GA Pre-Professional - Latin American and Latino Studies Program - Fall 2026/Spring 2027

Illinois State•Normal, IL

1d•$1,510•Onsite

About The Position

Latin American and Latino/a Studies (LALS) is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry sustained by research and teaching in the social sciences (sociology, anthropology, history, geography, political science among others), education, and the humanities (languages and U.S. Latinx literatures and Latin American writers). The LALS program at ISU is an academic program that services students enrolled in the program, faculty affiliated with the program, and offers year-round activities and events to educate the campus and local communities and promote interdisciplinary studies in this critical field. We align with the mission and vision of the College of Arts and Sciences to prepare students to be global citizens who value diversity. This position provides leadership, planning, and coordination of activities and events for the Latin American and Latino/a Studies program. We have strong community ties that we expect the potential GA will help us to sustain through meetings and other events that foster community links and engagement. The LALS GA will learn the work involved in sustaining a successful interdisciplinary studies program and will deepen their understanding of Latino communities in ways that support graduate studies in any of our affiliated fields of inquiry. This position is ideal for graduate students whose future includes interest and collaboration with Latino communities. Additional Information This position provides leadership, planning, coordination, and management for the Latin American and Latino Studies program 30% Planning, coordination, and operation in the Latin American and Latino Studies Office. This means programming events, communicating with scholars in the field, coordinating with affiliate departments and faculty across campus; assisting with fundraising and grant applications; meeting with community leaders; speaking publicly at meetings representing the program. Ideal candidates should be familiar with Excel and possibly Learn Access, Publisher, and Formstack. 20% Serve as the Program’s liaison to the Multicultural Center, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, African American Studies; consult and develop programs in consultation with the Association for Latin American Students (ALAS), the undergraduate student affinity group, the newly formed organization of Latino graduate students, and CAUSA (the Coalition Advocating for Undocumented Student Achievement). This requires leadership to coordinate student interests with academic programming. 20% Create promotional materials, weekly web content, and news articles to promote campus events and their importance, to make the minor visible to potential students, and to report on the scholarship and achievements of our faculty and students for the program’s webpage, campus news, and our social media accounts. Compose emails and organize meetings among faculty and other interested parties to keep the interdisciplinary community informed and in contact. Introduce speakers at conferences and take a leadership role speaking in community events on behalf of the program. 10% Assist director in developing and maintaining connections with local community groups to develop programming and internship opportunities for LALS minors. 10% Assist director with the curriculum committee and strategic planning to build the program. 10% Prepare and maintain archives of the program’s contributions to the College and University strategic plans. This includes summarizing data and assisting with preparation of budget reports, and assisting with the strategic planning for the program. Update materials about classes and public relations materials related to the minor classes and other parts of the program.

Requirements

Eligible for appointment as per the requirements in the Graduate Assistant Handbook which can be found at http://hr.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/GA_Handbook.pdf
Must be a degree seeking graduate student at Illinois State University in one of the following areas: - Sociology - Anthropology - Communications - History - English - Languages - Literatures and Cultures - Psychology
Students must have stated interest in interdisciplinary Studies of Latin America and Latino/a communities
Resume
Cover Letter
Reference List
Letter of Application

Nice To Haves

Ideal candidates should be familiar with Excel and possibly Learn Access, Publisher, and Formstack.

Responsibilities

Planning, coordination, and operation in the Latin American and Latino Studies Office.
Programming events
Communicating with scholars in the field
Coordinating with affiliate departments and faculty across campus
Assisting with fundraising and grant applications
Meeting with community leaders
Speaking publicly at meetings representing the program.
Serve as the Program’s liaison to the Multicultural Center, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, African American Studies
Consult and develop programs in consultation with the Association for Latin American Students (ALAS), the undergraduate student affinity group, the newly formed organization of Latino graduate students, and CAUSA (the Coalition Advocating for Undocumented Student Achievement)
Create promotional materials, weekly web content, and news articles to promote campus events and their importance, to make the minor visible to potential students, and to report on the scholarship and achievements of our faculty and students for the program’s webpage, campus news, and our social media accounts.
Compose emails and organize meetings among faculty and other interested parties to keep the interdisciplinary community informed and in contact.
Introduce speakers at conferences and take a leadership role speaking in community events on behalf of the program.
Assist director in developing and maintaining connections with local community groups to develop programming and internship opportunities for LALS minors.
Assist director with the curriculum committee and strategic planning to build the program.
Prepare and maintain archives of the program’s contributions to the College and University strategic plans.
Summarizing data and assisting with preparation of budget reports, and assisting with the strategic planning for the program.
Update materials about classes and public relations materials related to the minor classes and other parts of the program.