About this role
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]:
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.