Access Educational Advisors, LLC
Director of College Transition and Alumni Relations
Access Educational Advisors, LLC, Plainfield, New Jersey, United States, 07060
Director Of College Transition & Alumni Relations
The Director of College Transition & Alumni Relations plays a critical role in ensuring the postsecondary success of our scholars by providing personalized support as they transition from high school to college and persist through to college graduation. This role bridges the gap between high school and higher education, with a strong focus on developing relationships, addressing challenges, and cultivating a college-going and college-completing culture. In the early years of the role, this position will also serve as the Alumni Relations Coordination, responsible for maintaining meaningful connections with graduates and fostering a supportive alumni network. Key Responsibilities
College Transition (7th Grade through Freshman Year) Develop and implement individual transition plans for middle school students moving to high school and graduating seniors, in partnership with the college counseling team. Host pre-college readiness workshops and summer bridge programming to prepare scholars socially, emotionally, and academically. Serve as the main point of contact for 12th grade college scholars transitioning to incoming college freshmen to ensure a smooth transition. Assist scholars with financial aid verification, course registration, housing, and other onboarding processes. College Persistence (Freshman Year through Graduation) Maintain regular communication (calls, texts, emails, campus visits) with alumni in college to monitor academic progress, wellness, and financial stability. Track student performance using a post-secondary tracking system (e.g., National Student Clearinghouse, Alumni Management Software). Intervene and support students facing academic, financial, or personal challenges with referrals, resources, and direct coaching. Partner with colleges' support services and foster relationships with higher ed institutions to advocate for students' needs. Conduct data analysis and report on college persistence and graduation rates. Alumni Engagement Build and manage an alumni database and communication plan. Organize alumni events (networking mixers, panels, community service). Collect and share alumni success stories to celebrate achievements and inspire current students. Create opportunities for alumni to give back through mentoring, volunteering, or speaking engagements. Qualifications
Bachelor's degree required; Master's in education, counseling, or related field preferred. 2+ years of experience in college access, success programming, student support services, or youth development. Deep knowledge of college admissions, financial aid, and higher education persistence strategies. Demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships with first-generation college students. Exceptional communication, organization, and follow-through skills. Willingness to travel for campus visits and occasional evening/weekend work. Passion for educational equity and belief in the long-term success of all scholars. Preferred Competencies
Experience with alumni relations or community building. Familiarity with college tracking platforms (e.g., Naviance, Salesforce, Trellis, Overgrad). Bilingual (English/Spanish or other) a plus. Compensation And Benefits
Competitive salary commensurate with experience Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, retirement, etc.) Professional development opportunities A mission-driven, supportive team environment
The Director of College Transition & Alumni Relations plays a critical role in ensuring the postsecondary success of our scholars by providing personalized support as they transition from high school to college and persist through to college graduation. This role bridges the gap between high school and higher education, with a strong focus on developing relationships, addressing challenges, and cultivating a college-going and college-completing culture. In the early years of the role, this position will also serve as the Alumni Relations Coordination, responsible for maintaining meaningful connections with graduates and fostering a supportive alumni network. Key Responsibilities
College Transition (7th Grade through Freshman Year) Develop and implement individual transition plans for middle school students moving to high school and graduating seniors, in partnership with the college counseling team. Host pre-college readiness workshops and summer bridge programming to prepare scholars socially, emotionally, and academically. Serve as the main point of contact for 12th grade college scholars transitioning to incoming college freshmen to ensure a smooth transition. Assist scholars with financial aid verification, course registration, housing, and other onboarding processes. College Persistence (Freshman Year through Graduation) Maintain regular communication (calls, texts, emails, campus visits) with alumni in college to monitor academic progress, wellness, and financial stability. Track student performance using a post-secondary tracking system (e.g., National Student Clearinghouse, Alumni Management Software). Intervene and support students facing academic, financial, or personal challenges with referrals, resources, and direct coaching. Partner with colleges' support services and foster relationships with higher ed institutions to advocate for students' needs. Conduct data analysis and report on college persistence and graduation rates. Alumni Engagement Build and manage an alumni database and communication plan. Organize alumni events (networking mixers, panels, community service). Collect and share alumni success stories to celebrate achievements and inspire current students. Create opportunities for alumni to give back through mentoring, volunteering, or speaking engagements. Qualifications
Bachelor's degree required; Master's in education, counseling, or related field preferred. 2+ years of experience in college access, success programming, student support services, or youth development. Deep knowledge of college admissions, financial aid, and higher education persistence strategies. Demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships with first-generation college students. Exceptional communication, organization, and follow-through skills. Willingness to travel for campus visits and occasional evening/weekend work. Passion for educational equity and belief in the long-term success of all scholars. Preferred Competencies
Experience with alumni relations or community building. Familiarity with college tracking platforms (e.g., Naviance, Salesforce, Trellis, Overgrad). Bilingual (English/Spanish or other) a plus. Compensation And Benefits
Competitive salary commensurate with experience Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, retirement, etc.) Professional development opportunities A mission-driven, supportive team environment