with existing units in University Life, SAIL (Mason’s Center for Community Engagement), the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning, the Office of Undergraduate Education, among others, to establish a vision and strategy to enhance Mason’s civic and community engagement efforts;
• Encouraging community-engaged learning courses including: faculty development in civic and community engaged teaching, research and service; course designation recognition for civic engagement; recognition and resources for civic and community engaged work;
• Partnering with the Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities, and Research and the Research Office to support community-engaged research;
• Working with the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness to assess and report civic and community-based learning in accordance with the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV);
• Participating in campus conversations related to civic and community-engaged learning in the curriculum (majors and minors, general education, Mason Impact initiative, and study abroad programs);
• Facilitating partnerships between community leaders and organizations, and faculty, including representing Mason as needed with community partners, events, and strategic conversations;
• Position Mason as a leader in local, state, and national associations focused on civic and community engagement including: Virginia Engage, Virginia and National Campus Compact, NASPA Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement initiatives, AAC&U, VACC, ASHOKA, and others; and
• Develop additional support for civic engagement projects through fundraising and grant proposals. 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree required;
• Demonstrated record of successful administrative experience;
• Knowledge of national best practices in civic engagement, community service-learning, community-based research, and community partnerships, informed by social justice, inclusivity, and collaboration;
• Demonstrated experience in leading and facilitating civic engagement programs and/or services;
• Demonstrated record of successfully encouraging students to participate in civic and community projects;
• Knowledge of assessment of civic and community engagement;
• Strong communication skills, including ability to collaborate effectively with a broad array of campus and community constituencies; and
• Demonstrated potential to engage in scholarly work on community-based service and research.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD preferred