Student Diversity Officer (SOD)
Job Description
This role supports students’ academic and professional development through a scaffolded three-year leadership experience focused on campus engagement, communication, program development, assessment, and community-building work.
In Year 1, students build foundational skills through outreach, event support, communications, and student engagement initiatives. In Year 2, students take on increased leadership responsibilities through project coordination, peer engagement, workshop support, and communication efforts. In Year 3, students serve as senior student leaders with responsibility for project leadership, mentorship, facilitation, assessment, and strategic initiative support.
Across all three years, students strengthen leadership, communication, collaboration, and career readiness skills through mentorship and hands-on professional experience.
Year 1
Responsibility/Function
The Student Diversity Officer (SDO) position is designed as a three-year leadership development experience in which students progressively expand their responsibility, leadership capacity, and professional skills through mentorship and hands-on campus engagement work connected to the Division of Equity and Inclusion and the Community Starts With Me, Thrives With Us campaign.
In Year 1, students build foundational professional skills by supporting student engagement initiatives, outreach efforts, event coordination, communications, and assessment activities. Students gain experience in professional communication, teamwork, program development, campus engagement, and community-building practices.
Year 2
Responsibility/Function
In Year 2, the SDO takes on expanded leadership responsibilities through project coordination, peer engagement, and increased ownership of programs and initiatives. Students co-lead campus programs, support outreach and communication efforts, assist with workshop facilitation, contribute to assessment activities, and help mentor newer student leaders. Students strengthen skills in leadership, public speaking, peer education, strategic communication, program coordination, and data-informed decision-making.
Year 3
Responsibility/Function
In Year 3, the SDO serves as a senior student leader within the Division of Equity and Inclusion with significant responsibility for project leadership, mentorship, and strategic initiative support. Students lead student-centered initiatives and campaign efforts, mentor newer SDOs, facilitate workshops and dialogue-based programs, contribute to strategic planning and assessment activities, and represent the Division in campus meetings and signature programs. Students strengthen skills in advanced leadership, facilitation, strategic planning, assessment, supervision, professional communication, and career readiness.
*Students are prohibited from driving during work-study employment with the limited exception of authorized work-study driver positions.