Specialist - Advisor-Continuing

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Job no:
Work type: Faculty/Academic Staff
Major Administrative Unit / College: Office Of Undergraduate Education
Department: Undergraduate Education Administration 10043771
Sub Area: FAS- Fac./Acad Staff
Salary: 80000.00-90000.00 Salary Commensurate with Experience
Location: East Lansing
Categories: Student Services/Student Affairs, Continuing System Academic Staff, Full Time (90-100%), Non-Union

Working/Functional Title

First Generation Strategic Initiatives Manager

Position Summary

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Assistant Dean for Student Success Operations and Policy, the First-Generation Strategic Initiatives Manager provides strategic leadership, vision, and operational oversight for university-wide efforts supporting ~ 10,000 first-generation undergraduate students at Michigan State University in order to increase retention and close opportunity gaps. Serving within the Office of Undergraduate Education, this role serves the voice of First-Gen students for initiatives and policies, along with operations associated with Spartan Success Center. This position will work in close partnership with leadership of the Transfer Student Success Center to ensure a coherent, equitable, and student-centered experience across the undergraduate lifecycle.

The First-Generation Strategic Initiatives Manager leads identity-affirming, asset-based programming and institutional strategies that remove structural barriers, demystify higher education systems, promote health and wellbeing and strengthen belonging, persistence, and degree completion for first-generation students. This role balances population-specific leadership for retention and success with shared accountability for the overall Spartan Success Center mission, ensuring that no student experiences institutional structure as a barrier to their success.

Key Responsibilities

Advising, Strategic Leadership & Student Lifecycle Support (50%)

• Advance an asset-based, non-deficit approach to first-generation student success that recognizes cultural wealth, resilience, and family/supporter systems.
• Develop, advise, and evaluate activities devoted to increasing the retention of first-generation college students, aligned with our 5 opportunity areas of success (Self-Discovery of Purpose, Educational Success, Developing Sense of Belonging, contributing to an Empowered Community, and Developing Wellbeing).
• Design, advise, and monitor first-generation student academic progress and support across key transition points, including pre-entry, arrival and orientation, early-term adjustment, mid-career momentum, critical transitions, near completion and guidance for reentry.
• Lead advocacy efforts for policies, practices, and systems that advance equity and improve outcomes for first-generation students in academic planning and educational decision-making.
• Lead initiatives and initiate referrals and coordinated connections to campus resources that demystify the hidden curriculum, strengthen institutional navigation, and build academic and professional confidence for first-generation students.
• Provide leadership and management of the First-Generation Student Success Center aligned with MSU's institutional priorities for student success, five opportunity areas for student success, equity, and degree completion.
• Co-lead the development and ongoing refinement of the Spartan Success Center's shared vision, and student experience principles in partnership with leadership of the Transfer Student Success Center, in collaboration with academic advisors, colleges, and campus partners and under the overall direction of the Assistant Dean for Student Success Operations and Policy.

Administration, Collaborative Leadership & Center Operations (30%)

• Serve as a peer leader and collaborative partner with leadership of the Transfer Student Success Center, maintaining clear role distinction while sharing accountability for a unified student success ecosystem.
• Hire, supervise, and develop professional and student staff within the First-Generation Student Success Center.
• Ensure first-generation students experience a "no wrong door" model of support through shared intake, warm handoffs, and coordinated interventions across the Spartan Success Center and campus colleagues.
• Manage and strategically plan the First-Gen Center operating budget.
• Participate in shared decision-making related to space, staffing norms, student flow, crisis response, and cross-center initiatives.

Outreach, External Partnerships & Advocacy (10%)

• Serve as a lead campus representative and advocate for first-generation student issues on-campus and through involvement with the national FirstGen Forward initiative and other external networks (Big 10, University Innovation Alliance, etc.) as appropriate.
• Contribute to alumni identity development, engagement and mentorship pipelines that reinforce long-term belonging and institutional connection.
• Establish partnerships with on-campus and off-campus community stakeholders to develop first-generation student success initiatives.
• Partner with campus units including Admissions, Financial Aid, Advising, Registrar, Student Affairs, and academic colleges to address structural barriers impacting first-generation students.
• Represent the First-Generation Student Success Center in institutional committees and working groups.
• Lead first-generation student recognition initiatives, including family-inclusive celebrations and milestone events.

Research, Assessment & Storytelling (10%)

• Develop and monitor meaningful indicators of first-generation student success inclusive of and beyond retention and graduation (e.g., belonging, navigation confidence, momentum) to inform strategic decision-making, policy and procedural reform within the First-Gen Student Success Center and campuswide.
• Analyze and interpret data on first-generation college students to inform practices within the First-gen center and broader campus community.
• Contribute directly and indirectly to the research goals and efforts of the unit, co-presenting outcomes, insights, and impact narratives to senior leadership, donors, and external stakeholders.
• May consult with, collaborate with, supervise, train and otherwise support faculty, students, and other stakeholders in the pursuit of aligned research endeavors.

Required Degree

Masters -Higher education, student affairs, counseling, social work, public policy, or related field

Desired Degree

Doctorate -Related field or terminal degree/equivalent experience

Minimum Requirements

• Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, social work, public policy, or related field.
• 10 years of progressive leadership experience in student success, academic affairs, student affairs, or a related area.
• Demonstrated experience supporting first-generation students through equity-centered, asset-based approaches.
• Familiarity with student success frameworks, transition theory (for first time in college and/or transfer students), or ecological approaches to student development.
• Experience facilitating cross-campus collaborations and initiatives.
• 5+ years of experience supervising professional and student staff.
• Experience with strategic budget planning.
• Demonstrated success using data to inform strategy and communicate impact

Desired Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a related field or terminal degree/equivalent experience
• Experience in a large, complex, or research-intensive university environment.
• Experience leading as part of a collaborative leadership team
• Experience with grants, donors, and philanthropy

Required Application Materials

A complete application packet will contain a resume or CV, cover letter and contact information for three professional references.

Website

https://undergrad.msu.edu/

Advertised: Jul 17, 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Jul 31, 2026 Eastern Daylight Time