Student Leadership Positions
Application Process
The Student Leadership Positions become available during Winter Quarter of the current academic year, with start dates at the beginning of the next academic year. A common application, with specific supplemental materials for each position, is available in the Office of Student Development. However, each position has its own selection and hiring process that is coordinated by the specific department.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact Student Development at 337-7210. If you have questions about a specific position, please contact the individual(s) listed in the position descriptions below.
Career Advisor
The Career Advisor (CA) is a paraprofessional position at the Center for Career Development. Career Development is a counseling and direct service program within the Center for Experiential Education. CAs assist students both one-on-one and through educational outreach efforts, in order to help them discover career opportunities, including applying for externships, searching for internships and jobs, writing resumes and cover letters, and researching post-graduate options.
What would be expected of me?
- Provide direct and thorough assistance to peers as they draft resumes, application materials, and correspondence in search for internships, externships, post-graduate employment, or advanced study opportunities
- Create, implement and lead individual and group projects, including marketing campaigns and presentations/workshops
- Desire to be self-directed as well as contribute to team efforts
- Commitment of ten hours weekly; occasional evening and weekend events (approximately 3-4 per quarter)
What are the necessary qualifications?
- Ability to learn, develop, and demonstrate strong helping, presentation, and hosting skills
- Possess strong organizational and time management strategies
- Enthusiasm/desire to develop career related skills
- Desire and ability to create new program outreach/marketing strategies in an entrepreneurial fashion
- Commitment to balancing academic and job responsibilities
What would I gain from this position?
- Enhanced listening, communication and teamwork skills
- Excellent organizing, project planning, and marketing experience
- Encouragement and support to pursue personal career interests
- A stronger personal knowledge of the career development process
Who can I talk to for more information?
- Jessie Wagner, Career Counselor (337-5788, jwagner@kzoo.edu)
- Current Career Advisors (Dewing 112, ca@kzoo.edu)
CIP Peer Advisor
The Peer Advisor (PA) is a part-time, paraprofessional position for the Center for International Programs in the Center for Experiential Education. The main responsibility of a PA is to assist prospective and current students as they learn about study abroad and other international programs. Peer Advisors also assist staff in the orientation and pre-departure phases of outbound students as well as organizing re-entry activities for those returning to campus from study abroad. One Peer Advisor will be designated as the International Student PA, who assists the staff with orientation week, immigration paperwork, the Host Program and in helping international students adjust to life in Kalamazoo.
What would be expected of me?
- Seven hour commitment per week during fall, winter and spring quarters
- Advise students as they educate themselves about study abroad options, application and selection processes and admission requirements
- Assist with distributing information to study abroad applicants and prospective Kalamazoo students through panel discussions, fairs, mailings and informational meetings
- Collaborate with other offices and departments to promote a better understanding of study abroad experiences
What are the necessary qualifications?
- A student who has participated in study abroad through Kalamazoo College
- Ability to learn and explain the CIP processes of advising, application, selection and preparation for study abroad
- Ability to be open, patient, and encouraging with peers
- Ability to recognize and respect boundaries and confidentiality
What would I gain from this position?
- A deeper understanding of your own study abroad experience and a chance to share that experience with others
- Advising experience in an international education program
- An opportunity to help international students and to learn about immigration paperwork and laws
Who can I talk to for more information?
- Narda McClendon, Assistant Director (337-7133)
- Current Peer Advisers (Dewing 112, cippa@kzoo.edu)
LandSea Leader
LandSea is an Experiential Education program that offers 100 incoming students the opportunity to participate in an 18-day expedition in Killarney Provincial Park. During the program, participants hike, canoe, climb, and rappel. LandSea Leaders co-facilitate the experience of the participants, offer support, teach skills, role model, and encourage participants to challenge themselves.
What would be expected of me?
- Participation in the weekend Wilderness First Aid Training May 3-4 (Note: Training begins the day after position announcements are made on May 2nd), CPR Training (May 17), Leaders' Week (August 17-27), and LandSea (August 28-September 13)
- A focus on risk management and safety (both physical and emotional)
- Learning and practicing effective coaching and feedback skills
- Teaching and modeling skills to participants, then allowing participants to carry out skills themselves and teach each other
- Providing emotional support to participants while challenging them to push their existing limits
- Promoting open discussion to resolve conflicts and increase group connectedness
- Learning and a commitment to use authentic communication skills
- Being an effective and responsible member of the team of LandSea Leaders
What are the necessary qualifications?
- Understand and model the goals and philosophy of the LandSea program
- Exceptional physical conditioning and the ability to live in a wilderness environment for a month
- Ability to develop and maintain relationships
- A commitment to maintain confidentiality
- Strong desire to improve and build upon these skills already in existence
What would I gain from this position?
- Development of interpersonal and leadership skills
- A unique leadership experience
- Self-discovery and growth through challenge
- Enhanced wilderness skills and knowledge
- Exceptional bonds with Leaders and participants
Who can I talk to for more information?
- Tom Breznau, LandSea Director (337-7356)
- Maddy Kamalay, Barret Myers, or Elliott Wolfson (337-7357, k06bm05@kzoo.edu)
- Past LandSea Leaders
- LandSea web site: www.kzoo.edu/landsea
Peer Health Advocate
Peer Health Advocates: (PHA) Student organization with a particular interest in health issues. PHA develop health education programs to further educate students on pertinent health related topics, with up to date, accurate information. There is a Peer Health Advisory Committee composed of K-College staff, which gives guidance.
What would be expected of me?
- Organize a formal health topic presentation to the campus once a quarter
- Participate in at least one informal form of health education on campus per quarter
- Attend monthly meetings with the Peer Health Advisory Committee
- Research your chosen health topic using reliable resources
- Collaborate with others to promote wellness
- Participate in the annual campus Health Fair
- Participate in training when appropriate
What are the necessary qualifications?
- Ability to inform in a non-biased, non-judgmental manner
- Ability to recognize and respect boundaries & confidentiality
- Ability to commit to the time needed to develop & present solid presentations
What would I gain from this position?
- Understanding of particular health issues important to you and a chance to share that knowledge with others
- Development of leadership, research & presentation skills
- Opportunity to improve the overall health of students on campus
- Individualized PE credit available
- Impressive accomplishments to enhance your resume
Who can I talk to for more information?
- Lisa Ailstock, Director Student Health Services (337-7200 or ailstock@kzoo.edu)
Peer Leader
Peer Leaders help new students focus on the goals of the First-Year Experience Program: achieving academic success, making choices that lead to balanced lives, and learning to relate to people and cultures different than their own.
What would be expected of me?
- Participate in three training workshops during spring term
- Return to K for training Tuesday, 9 Sept through Monday, 15 Sept 2008
- Work full time during orientation, Tuesday, 16 Sept - Saturday, 20 Sept
- Serve as a resource person for students
What are the necessary qualifications?
- Willing to go beyond the call of duty in leadership and service
- Able to follow through on commitments
- Problems-solvers, creative, energetic, and committed to the K community
- Responsible, honest, and ethical
- In good academic and social standing
What would I gain from this position?
- Organizational, leadership and teamwork skills
- Greater awareness of issues confronting college students
- New friends (first years, Peer Leaders, other student leaders)
Whom can I contact for more information?
- Dr. Zaide Pixley, Dean of the First Year and Advising (Dewing 109, 337-5755, Pixley@kzoo.edu)
- Current Peer Leaders
Resident Assistant
Resident Assistants (RAs) are an integral part of the staff team in the residence halls. As educators, RAs help facilitate the personal growth of their residents as well as their own while creating a positive community and a healthy living environment that supports the academic challenges at K.
What would be expected of me?
- Development of supportive relationship with residents
- Planning and implementing imaginative programming, including social, recreational, educational and/or multicultural activities
- Support of fellow staff members
- A significant time commitment
What are the necessary qualifications?
- Positive role models of campus involvement
- Eager, willing and committed to learning
- Mature judgment and strong work ethic
- At least a sophomore in good academic and social standing at the College
What would I gain from this position?
- A strong sense of your role within the campus community
- Organizational and planning skills
- Leadership and teamwork skills
- Ability to deal with crisis and confrontation
- Listening skills
- Confidence
Who can I talk to for more information?
- Dana Jansma, Associate Dean of Students (337-7210)
- Deanna Roell, Area Coordinator (337-7210)
- Jeremy Suttles, Area Coordinator (337-7210)
- Your RAs
Student Chaplain
Student Chaplains are the core of the K College Chapel Program; they help plan and lead Friday Jamas, Chapel groups and other Chapel events. They exemplify the Chapel's shared vision of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for students.
What would be expected of me?
- Participate in a series of training workshops during orientation week
- Commit to working & volunteering in the Cavern 2-5 hours/week
- Attend quarterly Student Chaplain Retreats
- Lead, plan or help with at least 2 events per quarter
What are the necessary qualifications?
- Have previous volunteer experience in the Cavern
- Be interested in the Chapel Program's vision for connecting people with each other and themselves
- Be willing to commit to specific Cavern hours and Chapel events
What would I gain from this position?
- Valuable relationships and a sense of community with other Student Chaplains & student participants
- Publicity and outreach skills, both on and off campus
- Broader understanding of the religious life within various faith traditions
- Leadership skills; opportunities to speak, plan events & lead groups
- Deeper understanding of the role of spirituality in your on life and that of your peers
- Get paid to do what you love
Whom can I contact for more information?
- Ashley Loyd, Associate Chaplain (337-7362, aloyd@kzoo.edu)
- Mary Ellen Ashcroft, Chaplain (337-7362, ashcroft@kzoo.edu)
- Current Student Chaplains
Writing Consultant
The Writing Consultants work with students one-on-one in the Writing Center to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the students' papers and to suggest ways to improve the students' writing overall.
What would be expected of me?
- Giving students your full attention
- Patience and showing respect for students' ideas
- Working with two first-year seminars
- Conducting writing workshops in the seminars
- A minimum commitment of 5 hours per week
What are the necessary qualifications?
- Excellent writing skills (not necessarily an English major)
- Ability to explain good writing techniques and points of grammar
- Good interpersonal skills
- Friendly, non-judgmental attitude
- Reliability and confidentiality
- Recommendation from an English professor
- Improve your own writing
- Gain valuable work experience
- Develop working relationships with faculty
- Meet new people and get paid to do what you love
Who can I talk to for more information?
- Marin Heinritz, Director of the ARC (337-5734, heinritz@kzoo.edu)
- Current Writing Consultants (Writing Center in OU313B Sun-Thurs, 8-11 p.m.)