Assistant Director

ABOUT US The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society�s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has a campus in Aspen, CO, as well as an international network of partners. COLLEGE EXCELLENCE PROGRAM The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) aims to strengthen higher education leadership and practice to improve student outcomes�with the ultimate goal of advancing economic mobility and developing talent for the good of each individual and society as a whole. We support this mission through multiple programs, including the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the American Talent Initiative, the Aspen Presidents and Rising Presidents Fellowships, Unlocking Opportunity, and a range of transfer initiatives designed to improve bachelor�s attainment for students who start in community college. Each year, our work engages hundreds of college leaders (and often teams) at universities and community colleges that educate millions of students nationwide. For more information, visit highered.aspeninstitute.org or find us on LinkedIn. ABOUT THIS ROLE Community colleges are one of America's greatest engines of opportunity. They enroll nearly six million undergraduates�roughly 40 percent of all college students�and serve the majority of the nation�s low-income students. They act as a primary backbone for workforce preparation and provide the most affordable, accessible on-ramp to bachelor�s degrees that lead to sustained economic mobility. Their impact is especially pronounced in regions where they operate as anchor institutions for local economies. For 15 years, Aspen has worked to ensure that community colleges fulfill their promise by delivering the education students need to succeed in the next stage of their lives�earning credentials that lead directly to jobs with family-sustaining wages or provide a strong path to transfer and a bachelor's degree. With a staff of nearly 40, Aspen has built its impact and credibility through four means: identifying and elevating community colleges that achieve excellent student outcomes, researching and publishing the practices that drive those outcomes, developing presidents and other leaders capable of leading successful student-outcome reforms, and working with teams to advance transformational reforms. Through this work, Aspen engages hundreds of college leaders and practitioners each year at institutions that educate millions of students nationwide. To advance its mission, Aspen is seeking a strategic and collaborative Assistant Director to manage a body of work funded by the Kern Family Foundation and coordinate the implementation of grant objectives. Reporting to the Director of Leadership and Field Engagement, the Assistant Director will work closely with Aspen�s senior team and other colleagues to integrate character development into our portfolios. This will both advance highly effective community college leadership and improve student outcomes (1) during community college, through learning and completion; and (2) after college, through bachelor�s attainment and employment with sustaining wages. Because this work cuts across multiple projects, the Assistant Director will collaborate with internal teams and external partners, including researchers, community college presidents, boards of trustees, and national association staff. The Assistant Director will identify, test, and scale the leadership practices and student-centered strategies�including those related to character development�that drive student success during and after college. The role focuses on how presidential leadership, student advising, and program design can accelerate graduation, transfer, and workforce success. Working across Aspen's projects and netw…