Executive Director - Illinois Center for Education Equity

Executive Director - Illinois Center for Education Equity





The Opportunity 



Chicago State University’s Institute for Solutions of Urban Populations seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as the Executive Director for the Illinois Center for Education Equity. The Director must be a highly- skilled, experienced, and innovative leader with higher education policy expertise who will serve as the Center’s chief champion and strategist on partnerships, research, and initiatives. The Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) is a statewide collaboration between public universities and community colleges to improve the state’s economy through innovation, research, and education. Each university selects an area of focus; CSU’s hub, called the Institute for Solutions for Urban Populations, is focusing on the social determinants of health. A graphic below depicts the Institute’s bodies of work. 



 





 

The Illinois Center for Education Equity is addressing the state’s crisis in connecting Black and Latine communities to a college degree through research, policy, and practice driven by diverse stakeholders. The statewide initiative will convene employers, the secondary and postsecondary education systems, faculty, students, legislators, philanthropy, and community-based institutions to collect data and release research that tracks Illinois’ progress with supporting Black and Latine students and to identify policies and practices that diverse stakeholders must deploy to eliminate the equity gap for Illinois’ students of color.

The Institute for Solutions of Urban Populations is a matrix position jointly housed within CSU’s Provost Office and the Office of External Affairs. The Center Executive Director will report to the Vice President of External Affairs with coordination with the Offices of the Provost and President.



Overview of the Illinois Center for Education Equity 



Challenge: In 2020 Chicago State University (CSU) convened the Equity Working Group for Black Student Access and Success in Illinois Higher Education in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and data showing a significant 37% decline in Black student enrollment in Illinois higher education. Additionally, Black students in Illinois who do enroll in college are significantly less likely than their white peers to be retained by institutions and to complete with a degree or credentials. In short, Black students are failed in every way by the higher education system according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education. 







Solution: The Illinois Center for Education Equity is using policy, practice, and research to advance an Action Plan for Black Student Access & Success in Illinois’ Higher Education System. The Action Plan was created by leaders across Illinois from K-12 school systems and postsecondary education institutions, nonprofit organizations and government agencies, the private sector, philanthropy, faith institutions, and other community-based organizations. The multi-year, cross-industry Action Plan outlines actionable solutions to address systemic racism in higher education policies, practices and institutions through collective efforts and advances recommendations on how to improve higher education and professional outcomes for Black students.



The Center uses the following strategies:

1. Research & Data: Generate research and data that illustrates progress and thought leadership on how the sectors can continually improving access and support for Black students,


2. Policy & Practice: Develop policy research and recommendations for individual constituencies and statewide change that can occur with policy and practice changes,


3. Cross-Sector Collaboration: Facilitate and initiate cross-sector collaboration critical to the sharing of best practices and the dismantling of isolated work taking place within individual siloes.

The Center was launched in 2023. The Center has hosted two annual conferences and is guided by an Advisory Board consisting of leaders across Illinois in secondary and postsecondary education, civil rights, private, and philanthropic sectors.



Areas of Responsibility for the Executive Director



Chicago State University seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as the Director of the Illinois Center for Education Equity. The director must be a highly skilled, experienced, and innovative leader who will serve as the Center’s chief strategist on projects and initiatives. 



The director is responsible for developing, communicating, and executing strategies for the sustainable growth and advancement of projects and initiatives as identified by the Action Plan created by the Equity Working Group for Black Student Access and Success in Illinois Higher Education and the Center’s Advisory Committee. The director must possess an in-depth understanding of emerging research and policy trends in higher education areas. The director must have demonstrated knowledge and practice in successful development, communication, and execution of programming and events, as well as work collaboratively with partners and experts across industries such as education, non-profits and philanthropic, business/corporate, and community-based organizations.





Primary Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:



Center Leadership & Positioning

• Developing and executing comprehensive implementation plans for projects and initiatives, in alignment with the mission and priorities of the Center and Institute


• Secure funding that covers the cost of the Center’s operations by optimizing use of available federal, state, institutional, and private resources


• Hire and manage Center staff; Center currently has a Research Manager

Cross-Sector Partnerships

• Develop and manage critical relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including high school and postsecondary agencies and institutions, employers, student success organizations, higher education subject matter experts and policy makers to achieve implementation of projects and initiatives achieve implementation of projects and initiatives.


• Develop and manage an Advisory Committee, and subcommittees as needed, that fosters the Center’s success


• Connecting with CSU departments and units, such as Academic Affairs or External Affairs, to fully understand vision and direction for project development and implementation

Research

• Conducting and releasing research that contributes new understanding of dynamics impacting Black and Latinx students in Illinois’ higher education system and solutions for closing the education attainment divide


• Identifying target audiences and developing tailored engagement strategies to achieve project goals


• Bringing innovation, a fresh perspective, and a willingness to engage beyond traditional approaches in order to advance projects and initiatives

Policies & Systems Change

• Developing and integrating coalition building, communication, and policy enactment plans to achieve implementation of projects and initiatives. This includes educating a wide-range of decision-makers on key policies and practices to close the education divide, including legislators, education system leaders (including state agencies, school districts, postsecondary institutions), and employers. 

Desired Professional Experiences / Qualifications:

• A minimum of five years at a senior-level administrative level in advocacy roles, non-profit management, or related fields


• Knowledgeable of best practices and current trends in higher education, ideally in the  needs of Black and/or Latinx students


• Demonstrated leadership in ‘systems-change’ work, whether it is through policy change at an agency or institution or legislative engagement


• Experience with conducting research that advances an understanding of systems’ challenges and potential solutions


• Highly efficient, effective and results-oriented individual with strong business acumen


• Experience working with governing and advisory boards for alignment of strategic priorities 


• Proven experience leading, motivating, and managing coalitions of support


• Excellent interpersonal skills and a communication style that can drive consensus building with internal and external constituents


• Experience with fundraising and grant management

Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required; a master’s or doctoral degree is preferred.



Salary: The position’s salary range is $120,000 - $135,000 depending on experience and credentials.