Assistant Director, National Fellowships & Academic Opportunities
University of Rhode Island
Posting Details Position Information Posting Number SF01965 Job Title Assistant Director, National Fellowships & Academic Opportunities Position Number 106727 FTE 1.00 FLSA Exempt Position Type Professional Staff Union PSA/NEA - Professional Staff Assoc Pay Grade Level Grade Level: 12 Pay Grade Range Salary Hiring Range: $75,000 - $85,000 Status Calendar Year, Full-time, Permanent Department Information Department Honors Program Contact(s) Please note: Job applications must be submitted directly online only at: (https://jobs.uri.edu)
Contact Phone/Extension Contact Email Physical Demands Campus Location Kingston Grant Funded No Extension Contingency Notes Job Description Summary The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by March 20, 2025. Applications received after March 20, 2025 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
About URI:
The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
BASIC FUNCTION:
As the de facto director and lead advisor of the Office of National Fellowships & Academic Opportunities, provide university-wide leadership in identifying, recruiting, and supporting students in their pursuit of prestigious national and international fellowships. Play a pivotal role in creating pathways that enable URI students, including Honors students and others with academic and leadership potential, to access competitive opportunities for scholarships, research funding, and graduate studies.
In collaboration with faculty, staff, and academic units across campus, build awareness about national fellowships, provide individualized mentoring for candidates, and develop robust programming to help students prepare competitive applications. Work to ensure that fellowship opportunities are accessible to all students, with a particular focus on fostering participation by underrepresented and first-generation students.
Duties and Responsibilities ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
In the area of University-Wide Fellowship Advising and Support: Serve as the central resource for students and alumni interested in national and international fellowships (e.g., Fulbright, Truman, Rhodes, Goldwater, Marshall, and others).
Provide personalized mentoring to help students articulate their academic, professional, and personal goals in alignment with fellowship opportunities.
Guide students through the application process, including crafting personal statements, project proposals, and preparing for interviews.
Develop and implement initiatives to increase the diversity of applicants for fellowships.
In the area of Pathway Creation and Institutional Collaboration: Design and implement strategic pathways to integrate fellowship preparation into students’ academic trajectories, including into Honors Program and Chinese Language Flagship Program academic trajectories.
Partner with academic advisors, faculty, and staff in all disciplines to identify prospective candidates and embed fellowship advising in their student development efforts.
Establish clear, structured resources (e.g., timelines, advising guides, workshop series) to prepare students for competitive fellowship applications from their first year through graduation.
In the area of Programming and Outreach: Plan and deliver workshops, panels, and events to introduce students and faculty to fellowship opportunities and provide application guidance.
Collaborate with campus units (e.g. Talent Development, Career Services, Undergraduate Research, Study Abroad) to promote fellowships and maximize student engagement.
Utilize university communications platforms, including email, social media, and web resources, to publicize available fellowships and celebrate recipients.
In the area of Faculty and Staff Engagement: Cultivate productive relationships with faculty to encourage student referrals and support for fellowship candidates.
Provide faculty training on nominating and mentoring students for competitive awards and writing recommendation letters.
Coordinate selection committees and mock interviews for highly competitive fellowships.
Mentor and supervise future advisor(s) assigned to the Office of National Fellowships and Academic Opportunities.
In the area of Data and Assessment: Collect, analyze, and report data on fellowship applicants, finalists, and recipients to measure success and inform program improvements.
Monitor trends in national and international fellowship competitions to align URI initiatives with best practices.
Prepare annual reports summarizing advising outcomes and institutional impact.
In the area of Enhancing URI’s Profile: Promote URI as a hub for academic excellence and achievement by celebrating student successes in fellowship competitions.
Establish professional relationships with national fellowship organizations and consortiums to strengthen URI’s network and standing.
Represent URI at professional meetings, conferences, and regional fellowship networks.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Occasional evening and weekend hours may be necessary to accommodate students’ schedules and fellowship deadlines.
Perform other duties as assigned.
LICENSES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT:
Personal computers, printers, digital programs and software.
Required Qualifications REQUIRED:
1. Master’s degree.
2. Minimum of three years of experience in advising and/or mentoring students in competitive application processes.
3. Demonstrated experience in program development.
4. Demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
5. Demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills.
6. Demonstrated ability to provide detailed feedback on application materials.
7. Demonstrated organizational skills.
8. Demonstrated ability to multi-task and manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
9. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations.
10. Demonstrated experience working with diverse first-generation and underrepresented student populations.
Preferred Qualifications PREFERRED:
1. Demonstrated familiarity with national and international fellowship programs.
2. Demonstrated familiarity with higher education settings (e.g., academic advising, career services).
3. Demonstrated ability to build professional collaborations across departments and disciplines.
4. Demonstrated dedication to student success and fostering academic and leadership potential.
5. Demonstrated familiarity with designing innovative pathways for competitive fellowship participation.
6. Demonstrated familiarity with promoting equity and access in national and international competitions.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
Environmental Conditions This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Posting Date 02/21/2025 Closing Date Special Instructions to Applicants Please attach the following 3 (PDF) documents to your online Employment Application:
(#1) Cover letter.
(#2) Resume.
(#3) Other Document – References – the names and contact information of three professional references.
Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/14801 Applicant Documents Required Documents Cover Letter/Letter of Application Resume Other Document - References Optional Documents Supplemental Questions
Contact Phone/Extension Contact Email Physical Demands Campus Location Kingston Grant Funded No Extension Contingency Notes Job Description Summary The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by March 20, 2025. Applications received after March 20, 2025 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
About URI:
The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
BASIC FUNCTION:
As the de facto director and lead advisor of the Office of National Fellowships & Academic Opportunities, provide university-wide leadership in identifying, recruiting, and supporting students in their pursuit of prestigious national and international fellowships. Play a pivotal role in creating pathways that enable URI students, including Honors students and others with academic and leadership potential, to access competitive opportunities for scholarships, research funding, and graduate studies.
In collaboration with faculty, staff, and academic units across campus, build awareness about national fellowships, provide individualized mentoring for candidates, and develop robust programming to help students prepare competitive applications. Work to ensure that fellowship opportunities are accessible to all students, with a particular focus on fostering participation by underrepresented and first-generation students.
Duties and Responsibilities ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
In the area of University-Wide Fellowship Advising and Support: Serve as the central resource for students and alumni interested in national and international fellowships (e.g., Fulbright, Truman, Rhodes, Goldwater, Marshall, and others).
Provide personalized mentoring to help students articulate their academic, professional, and personal goals in alignment with fellowship opportunities.
Guide students through the application process, including crafting personal statements, project proposals, and preparing for interviews.
Develop and implement initiatives to increase the diversity of applicants for fellowships.
In the area of Pathway Creation and Institutional Collaboration: Design and implement strategic pathways to integrate fellowship preparation into students’ academic trajectories, including into Honors Program and Chinese Language Flagship Program academic trajectories.
Partner with academic advisors, faculty, and staff in all disciplines to identify prospective candidates and embed fellowship advising in their student development efforts.
Establish clear, structured resources (e.g., timelines, advising guides, workshop series) to prepare students for competitive fellowship applications from their first year through graduation.
In the area of Programming and Outreach: Plan and deliver workshops, panels, and events to introduce students and faculty to fellowship opportunities and provide application guidance.
Collaborate with campus units (e.g. Talent Development, Career Services, Undergraduate Research, Study Abroad) to promote fellowships and maximize student engagement.
Utilize university communications platforms, including email, social media, and web resources, to publicize available fellowships and celebrate recipients.
In the area of Faculty and Staff Engagement: Cultivate productive relationships with faculty to encourage student referrals and support for fellowship candidates.
Provide faculty training on nominating and mentoring students for competitive awards and writing recommendation letters.
Coordinate selection committees and mock interviews for highly competitive fellowships.
Mentor and supervise future advisor(s) assigned to the Office of National Fellowships and Academic Opportunities.
In the area of Data and Assessment: Collect, analyze, and report data on fellowship applicants, finalists, and recipients to measure success and inform program improvements.
Monitor trends in national and international fellowship competitions to align URI initiatives with best practices.
Prepare annual reports summarizing advising outcomes and institutional impact.
In the area of Enhancing URI’s Profile: Promote URI as a hub for academic excellence and achievement by celebrating student successes in fellowship competitions.
Establish professional relationships with national fellowship organizations and consortiums to strengthen URI’s network and standing.
Represent URI at professional meetings, conferences, and regional fellowship networks.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Occasional evening and weekend hours may be necessary to accommodate students’ schedules and fellowship deadlines.
Perform other duties as assigned.
LICENSES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT:
Personal computers, printers, digital programs and software.
Required Qualifications REQUIRED:
1. Master’s degree.
2. Minimum of three years of experience in advising and/or mentoring students in competitive application processes.
3. Demonstrated experience in program development.
4. Demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
5. Demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills.
6. Demonstrated ability to provide detailed feedback on application materials.
7. Demonstrated organizational skills.
8. Demonstrated ability to multi-task and manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
9. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations.
10. Demonstrated experience working with diverse first-generation and underrepresented student populations.
Preferred Qualifications PREFERRED:
1. Demonstrated familiarity with national and international fellowship programs.
2. Demonstrated familiarity with higher education settings (e.g., academic advising, career services).
3. Demonstrated ability to build professional collaborations across departments and disciplines.
4. Demonstrated dedication to student success and fostering academic and leadership potential.
5. Demonstrated familiarity with designing innovative pathways for competitive fellowship participation.
6. Demonstrated familiarity with promoting equity and access in national and international competitions.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
Environmental Conditions This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Posting Date 02/21/2025 Closing Date Special Instructions to Applicants Please attach the following 3 (PDF) documents to your online Employment Application:
(#1) Cover letter.
(#2) Resume.
(#3) Other Document – References – the names and contact information of three professional references.
Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/14801 Applicant Documents Required Documents Cover Letter/Letter of Application Resume Other Document - References Optional Documents Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* Do you have a Master’s degree? Yes No * Do you have demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations? Yes No * Do you have demonstrated experience working with diverse first-generation and underrepresented student populations? Yes No How did you hear about this employment opportunity? Public Job Posting Internal Job Posting Agency Referral Advertisement/Publication Personal Referral Website Other
Confirm your E-mail: Send Email
All Jobs from University of Rhode Island