Coordinator, Residential Education

The Coordinator for Residential Education is a live-on professional staff member within the Office of Residence Life at Austin Peay State University and reports directly to the Director of Residence Life. This position provides strategic leadership for residential education by advancing a comprehensive, data-informed, and student-centered approach to programming and engagement within the residential community. The Coordinator supports the educational mission of Residence Life through the intentional development, implementation, and assessment of residential programming and student engagement initiatives.

The Coordinator collaborates in a cross-Divisional and cross-institutional approach to enhance the residential experience and promote student success, belonging, and holistic development. This position provides oversight of the residential programming model and supervises Community Programming Directors (CPDs), ensuring alignment with departmental priorities and best practices in student engagement. The Coordinator also serves as a key liaison for Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) and other residential initiatives that support academic integration and student learning.

This Coordinator contributes to the mission of the Division of Student Affairs by fostering engaging residential community environments, that support the personal, social, and leadership development of residential students. The Coordinator exercises independent judgment in managing programming initiatives, supervising student staff, and collaborating with campus partners to advance departmental goals and continuous improvement efforts

Characteristics of a successful candidate:

• Integrity, kindness, creativity, and decisiveness, along with the capacity to inspire others.

• Motivation to create a thriving, engaged, and safe student experience.

• Ability to serve with agility; important to lead, listen, and serve with a high level of energy.

• A commitment to practicing open communication and inspiring trust.

• Desire to collaborate with colleagues and create a culture that rewards teamwork.

• Demonstrated sincere enjoyment from working with students.

Responsibilities include:

Residential Programming and Student Engagement

• Provide leadership for Residence Life programming initiatives that support the educational mission of the department and align with the Housing programming model.
• Develop and coordinate large-scale educational, cultural, social, and leadership programs that foster student engagement and community development within the residence halls.
• Provide direction and support to Community Programming Directors (CPDs) in the planning, implementation, and assessment of residential programming initiatives.
• Collaborate with faculty and campus partners to support Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) and other initiatives that enhance academic engagement within the residential environment.

Student Staff Supervision and Development

• Supervise and mentor Community Programming Directors (CPDs) and other assigned student leaders.
• Provide ongoing training, guidance, and professional development opportunities to support student staff success.
• Facilitate regular meetings with student staff to support program planning, leadership development, and operational coordination.
• Evaluate student staff performance and provide developmental feedback to support growth and leadership capacity.

Department and Division Leadership

• Maintain open communication with the Assistant Director of Residence Life to share information and engage in issue-spotting and creative problem-solving to benefit the residential community.

• Serve on Division and University committees, as assigned.

• Serve as a liaison between Residence Life and campus partners to enhance student success initiatives within residential communities.

• Collaborate with university departments and faculty to integrate academic and co-curricular experiences into the residential environment.

• Support divisional and institutional initiatives that promote student engagement, belonging, and success.

  Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.

• Experience in residence life, student programming, or leadership development initiatives.

• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with students, faculty, and campus partners.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments to support student engagement and success.

• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, and the ability to build trust with students and colleagues.

• Commitment to creating residential communities that promote belonging, engagement, and student success.

• Creativity and initiative in designing educational, social, and leadership development programming.

• Ability to balance multiple priorities in a dynamic environment while maintaining attention to detail and organizational effectiveness.

• Demonstrated interest in mentoring student leaders and supporting their personal and professional development.

• Ability to live on campus and work evenings and weekends as required.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field.
• Experience supervising student staff within a residential life or student engagement setting.
• Demonstrated experience supporting Living-Learning Communities, academic initiatives, or program assessment efforts.

Physical Requirements

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

Austin Peay State University is a four-year public, doctoral-level university, with six colleges and four Chairs of Excellence. The University has an enrollment of over 11,000 students and is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, a community of an estimated 150,287 people located approximately 40 miles northwest of Nashville, TN.

Austin Peay State University is a proud supporter of hiring veterans. We hire veterans with equivalent experiences and pay grades from their military service, rather than requiring or preferring only college degrees. Please visit our website for more information on how veterans can qualify for additional employment opportunities at APSU: https://www.apsu.edu/human-resources/hiring-veterans/.

Austin Peay State University (APSU) prohibits discrimination in all employment, programs, and activities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. For Title IX inquiries or complaints, contact: Chief of Institutional Culture & Title IX Coordinator, LaNeeça R. Williams at williamslr@apsu.edu | 931-221-7690, Browning Building, Room 140, Clarksville, TN 37044. For other non-discrimination concerns, contact: Director of Institutional Culture & Title VI & Title VII Coordinator, Dr. Jo Baldwin at baldwinjapsu.edu | 931-221-7178 or Associate Director of Accessibility Compliance & ADA/504 Coordinator, Jayme Glover at gloverj@apsu.edu | 931-221-7160. View APSU’s full nondiscrimination policy at Policy 6:001.