Inclusive Excellence Assistant at Whitman College

Whitman College; Walla Walla (WA); Hybrid; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Whitman College seeks a student assistant for Inclusive Excellence Identity and Belonging. The role supports development and implementation of programs across LGBTQIA+ Student Services, 3SC, GAIC, RSL, and Title IX. You will collaborate with staff to promote events, manage communications, and assist with center operations.

You will gain hands-on experience in DEIBA, event planning, peer support, and inclusive programming while balancing your studies and campus involvement.

Qualifications

• Must be a second-year student enrolled at Whitman College.
• Interest in diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice.
• Willingness to engage across differences in race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, and faith.

Responsibilities

• Assist with center operations, upkeep, and supplies.
• Support students by connecting to campus and community resources.
• Help design, promote, and implement events and workshops.
• Co-facilitate workshops on identity, inclusion, equity, belonging.
• Manage communications via social media and Canva.
• Attend meetings and perform administrative tasks as assigned.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

DEIBA commitment

Team collaboration

Google/Microsoft basics

Time management

Confidentiality

Social media Canva

Education

Second-year student at Whitman College

Tools

Canva

Google Workspace

Job description

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JOB TITLE:Inclusive Excellence Identity and Belonging Student Assistant
PAY RANGE: $17.13-$17.13/hour
START DATE:September 2026

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 1 per specialty area as outlined above for 12 hours/week

JOB PURPOSE
The Division of Inclusive Excellence (IE) at Whitman College is composed of four Identity & Belonging units: LGBTQIA+ Student Services, the Third Space Center (3SC), the Glover Alston Intercultural Center (GAIC), and Religious & Spiritual Life (RSL) as well as Equity & Compliance/Title IX. These units work together and individually to provide cultural and identity-affirming spaces, programming, and educational opportunities for students at Whitman College. Their resources are available to all students while each area centers the needs, histories, and experiences of particular identities across race, spirituality, gender, class, sexual orientation, disability, and more.

Under the Division of Inclusive Excellence and the aligned initiative Director, Identity and Belonging Student Assistants support the development and implementation of programs, communications, and center operations within the Division. Each Student Assistant will be assigned to one of the Identity & Belonging units as their specialty area— LGBTQIA+ Student Services, Third Space Center, Glover Alston Intercultural Center, Religious & Spiritual Life and Equity & Compliance/Title IX while also contributing to division-wide initiatives and cross-unit collaboration. Student Assistants will also work closely alongside the full-time staff person overseeing their specialty area.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

General Duties (All Specialty Areas)

Center Operations & Maintenance

• Assist with opening/closing duties, basic upkeep, and maintaining supplies in assigned centers or areas
• Help ensure centers remain accessible, affirming, and community-oriented environments

Student Support

• Serve as a welcoming and inclusive presence in Identity & Belonging spaces.
• Connect students with appropriate campus and community resources (e.g., Counseling Center, Title IX Office, Food Pantry, Health Center, Victim Advocate).
• Maintain awareness of current campus and community resources, support systems, and identity-affirming spaces.

Program Planning & Implementation

• Support the design, promotion, and implementation of events, workshops, identity dialogues, and cultural celebrations.
• Assist Director with event logistics including space reservations, catering, material preparation, setup/teardown, and on-site support.
• Co-facilitate workshops and dialogues focused on identity, inclusion, equity, and belonging.
• Contribute ideas for new programming and ways to improve existing initiatives.
• Collaborate with campus partners and student affinity groups to support joint events and initiatives.
• Represent Identity & Belonging at visibility events such as Orientation, resource fairs, Welcome Weeks, and admissions programs.
• Build relationships with student organizations to amplify underrepresented student voices and needs.
• Engage in inclusive excellence dialogues with staff, students, and faculty who visit the space.
• Communicate with ASWC and WEB as needed for event planning, social media, and outreach.

Communications & Social Media

• In collaboration with Director, create and schedule social media content (e.g., Instagram posts, stories, takeovers) to promote events and engage the campus community.
• Design flyers, newsletters, and promotional materials using Canva or similar tools.
• Assist Director update website content and maintain shared calendars and communications platforms.

Administrative Support & Teamwork

• Attend regular student staff meetings and 1:1 meetings with the supervising director; contribute to a supportive team culture.
• Assist with administrative tasks including supply inventory, email responses, attendance tracking, data entry, and program assessment.
• Participate in ongoing professional development related to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and access (DEIBA) work.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Specialty Area Duties

In addition to general duties, each Student Assistant will have responsibilities specific to their assigned specialty area, including area-specific projects, partnerships, and programming priorities. Specialty area duties are detailed below.

LGBTQIA+ Student Services

• Staff the Queer Resource Center front desk and help maintain an affirming, community-centered environment.
• Maintain current knowledge of resources and support systems specific to LGBTQIA+ students.
• Support large-scale annual initiatives such as Pride/Coming Out Week, Lavender Graduation, and the Power & Privilege Symposium.
• Develop educational content and social media campaigns that raise visibility for LGBTQIA+ identities and intersectional communities.
• Co-facilitate allyship workshops and LGBTQIA+ identity dialogues for student organizations and campus groups.

Third Space Center

• Assist with facility operations, including opening/closing duties, event support, and space monitoring.
• Support scheduled events with on-site technical assistance and policy enforcement.
• Assist facility users in understanding building policies and utilizing 3SC resources.
• Monitor the use of the space to ensure visitors maintain standards for cleanliness, safety, and sustainability.
• Support programming that fosters cross-identity dialogue, community building, and belonging.

Glover Alston Intercultural Center

• Help create a welcoming environment in the Intercultural Center for students of all cultural backgrounds.
• Support programming and events that affirm and celebrate diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural identities.
• Contribute to large-scale cultural celebrations and awareness initiatives (e.g., Heritage Month programming).
• Assist with outreach to student affinity groups and multicultural organizations to amplify student voices.
• Collaborate with campus partners to design intersectional programming that addresses systemic inequities.
• Support the operations and programming of the All Faiths Room and related spiritual life spaces.
• Help plan and promote interfaith events, spiritual wellness programs, and observances of diverse religious traditions.
• Assist students seeking spiritual community, chaplaincy resources, or connection to faith-based support.
• Develop educational content that fosters understanding and respect for diverse spiritual, religious, and secular identities.
• Engage with campus and local community partners to build an inclusive spiritual life presence at Whitman.

Equity & Compliance/Title IX

• Assist Coordinator with educational programs
• Table at Campus-wide fairs
• Assist as appropriate with presentations
• Assist with promotional communications via social media

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Individuals must be able to explain and demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Interest in and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice.
• Willingness to engage across differences in race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, and faith.
• Basic familiarity with Google and/or Microsoft platforms (Docs, Sheets, Drive, etc.).
• Time management skills and the ability to balance multiple responsibilities.
• Comfort working independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Familiarity with institutional principles of inclusive excellence and an understanding of bias-related challenges faced by students in higher education.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and uphold student privacy.
• Experience with social media, Canva, or other design tools is a plus but not required.
• Knowledge of or desire to learn about the specific communities served by the assigned specialty area is strongly encouraged.

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED BY STUDENTS IN THIS JOB
Student Programming Assistants will gain direct, hands-on experience in higher education, event planning, peer support, and identity-centered programming. Through this role, students will:

• Develop and build DEIBA-based competencies applicable across professional and civic settings.
• Strengthen interpersonal skills and practice effective collaboration with people from varied backgrounds.
• Enhance time management, organizational, and multi-tasking skills.
• Gain experience in program planning, marketing, and community outreach.
• Build fluency in equity and justice frameworks.
• Develop communication and facilitation skills through workshops, events, and public-facing programming.
• Contribute meaningfully to campus culture and engage with historically underrepresented communities in a professional setting.
• Strengthen reflective listening, advocacy, and leadership competencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be at least a second-year student currently enrolled at Whitman College.
• Must be in good academic standing.
• Students identifying within the communities served by their assigned specialty area are encouraged to apply.

SUPERVISOR:One of the following Directors: LGBTQIA + Student Services, Interfaith Chaplain & Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, Director of First-generation and Working Class Program, Director of Equity & Compliance/Title IX Coordinator
DATE POSTED:August 18, 2026