Director, Student Life

Company: Charles R. Drew University of Med & Sc
Location: Los Angeles
Posted on: February 17, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description:\n\nMission Driven, Community Focused About | Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (cdrewu.edu) Charles R. Drew University is located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles and was founded in 1966 in the wake of the Watts uprising. CDU was founded to address inadequate medical care in the region and to provide equitable medical education opportunities for underrepresented students.CDU is strongly invested in the local and regional community. The university leads multiple partnerships and programs to provide equitable healthcare resources in a variety of South Los Angeles neighborhoods. The Director of Student Life, Belonging and Development serves as a key leadership role within the Division of Student Affairs at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU). Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Affairs, the Director provides leadership and oversight for all non-academic aspects of student life and serves as a key member of the Vice Provost Management Team as an advocate for students. The Director has primary responsibility for leadership, management, strategic direction, policy development, and administrative oversight of co- and extracurricular student services, including student multicultural affairs, student conduct, student development, student life, student career services and student government and organizations. The Director leads institutional efforts to foster a strong sense of belonging, community engagement, and persistence among all students with specific emphasis on retention, persistence, and graduation initiatives. The Director will directly supervise the Student Life Belonging and Development team, and student support-related services. The Director will direct the growth of comprehensive student life planning and student support-related services commensurate with a growing student population. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & AdministrationDevelop comprehensive strategic plans targeting student persistence, retention, and graduation/completion ratesCreate, implement, and assess proactive strategies to identify and address barriers to student persistence and completionDevelop plans and budgets, and manage all operations of functions to support non-academic student servicesManage budget, personnel, and resources allocated to student life programming to maximize impact on retention and student successImplement a cohesive vision for student engagement and belonging that aligns with the institution's and division's mission and strategic objectivesDevelop and prepare regular assessment reports on retention and completion metrics to inform continuous improvement effortsServe on the Student Affairs leadership team to ensure seamless integration of services across all unitsWork collaboratively with Institutional Research to analyze student retention and completion data to develop targeted interventions Student Retention and PersistenceDevelop, implement, and assess data-driven strategies to increase student retention, persistence, and graduation ratesDesign and execute comprehensive belonging initiatives that create strong student-institution connections linked to improved retentionEstablish clear retention goals, benchmarks, and key performance indicators for student persistenceCollaborate with academic programs to develop integrated support systems for students at risk of attritionDevelop early alert systems and intervention strategies for students showing signs of disengagementCreate academic and social integration opportunities that research shows improve student persistenceLead initiatives addressing the unique retention challenges of first-generation, underrepresented, and non-traditional studentsDesign specific programming to support students through key transition and milestone points that represent high attrition risk Student Engagement and DevelopmentDevelop and implement strategies to increase student retention and enhance student satisfaction through meaningful engagementIn partnership with other Student Affairs units and academic programs, address the current shortfalls in retention strategies, factors influencing retention, and develop a strategy for retaining first-year studentsOversee planning and implementation of student activities, including new student orientations, Gradfest, campus traditions, and cultural events designed to foster belonging and connectionDevelop and progress opportunities for civic engagement, leadership development, and community buildingCollaborate and support student organizations and student government to enhance campus life and create meaningful student connectionsDevelop and implement effective strategies to foster career development and education about various health pathwaysDevelop and implement effective outreach strategies to connect students with relevant services and resourcesDevelop initiatives that foster an inclusive campus community, celebrate diversity, and strengthen students' sense of belonging Student Basic Needs SupportOversee the operation and continued development of the student food pantry, ensuring accessibility, adequate stocking, and proper resource managementIn partnership with Student Health and Wellness, develop and implement comprehensive strategies to address students' basic needs including food security, housing stability, transportation, and emergency financial assistance that directly impact student persistenceCreate awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around basic needs insecurity and increase utilization of available resourcesDevelop support systems that enable students to overcome non-academic barriers to persistence and completion Student Support & AdvocacyServe as a primary advocate for student concerns within the university administrationAdvise students on university policies, procedures, and resourcesPartner and coordinate with the Title IX and Compliance Officer on student conduct matters, ensuring fair and equitable processesSupport student retention through responsive programming and intervention strategiesSupport student housing information and effortsDevelop and implement programming specifically designed to foster a sense of belonging for students from historically underrepresented groups Career Services for Health Professional StudentsDevelop and implement comprehensive career development programs tailored to health professional students that support retention and post-graduation successEstablish relationships with healthcare employers, residency programs, and professional schools to create pathways for student placementCoordinate specialized workshops on healthcare career planning, application processes for residencies/fellowships, and professional licensing requirementsProvide individualized career counseling for students pursuing various health professionsCreate resources for clinical rotation, internship, and job opportunities specific to health disciplinesPartner with alumni in healthcare fields to develop mentorship programs and networking opportunitiesMaintain current knowledge of healthcare workforce trends and employment needsCollaborate with academic programs to integrate career readiness into curriculum planning Cross-Departmental CollaborationPartner with Student Affairs units and academic programs to create integrated support systems for students focused on persistence and completionCoordinate with Student Affairs and Health and Wellness units to promote holistic student support and developmentCollaborate with Academic Programs, Pipeline Programs, and Pre-Health Initiatives to ensure continuity of student support across educational pathwaysServe as liaison between the student government and Student AffairsLead collaborative efforts across departments to identify and address systemic barriers to student persistence and graduation Innovation & AssessmentIdentify emerging trends in student engagement, belonging, and persistence and adapt programming accordinglyLead assessment efforts to evaluate program effectiveness and student outcomes, with particular focus on retention and graduation metricsDevelop data-informed strategies to enhance the student experience and improve persistenceRecommend policy revisions that support student success, engagement, and completionSeek grant funding and development opportunities to support student programming targeting improved retention and graduation ratesDevelop and implement innovative approaches to fostering student belonging and community connection Other Duties and Responsibilities:Supervise and evaluate unit staffIn partnership with other Student Affairs units, collaborate with enrollment management services to recruit new students to CDUThe performance of the Director will be measured by the campus's success in meeting student retention and graduation/completion goalsSupport professional development for unit staffBe accessible, visible, and proactive regarding the needs of studentsPerform other duties as assigned EDUCATION:Master's in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, or related field required.Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, along with 7 years of progressive direct experience can be accepted as an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.Doctorate in Higher Education, Educational Leadership, or related field preferred LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS (IF APPLICABLE):Not required, but relevant certifications in student success or retention strategies are valued EXPERIENCE:Seven years or more of progressive experience in higher education with a focus on student affairs, student development, or a student affairs-related field.Minimum of three years of demonstrated success in developing and implementing student retention and persistence initiatives.Proven track record of improving student engagement, belonging, and completion rates.Experience in analyzing and using retention data to develop targeted interventions.Extensive knowledge of the research on improving student satisfaction, student retention, and strategies for improving student learning and success.Experience working with diverse student populations, particularly first-generation and underrepresented students.Experience with student life programming, student leadership development, student career services, and co-curricular activities. SKILLS:Ability to build and lead a team focused on student success and persistenceStrong supervisory and managerial skills, including budgets, strategic planning, assessment and evaluation skillsKnowledge of student development theory and best practices in student retention and persistenceDemonstrated ability to develop and implement successful retention initiativesProficiency in analyzing and using data to inform decision-making and program developmentExcellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups of students, faculty, and staffDetailed knowledge of HIPAA, FERPA, Title IX, and related acts (VAWA, Clery, etc.) requiredBroad knowledge of student life practices and principles, student development, and a variety of learning stylesAbility to exercise considerable judgment and discretionAbility to handle sensitive and confidential matters with the utmost discretionDependability and professional demeanor with a clear client-service orientationCompetent Spanish-speaking skills are desired. Compensation:$75,700 - $105,500 annual Position Status: Full-Time, Exempt COMPLEXITY:The ability to perform highly detailed work with sustained attention and care while providing/obtaining information on numerous inquiries is paramount to success in this position PHYSICAL DEMANDS:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functionsOccasional stooping. Frequent standing. Constant walking, sitting, climbing, reaching high/low levels, finger movement, feeling, speaking clearly, hearing conversationally, and seeing far and near WORK ENVIRONMENT:Position is on-site unless specific authorization from the managerThe work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functionsOccasionally required to work in confined spacesMay require occasional evening and weekend work to support student events MENTAL DEMANDS:The mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functionsFrequent variety of unrelated tasks. Constant calculating, interrupted work, a variety of interrelated tasks, and use of sustained concentration, reasoning, judgment, resourcefulness, analytical ability, and ingenuity Special Requirements:Ability to work effectively with a diverse communityDemonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belongingStrong advocacy skills for promoting student success and completion

Keywords: Charles R. Drew University of Med & Sc, Laguna Beach , Director, Student Life, Education / Teaching , Los Angeles, California