Directors, Emerson College

Faculty Roles for Directors

Graduate Program Director

Appointed by the Chair, approved by the Graduate Dean. Three year appointment, renewable for a second term. Two course equivalencies per year; summer stipend based on size and scope of responsibility.

Responsibilities

Work with Admissions on special projects re: admission (marketing, webinars, one on one meets, rubrics for reading apps).
Recruit prospective students to the program by participating in graduate admissions events online and in person.
Review and evaluate graduate student applications for acceptance into the program and for merit based fellowships.
Email new students a welcome email; attach department student handbook and other docs.
Attend Orientation Events.
Assist students in the registration process.
Serve as academic advisor for all program students (prospective and current) in response to questions about the program, their path through it, their expectations and time commitment.
Principal point of student contact for all administrative, academic and curricular questions.
Inform students of new courses and professors.
Support students with registration: check for those who need to register, outreach to those who are failing and to those who are MIA.
Make recommendations to the Office of Graduate Studies for all exceptions to graduate policies including course substitutions and waivers, program extensions, leaves of absence, readmission, etc.
Make recommendations for Emerson Employment appointments for students in the program.
Respond to faculty emails (about students, etc.).
Provide guidance/feedback to faculty on course development.
Inform Chair on curricular needs and work with Chair and staff on course scheduling and affiliated faculty recruitment.
Attend department Curriculum Committee meetings and monthly Graduate Council meetings.
Review program Catalog copy for accuracy.
Attend the Hooding Ceremony and Reception.
Work with OISA and the Registrar to ensure grad student success.
Create (working with staff) MFA thesis committees and confirm them with Graduate Studies (WLP).
Manage graduate student thesis awards (WLP).

Director of Curriculum and Administration (Marlboro)

Appointed and evaluated by the Dean. Three year appointment, renewable for a second term. Two course equivalencies per year; $2,000 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Curricular oversight and development for Liberal Arts disciplines, including perspectives and Minors (in coordination with Minor Heads).
Communicate with all faculty (full-time and affiliated) on teaching preferences and plans.
Serve as Chair of the MILAIS Curriculum Committee charged with reviewing all new curricula for alignment with learning goals.
Serve as MILAIS representative on UCC.
Attend monthly Academic Cabinet.
Work on course scheduling for Liberal Arts disciplines in coordination with MILAIS Associate Director.
Hire, mentor and supervise affiliated faculty in Liberal Arts disciplines.
Review syllabi and onboard new first-time faculty.
Have follow-up meetings with faculty members regarding issues from evaluations (i.e. to discuss mid-term feedback or other troubleshooting activities), in coordination with the Dean and DFD.
Coordinates curriculum aspects of the APR.

Director of Faculty Development (Marlboro)

Appointed and evaluated by the Dean. Three year appointment, renewable for a second term. Two course equivalencies per year.

Responsibilities

Oversee searches for new and replacement faculty positions.
Mentor faculty annually, including facilitating neXus mentor/mentee pairs.
Peer observe teaching, in coordination with the MILAIS-DPTC.
Meet with all full-time faculty for work plan discussions.
Evaluate faculty during pre-tenure, tenure, sabbatical and promotion reviews.
In coordination with the DCA, organize a system for the developmental review and engagement of affiliated faculty, including syllabus review, classroom visits and/or developmental meetings with area specific full-time faculty.
Provide feedback on course evaluations and additional mentorship, when needed.
Coordinates faculty aspects of the APR.

Director of IDS (Marlboro)

Appointed by the Dean, in consultation with full-time faculty. Three year appointment, renewable for a second term. Two course equivalencies per year; $2,000 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Oversee student progress and degree completion in the IDS Program.
Meet twice weekly with the Dean and Associate Director and Program Coordinator of MILAIS; once on IDS systems and processes and the other on individual student degree progress and status of applications for Major approval and Capstone approval.
Assist students with IDS planning, application completion, and accessing opportunities related to their IDS major (study abroad, ELA, internships, etc.).
Advise current students in their first three semesters, and informally from then through to graduation (on matters to do with capstone timing, graduation plans, etc.), and meet with potential internal transfers.
Chair the IDS Seminar Committee in over-seeing learning goals and syllabi templates for the MI Seminar courses.
Curricular oversight and development of the IDS major, including meeting with MI course instructors to discuss the course relationship with the IDS program.
Present the IDS Program at Admissions events.
Lead Orientation events for new first-time and transfer students.
Chair the IDS Curriculum Committee; meets weekly throughout the semester to review student Major and Capstone applications.
Member on the Marlboro Institute Community Committee that plans activities and events.
Lead on planning and convener of Bridges trip to Vermont (two nights, three days) once or twice and academic year.
Meet annually with all of Emerson’s Department and Program Chairs to update and clarify Major pathways for IDS students (Department Guidelines); meet throughout the Academic Year as required.
Communicate with any prospective students and their families at various stages of inquiry.
Coordinate with the Academic Advising Center IDS liaison (Laurie Edelman) throughout the Academic Year.
Point person for all-College faculty advisors, capstone sponsors and readers, providing context for how the IDS major works.
Arrange and recruit faculty at all levels of the IDS curriculum; maintain rotation schedule; mentor faculty new to IDS teaching and advising.
Organize faculty to determine IDS class sections; update and distribute student learning outcomes and class syllabus template.
Maintain student records, applications, and more in collaboration with the Associate Director, the Program Coordinator, and the Dean.
Meet with students to determine how study at the Castle, ELA and study abroad can fit into their IDS Major plans.
Organize Senior Capstone Showcase.
Organize annual graduation event.
Coordinate annual awarding of student prizes.
Prepare program self-study for external program review.
Annual update of IDS Faculty and Student Handbooks.
Create and maintain google site for information about IDS and access to forms.
Special Projects, such as working with ITG and Liz Chase and Tyler Rowe to assess options for an ePortfolio for IDS students.

Director of the Honors Program (Marlboro)

Appointed by the MILAIS Dean and Provost. Three year appointment, generally renewable for a second term. Two course equivalencies a year; $2,000 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Represent Honors Program in Open Houses and Picture Yourself at Emerson events.
Recruit and coordinate Honors student speakers to participate in Admissions events.
Communicate with any prospective students/families at various stages of inquiry.
Read and evaluate files for Early and Regular Decision Admission rounds and sophomore application files; work with Financial Aid to determine scholarships.
Coordinate with Advising and run workshops/boot camps pre-registration.
Coordinate Orientation Dinner for incoming FY class, in partnership with Program Manager.
Advise all FY students and sophomores in first semester; informally adviseJuniors and Seniors regarding thesis timing, graduation plans, etc.
Review students with GPA minimums, generate probation letters, work with students in academic distress, work with Financial Aid if students leave Honors.
Arrange/interview/recruit faculty for all levels of curriculum; maintain rotation schedule; mentor faculty new to Honors teaching.
Work with the MILAIS Associate Director to coordinate course scheduling each semester.
Hold faculty meetings at each curricular level and across curricular levels
Review all teaching evaluations and mentor faculty as needed.
Read all Thesis Proposals; participate in each Thesis Review.
Organize faculty to determine thesis class sections; update and distribute thesis class syllabus with new dates each year, and sign and approve all senior theses.
Work with Kasteel Well staff regarding Honors course equivalences and ELA academic staff on any Honors seniors completing their theses at ELA.
Organize Senior Thesis Showcase in partnership with Program Manager (nominees from faculty, coordination with students).
Solicit top student papers from faculty; mentor students interested in submitting abstracts, in paper preparation and conference presentation, and accompany them to National Collegiate Honors Conference; encourage student submission to Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Journal.
Organize Graduation event (or Dinner) in partnership with Program Manager; organize top theses for judging by Senior Thesis Faculty, prizes awarded at dinner.
Invite outside speakers to deliver the Honors lecture each semester and coordinate it.
Gather bi-annual Newsletter items, outreach to alums for spotlights, etc.
Review and update catalog copy and all Honors-related webpages.
Prepare program self-study for external program review.
Chair Honors Advisory Council.
Work with OAA on program and course outcomes and assessment.

Director of the Research Hub

Appointed by the Provost. Two year appointment, renewable. Two course equivalencies per year.

Responsibilities

Oversee research and creative scholarship activities at Emerson College
Develop and organize programming to support faculty research endeavors (spaces for gathering, conversation, community building)
Manage faculty research support opportunities (NCFDD memberships, faculty success program, and Summer Grant Writing workshops)
Organize communications and celebrations (i.e., newsletter, symposium, annual celebration)
Oversee the internal faculty grants program for research and creative scholarship
Work with the Office of Research and Creative Scholarship (ORCS) to build robust pipelines for external grants and awards
Manage the discretionary Hub Fund for Advancing research
Co-chair the faculty development research council
Design and implement supports for student research opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels
Develop a research mentorship program for junior, mid-career, and senior faculty
Work with ORCS & the Library to increase visibility for faculty research
Develop new strategic programming opportunities for research advancement
Serve on the Engel Fund grant review committee
Ensure that research processes, procedures, and systems (IRB review, grants management) are up-to-date and structure to support a thriving faculty culture
Other duties as assigned that help build a thriving and supportive culture at Emerson for faculty research and creative practice

Director of Forensics (School of Communication)

Appointed by the Dean. Annual appointment, renewable. One course equivalency per year; $5,000 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Run weekly team meetings where students share debate prep each week.
Coach each student for at least one 30-45 minute weekly session.
Synthesize ballots to provide students with key takeaways/areas of improvement.
Serve as lead point of contact and organizer of all debate trips; the team travels about once a month.
Determine a season calendar that ensures competition opportunities across all debate formats.
Process student sign-ups, register tournament entries, submit required forms, and pay registration fees.
Attend all weekend tournaments and provide real-time coaching and feedback during competition.
Accompany the team to overnight travel tournaments and coordinate transportation, meals, and lodging.
Hire qualified personnel to fulfill judging obligations, collect tax forms, and coordinate logistics.
Manage the team budget, including submitting reimbursement and payment forms in a timely manner.
Cultivate positive working relationships with administrators, parents/guardians, and students.

Director of the Writing Studies Program (WLP)

Appointed by the Dean and Provost. Three year appointment, renewable for a second term. Two course equivalencies per year; $7,500 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Teach Practicum with graduate Writing Studies instructors (meets three times a month).
Meet with all Writing Studies faculty regarding teaching, professional development, program development, and other Writing Studies related issues.
Observe at least one class session by each new Writing Studies instructor, including assessment of syllabus and assignment sequence, and have a follow up meeting.
Represent the program on WLP and campus-wide committees relevant to Writing Studies.
Assign and schedule teaching for all Writing Studies faculty, including graduate student instructors, in consultation with Academic Affairs and Academic Advising.
Coordinate textbook orders for all Writing Studies faculty.
Convene monthly meetings of senior program faculty.
Oversee and consult with Writing Studies faculty mentors and their mentee instructors.
Organize and chair three full program meetings a year.
Coordinate Writing Studies work with Writing Studies Graduate Student assistant via weekly meetings.
Work with representatives from WARC and Internationalization to support international students.
Meet with faculty and administrators from other programs/departments regarding Writing Across the Curriculum.
Organize and lead multiple professional development workshops for graduate students and affiliated faculty each year (regular topics include CVs, job searches, conference proposals, and high school teaching applications).
Represent Writing Studies at undergraduate and graduate admissions events.
Oversee interviewing and hiring of new graduate student instructors each spring, and new instructor training over the summer.
Prepare program self-study for external program review.

Director of CC100 and Speech Lab (School of Communication)

Appointed by the Dean and Provost. Three year appointment, generally renewable for a second term. Two course equivalencies per year; $7,500 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

CC100

Manage sections of course and guide faculty.
Prepare and manage Canvas course templates and calendars every semester.
Create semester course schedules.
Hire, train, and mentor affiliated faculty and peer speech consultants.
Liaise with various college constituencies for the course including Academic Affairs Instructional Technology, Library, Media Services, Student Success, Career Development, Writing and Academic Resource Center, and Academic Assessment.
Plan and deliver an annual day-long faculty workshop.
Represent the program at national conferences and participate in panels.
Prepare program self-study for external program review.

Speech Lab

Hire and train peer consultants.
Create and maintain training documents, policies and procedures.
Work with peer consultants to develop workshop curriculum and plan events.
Communicate about events and lab services with various stakeholders.
Maintain the website.
Represent the lab at national conferences.

Director of the Comedic Arts Program (School of the Arts)

Appointed by the Dean. Annual appointment, renewable. Two course equivalencies per year; $5,000 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Oversee all programming (curricular, events, etc.) and work with School of the Arts chairs on scheduling department faculty teaching in Comedic Arts.
Oversee and edit website and catalog content.
Fundraise/collaborate with college administrators to identify possible donors.
Chair the Comedy Committee to assist in developing the program and the Comedic Arts Center.
Develop and maintain strategic partnerships.
Foster and maintain relationships with Comedic Arts alumni.
Field build by connecting with comedic scholars and practitioners.
Collaborate with faculty and college administrators to sustain and grow the program and brand the Center for Comedic Arts.

Emerson Stage Artistic Director (Performing Arts)

Appointed by the Chair, approved by the Dean. Annual appointment, renewable. Two course equivalencies per year; $10,000 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Oversee the artistic mission and administration of Emerson Stage, the production company within the Department of Performing Arts, in accordance with the College’s and Department’s educational mission, consulting with faculty, staff, and students and making recommendations/reporting to the Chair of the Department of Performing Arts.
Facilitate the season selection process for the Emerson Stage seasons by working with Emerson Stage Planning Committee to identify curricular needs best fulfilled through Emerson Stage productions; determine the appropriate balance of types of texts and productions as they fit in a three to four-year training cycle and as informed by Area Heads.
Convene monthly planning meetings at a minimum; share notes from these meetings with all committee members. Create all season announcements. Attend all casting meetings, including area heads in casting decisions as needed. Solicit scripts for NewFest/New Play Workshop each season, reaching out for a diverse range of voices to be considered. Serve on the reading/selection committee for the NewFest production and New Play Workshop production.
Identify and interview potential guest directors for Emerson Stage seasons as needed; serve as the point of contact for all Emerson Stage directors during pre-production, auditions, rehearsals and performances. Provide orientation for guest directors, familiarizing them with all Emerson Stage policies and practices.
Attend weekly production meetings for all Emerson Stage productions; attend rehearsals as needed, greet and welcome the company at first rehearsal, attend dress rehearsal and provide any feedback requested from directors.
Take an active role in the prevention and solution of any problems during an Emerson Stage production, working closely with the director of operations, production manager, director, faculty adviser, student, guest artist.
Represent Emerson Stage as the public voice of the organization and seek to maintain a high profile for Emerson Stage within and beyond Emerson College.
Solicit casting and breakdown information from directors, coordinate open-call auditions and call-backs with the director of operations; work closely with directors and management on casting issues as they arise, working with actors, directors and any other affected areas.
Participate in conversations with the Director of Operations and Department Chair to ensure the strategic allocation of Emerson Stage funds in support of Emerson Stage's mission.
Work collaboratively with faculty and staff to identify and remove barriers to admission and casting for working-class students and students of color.

Director of Global BFA Program (School of the Arts)

Appointed by the Dean in consultation with the VMA department chair and the Vice Provost for Internationalization & Equity. Three year appointment, generally renewable for a second term. Two course equivalencies per year; $10,000 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Serve as the academic point of contact for the GBFA program in collaboration with the department Chair, school Dean, and Vice Provost of Internationalization & Equity.
Serve as a point of contact and liaison with Admissions and prospective students during the year.
Coordinate with the PCA/GBFA program director in curriculum planning, course offerings, student orientations, and student capstone projects.
Serve as a point of contact with administrative units within Emerson, in coordination with Academic Affairs, as internal administrative project manager.
Advise and mentor all Emerson-PCA students.
Attend monthly Emerson internal GBFA meetings.
Attend monthly joint Emerson-PCA meetings with key program stakeholders from Emerson and Paris College of Art.
Attend monthly Co-curricular meetings to discuss the creation of opportunities for GBFA students outside the classroom.
Collaborate with PCA’s Office of Student Life and Emerson’s Office of Internationalization & Equity in all GBFA program refinements, assessment and new student orientation development.
Be present during program orientations and select summer sessions.
Work to develop online courses for the third year of the program.
In collaboration with the Office of Internationalization & Equity, coordinate a semi-annual speaker series featuring industry leaders (“Industry Talks”).
Serve on the Graduation Committee to organize and hold graduation ceremonies on each campus.

Director of Business of Creative Enterprises Program (School of Communication)

Appointed by the Dean.Three year appointment, generally renewable for a second term. Two course equivalencies per year; $10,000 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Develop strategic initiatives for program growth and longevity in alignment with the goals of the department, school and college.
Collaborate with Enrollment Management and/or the Office of Internationalization & Equity in the exploration, development, implementation, and oversight of BCE relevant partnerships with US based community colleges, ICMS Sydney (Australia), Franklin University (Switzerland), and the like.
Direct/Support efforts to hire and on-board BCE faculty.
Coordinate with the Department Chair in hiring BCE staff members and affiliate faculty.
Interface with students, faculty, staff, administration, prospective students, alumni and VIPs, businesses and community leaders.
Review, maintain, and evolve the quality and currency of the program curriculum.
Develop and oversee BCE academic course schedules and faculty assignments’
Oversee and mentor faculty, staff, and student workers.
Build community through event creation and planning throughout the year, leading up to the annual BCE Showcase.
Liaise with Institutional Advancement in support of alumni and VIPs relationship-development and opportunities for engagement with the BCE program.
Collaborate with offices, departments, and programs across the College. Craft strategic and informative communication for internal and external audiences.Advance initiatives to improve students’ matriculation experience (e.g., internal/external transfers, study abroad opportunities).
Promote the BCE program to potential students through Emerson events.
Advise and coordinate for registration, permissions, and student support on path to graduation.

Director of Emerson Prison Initiative

Appointed by the Provost. Three year appointment, renewable. Two course equivalencies per year; $10,000 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Work on fundraising, networking with donors, working with IA, working with ORCS, run the December end-of-year appeal (annually).
Work with EPI leadership/admin and Director of Finance and Grants on multi-year budgeting.
State-level engagement with state-level actors; work with policymakers, legislators.
Policy-making with Emerson and Department of Corrections.
Coordination with Emerson government and community relations.
Manage institutional partnerships at leadership level (e.g. Clark, Brandeis, Partakers).
Media/publicity for EPI and all related events.
Edit quarterly newsletter composed in collaboration with EPI leadership/admin.
Review and update EPI website.
Boston campus special event planning (with Assistant Director and staff, e.g. EPI conference).
Supervise Program Manager and Program Coordinator.
Consult with Program Manager and Program Coordinator on RECOUP external partnerships.
Monthly meeting with Provost; twice a semester meeting with Dean; weekly meeting of EPI Leadership.
Chair monthly EPI AC Meeting.
Co-lead EPI admissions.
Student academic advising in coordination with Assistant Director and Site Coordinator.
Consult with student cohorts once or twice per semester for programmatic feedback, in coordination with Assistant Director.
Consult with released students for academic/well-being check-in and RECOUP feedback.
Participate in monthly meetings with MA Prison Education Consortium (MPEC), Council of College in Prison Directors, and other college-in-prison program leaders as needed.
Manage NECHE status and applications as needed, with Assistant Director and Program Manager.
Prepare program self-study for external program review.

Director of the Emerson-Blanquerna Global Center (School of Communication)

Appointed by the Dean. Annual appointment, renewable. One course equivalency per year.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Dean and Institutional Advancement, help coordinate the annual Global Summits held in Boston and Barcelona (and two years Washington DC). Also the Pre-Summit for the Global Summit.
In collaboration with the Office of Internationalization & Equity, plan, coordinate and supervise the annual Spring Break Barcelona Workshop, serving broad interests of the School’s four academic departments.
Coordinate the publication of the refereed papers in American Behavioral Scientist special issue (US) or Tripidos (Barcelona).
Coordinate the collaboration of teaching, immersive civic engagement activities between faculty at Blanquerna and Emerson.
Advisory Board member of the Globe Com Project, an immersive semester project (15 universities) working online on a campaign for a specific company, NGO, government.
Co-writer and editor of white papers on issues of strategic communication.

Director of Emerson DC (School of Communication)

Appointed by the Dean. Annual appointment, renewable. Yearly $5,000 stipend.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, and execute student recruitment campaigns independently or in collaboration with Washington Center representatives and the Office of Internationalization & Equity.
Periodically revise and adjust all aspects of the DC program in collaboration with Washington Center representative and Emerson College leadership.
Assist Emerson College students with the selection of classes and management of academic credits during the Spring semester and over the summer.
Provide mentorship to students who are evaluating and selecting internships in DC.
Organize info sessions for students who are admitted to the Washington Center.
Offer assistance to the Office of Internationalization & Equity with the revision of agreements between Emerson College and the Washington Center.
Offer assistance to the Office of Internationalization & Equity regarding the management of international students who are part of the DC Program.
Periodically travel to Washington D.C. to check in with DC Program students as well as to strengthen relations with alums and expand the footprint of the program.
Periodically assist students who might be experiencing issues at the Washington Center.

Director of Institutional Review Board

Appointed by the Provost; three year appointment, renewable. One course equivalency per year; $2000 summer stipend.

Responsibilities

Preside over meetings of the fully convened IRB and ensure that the IRB carries out its mission as authorized by the College.
Ensure the timely review and approval of protocol submissions that qualify for exempt or expedited review pursuant to federal and state regulations, ethical principles, and College policies.
Refer protocol submissions that do not qualify for exempt or expedited review to the IRB for full committee review.
Ensure that membership of the IRB is recruited and appointed so that it meets the composition requirements outlined by the Department of Health and Human Services (45 CFR 46.107), and is able to fulfill its obligations to review, require modifications to, approve, or disapprove, research protocols that are submitted to the IRB by Emerson faculty and student researchers.
Serve as a resource to the Emerson community by explicating the mission, authority, and concerns of the IRB, and the federal and state regulations that inform the IRB’s responsibilities.
Ensure that reports related to safety, noncompliance, unanticipated problems in research and adverse events are reviewed, attended to and reported pursuant to federal regulations, state laws and College policies.
Respond to local and federal investigations relating to protocols and actions, as required.
In conjunction with Academic Affairs, the Office for Research and Creative Scholarship, the General Counsel, and others as appropriate, develop and revise IRB policies, procedures, and guidelines to stay current with regulatory changes and national best practices.