Director of Michigan Research and Discovery Scholars (MRADS)

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Note: This position is interdependent with Job Posting Number 244699 , LEO Adjunct Lecturer MRADS (Michigan Research and Discovery Scholars). Candidates who do not have a tenure track faculty appointment at the University of Michigan must apply to and be qualified for both positions in order to be considered as a candidate. (Please see Job Posting 244699 , which describes the LEO Adjunct Lecturer position, for the specific application requirements for that position.)

To apply for the director position, a cover letter is required.  Please attach the letter as the first page of your CV. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. To be considered, please submit an application and upload all materials and any supporting documents through the UM Careers Website.  

Summary

The University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA) seeks a director for its Michigan Research and Discovery Scholars (MRADS) . The program is one of the six Michigan Learning Communities (MLCs) on campus for which LSA is the administrative home, and is dedicated to student success by recruiting, supporting, and retaining students from diverse backgrounds and academic field to introduce them to the interdisciplinary nature of research and discovery and to engage students in community-building based on mutual respect and the affirmation of the diversity of experience. The staff appointment effort is 100% year-round and contains three roles: 1) administrative leadership, 2) teaching, and 3) work on LSA and cross-campus initiatives. The staff appointment effort will be reduced to accommodate the teaching portion of the position (LEO Adjunct Lecturer) during those times so that the total appointment effort of these two interdependent roles remains at 100%.

The Director of MRADS carries the expectation of creative, innovative, and collaborative contributions in initiatives related to undergraduate research and STEM inside of LSA and across the U-M campus. This academic/administrative leadership position reports to the Office of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in LSA the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, with a direct reporting line to the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Who We Are

Mission/Overview of Program
The mission of MRADS is to recruit, support, and retain students from diverse backgrounds and academic fields; to introduce them to the interdisciplinary nature of research and the excitement of discovery; to engage students in building a community based on mutual respect and affirmation of diversity; and to enhance students' undergraduate experience by providing them with academic and professional resources as well as engaging extracurricular opportunities to support their academic and personal growth. MRADS is the residential affiliate of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). The 2023-2024 MRADS cohort was composed of 110 first-year students. The program sits alongside five other LSA-administered residential learning communities, including Michigan Community Scholars Program (MCSP), Lloyd Hall Scholars Program (LHSP), Global Scholars Program (GSP), Health Sciences Scholars Program (HSSP), and the Women in Science and Engineering Residential Program (WISE RP) with which MRADS is co-located with the Women in Science and Engineering Residential Program (WISE RP). The program has a staff of three people (including an associate director, an administrative assistant, and a research engagement student coordinator) and student staff including approximately 22 sophomore leaders. The program's annual budget is approximately $326,000.

Director Overview
The MRADS Director provides the intellectual vision and the strategic leadership for the program and is responsible for curricular development and innovation. The Director will work collaboratively with academic programs in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; with the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program; with the Women in Science and Engineering Residential Program (WISE RP) program; and with academic resources in other UM departments, schools, and colleges to shape the academic and co-curricular experiences for MRADS students. The director and staff are also expected to maintain strong working relationships with Student Life and University Housing to optimize the students' residential experience. The Director leads and administers, with staff involvement, all aspects of the program, including: 

• works with students, faculty, and staff in providing classroom and experiential education about academic research; 
• oversees programming and staff performance; 
• builds academic partnerships across campus to engage university faculty and professional/graduate students in meaningful exchanges with the MRADS undergraduate students, including guest lectures; 
• recruits students and staff for the program; 
• collaborates with University Housing on building and sustaining an inclusive and engaged residential community;
  and provides staff supervision and budget management.

Regular teaching in the program is integral to the directorship; teaching one course during the Fall term has been the typical expectation, though this may change in future years. Active collaboration with the university's academic units to ensure broad faculty involvement in these academic offerings and in the program is also integral to the role.

LSA Undergraduate Education
The Director also works in close partnership with the College of LSA Dean's Office, the College's Undergraduate Education Division's programs and centers, and other campus units to provide an inclusive atmosphere of collaboration and to leverage the multiplicity of resources in service of the program objectives. This position also plays a key role in the ways that LSA seeks to offer support to women and underrepresented populations in undergraduate research, especially for first- and second-year students and transfer students. Finally, recruiting, retaining and supporting women and underrepresented minoritized populations in undergraduate research and STEM, is an important strategy goal for the LSA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plan. We anticipate that the MRADS Director will work with a dedicated team to spread best practices and innovations in teaching and mentoring.

Responsibilities*

• Develop and teach the core class for MRADS in the fall term to promote active and engaging dialogues; build community across shared experiences.
• Collaborate with faculty to enhance academic experience of students through extra-curricular and co-curricular activities such as forums, seminars, and research partnerships.
• Create and implement initiatives to enhance student development and engagement. Such activities may include alumni events, programming for sophomore graduates of the MRADS program, and robust training for student leaders.
• Design and administer surveys and assessments for MRADS and in collaboration with other Michigan Learning Communities.
• Train and support study group leaders for peer-facilitated study groups.
• Support individual student needs through coaching and mentorship.
• Oversee student conduct process, often in collaboration with Housing.
• Formulate and implement recruitment plans with focus on first-generation and underrepresented students.
• Develop and oversee MRADS budget.
• Provide leadership, supervision, support, and advocacy for program staff.
• Collaborate with other learning communities and LSA Undergraduate Education units.
• Actively participate in LSA/UGED meetings and events
• Actively participate in multiple LSA initiatives and serve on committees in LSA and the University.
• Engage in LSA and campus-wide professional development activities.
• Create, develop, and maintain efforts to increase MRADS engagement with MRADS alumni, UROP, academic departments, campus partners and external constituencies.
• Actively support LSA and the University of Michigan Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives.
• Additional duties include participation in college- and program-wide activities.

Required Qualifications*

• Requires advanced degree, preferably Ph.D. or Ed.D. or equivalent degree, in a STEM or STEM-related field or higher education.
• Experience in academic research.
• Ability to learn quickly and prioritize multiple demands.
• Experience working with a diverse student population, as well as a demonstrated interest in student retention and academic success.
• Expertise and ability to build capacity in understanding the complexities and institutional realities of recruiting and retaining students of diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated administrative success in program management and experience working with faculty.
• Demonstrated accomplishment fostering teamwork and cooperation as well as a sense of community around a shared vision and set of values.
• Demonstrated success in working with and participating in programs about diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and excellent oral and written communication, with attention to detail, student-centered philosophy and cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Demonstrated commitment to partnerships between academic and student life including a working knowledge of student development theory.
• Ability to collaborate and work well with students, faculty, and staff from a wide range of experiences and identities.
• Impeccable professional ethics and standards working with diverse populations.
• Must be able to function independently, be highly motivated and show excellent judgment in leadership and conflict resolution skills.

Desired Qualifications*

• Demonstrated experience using dialogic pedagogy and liberatory practice.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills, especially in the creation and leadership of democratic, non-hierarchical environments.
• 5 years of experience working in an academic student setting, including housing or student life experience.
• Experience with fundraising.
• Experience/familiarity working with university housing.
• Demonstrated research experience including direct experience with IRB-approved analysis, program assessment, and evaluation.
• Skills in higher education administration, including budget management, supervision of professional and/or student staff, and the ability to lead a team of staff members and affiliated faculty colleagues.
• Expertise in developing student programming and student leadership skills.

Additional Information

Review of applications will be done on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.