Director of Student Affairs

The University of Georgia (UGA), chartered in 1785, is the birthplace of public higher education in America and Georgia’s flagship university. Ranked among the top 20 public universities by U.S. News & World Report, UGA enrolls over 41,000 students across 19 schools and colleges, including the newly established School of Medicine. The main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta.

About the role

The Director of Student Affairs provides leadership and support for law students by promoting student success, well-being, and engagement throughout their academic experience. This position serves as a primary resource for students facing personal, academic, financial, or health-related challenges and coordinates access to university support services and accommodations. The Director oversees the administration of student accommodations, supervises staff, and advises student organizations. The role also manages the law school’s mentorship program, fostering connections among students, alumni, faculty, and legal professionals, and plans and executes student orientation programs and key community-building events.

Responsibilities

• Student Support (40%)
  • Provide holistic support to students experiencing personal, social, emotional, financial, or health challenges through informal counseling and referrals to campus resources (e.g., University Health Center, Counseling and Psychiatric Services, Student Care and Outreach, Accessibility and Testing Office).
  • Serve as the primary contact for the CAPS counselor, scheduling hours and securing space.
  • Organize student mental health initiatives and events (e.g., Wellness Week, ABA Mental Health Day).
  • Act as the primary point of contact for faculty, staff, and students to report concerns about student well-being; follow up with students or escalate to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs as needed.
  • Support the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs on matters related to academic performance, student conduct, EOO, and academic dishonesty.
  • Counsel students on withdrawal, re-enrollment, and the law school emergency fund process.
  • Assist JD, MSL, and LLM students in integrating into the law school community.
  • Support the annual commencement ceremony.
  • Serve as advisor to the Student Bar Association (SB), providing guidance on events and matters.
• Accommodations (25%)
  • Ensure law students are aware of services offered by the University Accessibility & Testing Office (ATO).
  • Coordinate with ATO, students, faculty, and law school IT to implement reasonable accommodations for classrooms and exams.
  • Manage and administer all reasonable accommodations for law students.
  • Field and respond to accommodation-related inquiries and requests.
  • Administer services for temporarily disabled students.
  • Counsel students on accommodations for the MPRE and bar examinations.
• Supervision (15%)
  • Supervise and manage the School of Law Student Affairs Coordinator.
  • Lead the team in establishing and achieving goals.
• Mentorship Program (10%)
  • Recruit, register, and manage alumni, professional, and peer mentors.
  • Collect information from incoming students for mentor matching.
  • Match students with peer, alumni, professional, and faculty mentors.
  • Compile, update, and manage mentor team information and resources.
  • Work with IT services to manage the electronic mentorship platform.
• Orientation (10%)
  • Plan, oversee, and execute transfer and 1L orientation programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Two years of professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in student affairs, academic support, advising, or student services within higher education.
• Experience coordinating disability accommodations or working with accessibility/student support services.
• Experience supporting professional, graduate, or law students.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build collaborative relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and central UGA offices.
• Knowledge of student affairs and higher education best practices.
• Knowledge of disability accommodations and accessibility requirements.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills; ability to oversee multiple programs, events, and deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving, conflict resolution, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to fostering a supportive and welcoming educational environment.

Physical Demands

• Physical stamina for student events, including standing, bending, and walking.
• Ability to lift up to 15–20 pounds intermittently.
• Ability to push and pull up to 15–20 pounds intermittently.

Schedule

This is an in-person, full-time position based at the UGA School of Law in Athens, GA. The standard schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, with occasional evening and weekend hours required to support student programs and events.

Pay

Starting salary of $70,000 or higher, commensurate with experience.