Director of Diversity & Outreach

Summary of Position

Reporting to the Dean, School of Law, and serving as a member of the Dean's senior staff, the Director of Diversity and Outreach develops, implements, and evaluates a comprehensive strategy to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at Roger Williams Law School. The Director works with the Dean, members of the Law School, and University staff, faculty, alumni, and the Board of Directors to implement Roger Williams Law School's Strategic Plan for Diversity & Inclusion. The Director provides programmatic, personal, social, and cultural support to diverse students and oversees institutional programs highlighting topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the Law School and in the legal profession, while serving as a liaison between diverse students and other departments within the School of Law.

Diversity and Outreach

Develop, implement, and evaluate Roger Williams Law School's Strategic Plan for Diversity & Inclusion.

Chair the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan Steering Committee (DISC), comprised of members of the law school staff, faculty, students, alumni, and Board of Directors members, which is charged with monitoring progress towards the institution's identified diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

Design and implement multi-faceted support services and programs for students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession to enhance their academic and professional success in law school.

Provide advice and support to students on academic progress, professional development opportunities, community resources, and other areas.

Coordinate with other Law School and University departments as appropriate in assisting students.

In conjunction with faculty and administrative advisors, provide institutional support and guidance for affinity group organizations including Black Law Student Association, Latino Law Student Association, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, Multi-cultural Law Student Association, American Indian Law Students Association and the LGBT Alliance.

Develop and cultivate relationships and partnerships with local and national organizations that support diversity in the legal profession including Thurgood Marshall Law Society of Rhode Island and RI Hispanic Bar Association.

Through external relationships, champion support of RWU law students and the Law School's diversity and inclusion goals.

Oversee School of Law sponsorship of, and attendance at, community events that support the Law School's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Serve as the School of Law representative at community events, as appropriate.

Supervise attorney mentor programs between these organizations and student affinity-based organizations. 

Recruitment and Pipeline Efforts

Partner with the Office of Admissions to develop and implement strategies to enroll students from traditionally underrepresented populations and to evaluate the success of these efforts.

Develop and oversee pipeline programs and projects with high schools, colleges, and community groups targeting students from groups underrepresented in the legal profession to encourage them to consider legal careers. Existing pipeline program activities include annual Law Day Events and the Diversity Symposium Dinner.

Attend targeted recruiting events and conferences on behalf of the School of Law and engage with prospective applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups who are considering applying to and/or enrolling at the School of Law.

Event Management

Plan and oversee events within the School of Law that promote and highlight diversity including key institutional events including, but not limited to, the annual Diversity Symposium Dinner, the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration week, the Thurgood Marshall Memorial Lecture, and the Stonewall Lecture Series.

Co-direct the Pre-Orientation LEAD Program designed to assist BIPOC and First-generation students in their transition to law school.

Encourage participation in events by students traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession.

Additional Functions

Manage departmental budget, including sponsorship of community events.

Serve as a member of the Dean's senior staff.

Requirements:

J.D. from an ABA accredited law school, or a master's degree in a higher education administration.

Minimum seven years of relevant work experience in higher-educational administration or in the legal profession.

Minimum seven years of direct experience in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Superior interpersonal and communication skills, including presentation skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse constituencies and cross-culturally on sensitive topics.

Ability to appropriately represent the School of Law at recruitment and student events.

Excellent organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in diversity programming in a university or law school setting.

Experience with or knowledge of the legal field.

At the University's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be accepted where the candidate can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the University, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Salaries for new hires at Roger Williams University usually fall between the minimum and midpoint salary ranges.
For this position, that is $74,735- $91,831.