Student Counseling Director - Health and Wellness

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and over fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students. Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, and 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation, most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).

Responsibilities

• Lead an inter-divisional advisory group to create the center's vision, mission, and operational plan.
• Oversee all operations for the Wellness Center, and work in collaboration with divisional leadership to ensure coordination of services with the Office of Student Affairs, Health Services, and Office of Accessibility as needed.
• Assess program needs and develop appropriate responses in collaboration with academic departments, other college offices, and student groups.
• Develop strategies to ensure the Center receives all referrals for personal wellness, crisis intervention, support services, advocacy, and coordinate with the College's Student Behavioral Intervention Team.
• Provide opportunities for service, education, and work experience for students in relevant majors in collaboration with academic departments.
• Create and maintain an assessment plan for the Centers following national best practices.
• Develop and strategize effective responses to personal and crisis situations in conjunction with the College's Student Concern Assessment and Response (CARe) Team.
• Provide training and support to faculty and staff on managing distressed students including verbal, behavioral, and situational clues.
• Raise awareness of student behavior, providing intervention, and connecting all parties with the appropriate resources and referral information.
• Oversee the delivery of seamless, synergetic, and coherent services.
• Support key partners to develop awareness of negative stereotypes and misconceptions about mental distress, illness, and disabilities.
• Lead the development and facilitation of all mental health/wellness trainings sponsored by the Center, and consult with faculty and staff accordingly.
• Provide leadership around the referral process for counseling and social services for students.
• Review cases and evaluate implications for policy and programs.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the college in matters related to student health and wellness.
• Oversee office budgets.
• Participate in college committees as appropriate.
• Write annual reports and assist with grant development.
• Consult with faculty, staff, administration, trustees, parents, and other community health providers.
• Participate in inter-divisional programs to increase student success and retention.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and eight years' related experience required.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Eight to ten years' experience required with a demonstrated level of increased responsibility, preferably in higher education or a comparable environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Directs a college counseling center, integrating counseling services into a comprehensive student development experience. Manages a counseling center providing a variety of services such as individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, workshops, classroom instruction, and academic intervention. Supervises and develops counseling faculty and staff. Develops department budget and manages fiscal affairs. Directs planning, evaluation, assessment, and marketing of counseling services. Interfaces with academic departments, other College offices, and student groups to assess program needs and develop appropriate responses. Participates in inter-divisional programs to increase student success and retention.

Pay

$91,878 - $136,546

Benefits

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study, and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.