Working Title: Director of Honors Student Engagement

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Academic Affairs Unit

Department: 100147 - Honors College

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 10/27/2025

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Honors College is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and student-focused professional to serve as Director of Student Engagement. This position plays a vital leadership role in advancing student success, building community, and fostering meaningful co-curricular learning in the JMU Honors College. The ideal candidate will bring experience in student development, student engagement, or student leadership; excellent communication and project management skills; and a commitment to promoting student success and engagement. The successful candidate will join a collaborative, dynamic, and mission-driven team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design and implement co-curricular programs and events that foster student involvement, leadership, and community for more than 1,200 Honors students.
• Advise Honors student organizations and support the development of student leadership across the College.
• Oversee the Honors College First-Year Experience, serving as instructor of record for the College’s required Introduction to Honors courses (HON 100 and HON 101).
• Recruit, supervise, and support Honors Teaching Fellows who facilitate first-year courses and related programming.
• Supervise a team of student employees.
• Promote and recognize student involvement and ensure engagement opportunities are effectively communicated to students and stakeholders.
• Develop and implement assessment protocols for co-curricular programs to measure participation, learning outcomes, and program effectiveness.
• Represent the Honors College on university committees related to student engagement.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:
• Master’s degree.
• Previous professional experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to design and lead co-curricular programs and initiatives.
• Experience teaching or mentoring undergraduate students.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Experience with program assessment and the use of data to improve student outcomes.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with a variety of stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience in Honors education.
• Experience with first-year experience programs.
• Previous professional higher education experience in student development, student engagement, or student affairs.

Additional Posting Information:

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.