Director of Student Success and Retention

The Director of Student Success and Retention plays a pivotal role in promoting student persistence, academic achievement, and professional growth within the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Embedded in the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, this position combines data-informed retention strategies with personalized academic coaching to support students’ holistic success. Through proactive outreach, skill-building interventions, and close collaboration with faculty and campus resources, the Director fosters a supportive learning environment aligned with the school’s mission and ACPE accreditation standards.

For more information regarding this position, please contact Dr. Mary Kennedy, Dean, School of Pharmacy at [email protected]. QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Training

• •Masters degree in education, counseling, pharmacy education, student affairs, or a related field required
• •Previous experience in higher education student support, academic coaching, retention initiatives, or advising is highly desirable.
• •Familiarity with pharmacy education, professional licensure processes, and experiential learning is a strong advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• •Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport, foster trust, and communicate with empathy and discretion.
• •Strong analytic skills to interpret student data and generate meaningful reports.
• •Proven organizational and project management capabilities, with attention to detail and follow-through.
• •Experience with student information systems and early-alert platforms.
• •Comfort and effectiveness in delivering presentations and facilitating workshops.
• •Collaborative, student-centered approach with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

Proactive Student Success Coaching & Support

• •Monitor student academic progress, engagement, and well-being to identify students at risk of academic or professional challenges early.
• •Provide tailored academic coaching, including time management, study strategies, exam preparation, and professional development guidance.
• •Serve as the primary advisor for second-year pre-pharmacy students, offering academic planning, professional guidance, and support to ensure a strong foundation for progression into the PharmD program.
• •Facilitate group workshops and individual sessions on wellness, resilience, communication skills, and navigating the rigors of pharmacy education.
• •Develop and implement individualized success plans in partnership with students, empowering them to overcome barriers and optimize their academic performance.
• •Serve as a trusted advocate and mentor for students, promoting self-efficacy and responsible decision-making.

Academic Collaboration & Campus Resource Integration

• •Partner closely with faculty to implement early-alert systems, review academic performance data, and coordinate timely intervention efforts.
• •Act as a liaison connecting students to essential campus support services, including tutoring, counseling, accessibility accommodations, financial aid, and experiential education offices.
• •Participate in orientation programming and cohort-building initiatives to enhance student integration, community, and belonging within the school.

Retention Data Analysis & Strategic Reporting

• •Collect, maintain, and analyze key retention and academic performance metrics such as progression rates, leave/withdrawal patterns, and re-entry trends.
• •Use data insights to inform continuous improvement efforts, providing actionable recommendations to school leadership for policy and program enhancements.
• •Prepare detailed reports and presentations on retention outcomes, student success trends, and intervention efficacy.

Curriculum Awareness & Professional Development Support

• •Maintain a working knowledge of the pharmacy curriculum, experiential learning requirements, and licensure preparation benchmarks to align student support services accordingly.
• •Offer informal coaching on clinical readiness, professional conduct, and experiential placement preparation.
• •Support students’ transition through critical academic milestones with guidance tailored to pharmacy education demands.

Administrative & Committee Leadership

• •Maintain confidential and accurate records related to student outreach, success plans, and retention activities.
• •Perform additional duties as assigned by the Dean and/or Assistant/Associate Dean of Student and Professional Affairs.

Other duties as assigned

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Reports to Dean, School of Pharmacy

Physical & Environmental Factors

• •Primarily office-based with regular interactions across multiple stakeholders including students, faculty, and campus partners.
• •Occasional travel to pharmacy labs, simulation centers, and experiential sites.
• •Some evening and weekend commitments may be necessary to support programming and student needs.
• •Ability to manage fluctuating demands, deadlines, and emergent student situations with flexibility and professionalism.

Work Environment

• •Collaborative academic environment within the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy.
• •Access to resources supporting student wellness, professional development, and experiential learning.
• •Dynamic setting requiring engagement in both traditional office spaces and clinical experiential sites.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should attach in one single document : a resume, cover letter, and professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.