Assistant Director of International Student Engagement

Wesleyan University•Middletown, CT

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of International Student Affairs (OISA), within the Division of Student Affairs, supports Wesleyan’s international student community through immigration advising, orientation, co-curricular programming, and community-building initiatives. OISA provides F-1 and J-1 visa advising, Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) compliance, employment and travel authorization, and document services, while also fostering intercultural engagement, leadership development, and student success. Reporting to the Director of OISA, the Assistant Director of International Student Engagement leads the planning, implementation, and assessment of programs and events that support international student transition, belonging, and success. Key programs include International Student Orientation (ISO), International Buddy Program (IBP), Wesleyan Africans Thriving Together (WATT), and Wesleyan International Speakers Program (WISP). The Assistant Director also advises F-1 and J-1 international students and serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO), including processing requests in Terra Dotta, updating SEVIS records, issuing I-20s and DS-2019s, and supporting SEVIS registration each semester. As a member of the OISA team, the Assistant Director supports the office’s mission through the following responsibilities :

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and minimum of three years of experience working in international student services, international education, international admissions, student aﬀairs, or a closely related ﬁeld or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience; student experience will be considered.
Demonstrated experience and expertise in planning, coordinating, and assessing programs and events.
Basic understanding of F-1 and J-1 visa regulations or willingness to develop knowledge and expertise in immigration advising.
Eﬀective interpersonal and intercultural communication skills to work with a wide range of constituents including students, parents, staﬀ, faculty, alumni, and community members.
Strong organizational and administrative skills with attention to detail and an elevated level of discretion managing conﬁdential information.
Ability to provide excellent customer service while ﬁnding solutions to complex problems and managing competing demands.
Demonstrated experience and competency working both independently and collaboratively in a professional setting.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with senior colleagues and incorporate feedback and guidance to support professional self-growth.
Willingness to work a ﬂexible schedule including occasional nights and weekends for programs and events.
Ability to meet all the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requirements to serve as a DSO and ARO.

Nice To Haves

One year or more of experience using SEVIS as a DSO and/or ARO and advising a caseload of F-1 and/or J-1 status international students.
Demonstrated command of F-1 and/or J-1 immigration regulations.
Professional experience using Terra Dotta and Workday systems.
Knowledge of best practices in intentional program design and experience developing, coordinating, and assessing orientation and co-curricular initiatives for international students.
Professional experience developing and facilitating workshops for students, staﬀ and/or faculty and training students to serve in leadership roles.
Participation and/or leadership experience in professional development organizations related to international student services and/or international education such as NAFSA.
Proﬁciency in a language(s) other than English.
Experience living, studying, and/or working abroad.
Advanced degree from an accredited institution in international education, intercultural studies, student affairs or a related ﬁeld.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, implementation, and assessment of International Student Orientation (ISO), including hiring, training, and supervising student leaders. with support from OISA professional staﬀ colleagues. Represent OISA on the Summer Planning Committee and collaborate with campus partners supporting New Student Orientation (NSO) and First Things First (FTF).
Coordinate the planning, implementation, and assessment of OISA’s annual mentorship and longitudinal transition support programs, International Buddy Program (IBP) and Wesleyan Africans Thriving Together (WATT).
Recruit, train, and support student participants in the Wesleyan International Speakers Program (WISP) and expand community engagement.
Lead the planning and implementation of the annual International Student Graduation Celebration with support from OISA professional staff colleagues.
Oversee break programming for international students during Thanksgiving, winter, and summer periods, including planning activities and hiring, onboarding, and supervising student coordinators.
Plan and facilitate community-building events for international students throughout the year.
Lead the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of international student programs and events, embedding leadership development, intercultural learning, and DEIB principles.
Evaluate programs using student feedback, benchmarking, and best practices to improve effectiveness and impact.
Develop and maintain partnerships with campus offices, student groups, and institutional initiatives to enhance the reach and impact of OISA’s engagement efforts and support Wesleyan’s internationalization strategy.
Track program data and analyze outcomes to support reporting, assessment, and continuous improvement of OISA programs and events.
Serve as a Wesleyan DSO and ARO, utilizing SEVIS and Terra Dotta to maintain student records and issue immigration documents.
Provide immigration advising for F-1 and J-1 status international students, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and institutional policies while supporting student success and referrals.
Support OISA’s SEVIS Registration process at the start of the fall and spring semesters.
Maintain current knowledge of federal changes and broaden immigration knowledge by utilizing resources provided by NAFSA and other organizations and consulting OISA senior colleagues.
Manage administrative and operational processes for OISA programs, including maintaining SOPs, overseeing budgets and expenses, and hiring, onboarding, and supervising student employees.
Communicate and collaborate with international students, student staff, campus partners, and OISA colleagues to support programs, initiatives, and student engagement.
Contribute to the development and delivery of OISA communications, including newsletters, email messaging, and digital content for incoming and current international students as well as international alumni.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Wesleyan offers a broad range of employee benefits and development opportunities, including comprehensive group insurance plans, wellness programs and incentives, generous paid time off and retirement plans, flexible work schedules, employee and dependent tuition programs for those who qualify.
Detailed information on the benefits of working at Wesleyan is located at: https://wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/prospective-resources.html

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume