Program Coordinator of the Black Cultural Center

Berea-College; Berea (KY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Berea College seeks a Program Coordinator for the Black Cultural Center to plan, implement, and evaluate programs supporting Black students. You will work with the Center and Work College Program to align leadership initiatives and embed learning outcomes into student experiences.

You will supervise student mentors, connect with RSOs, and lead onboarding and training for BCC student leaders while advancing retention and academic success for underrepresented students.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Black/African American Studies, History, Culture, or related field.
• 2–3 years of leadership experience in an education setting, preferably higher education.
• Direct experience in program coordination and student support for students of color.

Responsibilities

• Plan, implement, facilitate, execute, and evaluate social, education, and developmental programs for the Black Cultural Center.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop students in the Work College Program to support learning and career readiness.
• Embed learning outcomes into the Work Learning Service student work experience with targeted outcomes.
• Create an annual programming calendar and plan monthly Kula Kusoma events.
• Teach AFR 100: Models & Mentors for Success (min two courses/year) and advise students with The NEST.
• Assess program effectiveness and report on engagement, retention, and academic outcomes.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Administrative skills

Organizational skills

Vision and process design

Multicultural understanding

Education

Master's degree in Black/African American Studies or related field

Job description

Reporting to the Director of the Black Cultural Center (BCC), the Program Coordinator is responsible for planning, implementing, facilitating, executing, and evaluating social, education, and developmental programs for the BCC. This position is uniquely positioned to pair academic instruction and advising with intrusive wraparound student support services that will improve retention, persistence, and completion for Black, African, and African American students at Berea College. The Program Coordinator will also work directly with the Assistant Director to ensure that Center programs and events align with leadership initiatives and the Work‑Learning‑Service (WLS) student team to embed targeted learning outcomes into the student work experience, preparing students to make positive contributions to the campus community and beyond.

Following long‑standing tradition and practice at Berea College, this position includes responsibility for supervising, mentoring, and developing students in the College's integrated Work College Program. This supports student learning, career readiness, and the program's learning goals and outcomes. The Work College Program provides a developmental framework that guides student learning while creating a structured mentorship opportunity, with role‑specific training that equips faculty and staff mentors to support student development. Faculty and staff mentors play an essential part in helping students connect their work‑learning‑service experiences with broader academic, professional, and personal development. For faculty, this aligns with Berea's tenure and promotion criteria.

Program Coordination & Event Management – 30%

• Plan, implement, facilitate, execute, and evaluate programs and events to ensure Black students have appropriate access to new knowledge, supportive resources, community building, and other targeted outcomes.
• Ensure that programs are communicated internally and externally through appropriate marketing channels, providing equitable engagement for all Black Cultural Center programs, initiatives, and events.
• Embed learning outcomes directly into the WLS student work experience, creating opportunities for Black students to gain hands‑on experience with event coordination and planning.
• Create a programming calendar each academic year, ensuring equitable access for students to engage with BCC programs and initiatives.
• Plan and facilitate a monthly Kula Kusoma event, providing students with the opportunity to engage with Berea alumni through meaningful dialogue and relevant topics of discussion.

Advising, Teaching, and Lesson Planning – 20%

• Teach a minimum of two courses per Academic Year (Fall/Spring), including but not limited to AFR 100: Models & Mentors for Success, in collaboration with the African and African American Studies department.
• Serve as an Academic Advisor to a student caseload in collaboration with The NEST (Navigating Engagement, Success, and Transition): Student Success Central.

Student Engagement & Support – 20%

• Facilitate “The Collective,” a monthly discussion group for Black students, creating intentional spaces for students to bridge gaps amongst the diaspora, providing opportunities for students to engage in conversations while maintaining a safe, productive learning environment.
• Engage and collaborate with the African Student Association (ASA), Black Student Union (BSU), and other Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) through programmatic efforts and intentional collaboration.
• Serve and support students participating in BME, including Black students, Latinx students, Appalachian and Non‑Appalachian White students, LGBTQIA+ students, and others who find community through the ensemble.
• Assist the Director and Assistant Director with leading onboarding and training sessions for BCC student leaders, including WLS student team members, Registered Student Organizations, and others, as assigned.

Administrative Operations – 10%

• Assist the Director in managing the Center budget, spaces, and resources, particularly as it pertains to the programming budget allocated to educational experiences, cultural competencies, and initiative specific priorities.

Marketing & Outreach – 10%

• Serve on campus‑wide committees, as assigned, to broaden the involvement and advocacy for the Black Cultural Center and the Black student experience.

Assessment & Reporting – 5%

• Assess effectiveness of assigned programs and services through comprehensive data reporting to track engagement, retention, and academic outcomes.

Departmental and Divisional Projects – 5%

• Complete all duties as assigned by the Director, Assistant Director, Associate Vice President or Vice President.

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• A master's degree in Black/African American Studies, History, Culture, or a related field with an emphasis on people, culture, and community engagement.

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• 2-3 years of primary leadership experience in an education setting, preferably higher education, working directly with students in a multicultural or diversity affairs‑related position.
• Direct experience in program coordination and student support, especially for students of color.

Special Skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Exemplary oral and written communication skills.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills.
• Ability to facilitate, delegate, and create a vision and processes to be implemented with targeted outcomes.
• Thorough familiarity with theory, research, and practice in student engagement and success, and in multicultural understanding, especially as focused on race and interracial understanding.
• Ability to design and implement meaningful and high‑quality co‑curricular programs for students.
• Deep personal commitment to multicultural understanding.

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid driver's license preferred.
• Required background checks.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to navigate campus/public buildings and grounds.
• Ability to travel independently by car and/or plane.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 lbs.

Environmental conditions:

• Professional office environment with interruptions and noise due to frequent visitors, students, staff and faculty.
• Occasional travel is required for meetings, conferences, etc.

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• Standard office equipment: computer, fax, phone, etc.
• Media equipment.
• College‑operated cars, minivans, or 12/15‑passenger vans.