Associate Director, Academic Development

Salary Range:

About SMU

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

The Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) reports through the Office of the Provost and is dedicated to supporting all undergraduate and graduate Division I student-athletes. Our team provides comprehensive academic counseling, including major and degree planning, course selection, NCAA Eligibility calculations, and academic skills development. We offer a variety of support services, such as literacy specialist support, peer tutoring, and assistance with executive functioning. We also provide priority registration to help student-athletes balance the demanding academic and athletic commitments required to compete at the Division I level. Our goal is to empower them to excel both in their sport and in the classroom.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

This position holds a leadership position within the unit responsible for training, oversight and guidance of Senior Academic Counselors, Academic Counselors, Department Coordinator, and interns/assistants. Working closely with the Assistant Provost and two Associate Directors of ADSA, this position will interact heavily with athletic staff, campus partners and other members of SAES for the purpose of facilitating the academic success of prospective, undergraduate and graduate student-athletes.

Essential Functions:

• Serving on the ADSA leadership team, this individual provides key leadership, strategic planning, and insight in a collaborative format that impacts the academic support and outcomes for all SMU student-athletes and unit operations. Supervises 2 Senior Academic Counselors, an Administrative Specialist, and Learning Assistants. Acts as supplemental support for teams assigned to direct reports.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive recruitment and retention initiatives designed to attract, engage, and support incoming students. Oversee all aspects of Peruna Success (Incomer Programming), including strategic planning, program design, stakeholder collaboration, volunteer and staff coordination, logistics management, and assessment efforts.
• Manage staff: hiring, performance evaluations, and goal setting; ensure compliance with university policies and practices. Sustain a vision for academic support that fosters a culture of elite performance aligning with university goals. Ensure staff report potential rules violations, participate in Athletics recruiting programs, support the broader initiatives of the University and Athletics.
• Oversee communication with coaching staff, sports administrators, and others. Create academic reporting information to be distributed and oversee academic updates to coaches. Lead interactions and communications with a wide variety of ADSA partners to facilitate student-athlete academic success: faculty feedback, travel letters, and other communications.
• Work collaboratively with the Assistant Provost to provide oversight, training, mentorship and set procedures for the ADSA Academic Counseling program. Monitor & reinforce campus & NCAA rules & regulations. Provide support to academic counselors in the form of initial transfer credit evaluation and petition review. This may require attendance at athletic conferences such as N4A/ NCAA.
• For assigned teams, in conjunction with campus advisors: Advise, track, and support major exploration and declaration aligned with individual student academic goals. Establish and monitor individual academic graduation plan informed by major selection, athletic responsibilities, and eligibility: assign, monitor, and facilitate individual academic plans & interventions. Travel with assigned programs as needed to conduct academic-related interventions with the highest level of academic integrity.
• Actively participate and be willing to lead campus, SAES, and Athletic initiatives intended to promote the holistic development of student athletes and their integration into the broader campus experience. Actively participate in university and SAES committees where representing student athletes is necessary or beneficial.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Position occasionally requires recruiting work on weekends or evenings. Some study hall supervision may be required in evenings. Availability on University holidays may be necessary.
• Position requires some travel with respective team(s).

Education and Experience:

Master’s degree is required, preferably in counseling, sport administration, educational leadership, psychology, teaching, sociology, or a related field.

A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience providing academic advising for student-athletes is required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, both written and otherwise, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must be an enthusiastic and collaborative problem solver with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise creative solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Candidate must have experience working independently and as a member of a team toward shared goals. Must also have strong conflict management skills. Career coaching experience desired.

Candidate must have knowledge of continuing athletic academic Division I NCAA eligibility rules and regulations. An in depth understanding of progress toward degree requirements for Division I student-athletes is essential.

Candidate must a have a working knowledge of Microsoft Suite. Must also be a quick learner who is comfortable leveraging various technology in a work setting. Familiarity with and/or a strong knowledge of education based learning platforms (e.g. Teamworks, Canvas, and PeopleSoft) preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Stand

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be given to applications received by July 29, 2026.

Position will remain open until filled.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Primary Location

USA-TX-Dallas

Job

Administrative Managers & Professionals

Organization

Provost - Other

Schedule

Regular

Shift

Staff

Employee Status

Manager with Direct Reports

Job Type

Full-time

Job Level

Day Job

Travel

Yes, 10 % of the Time

Job Posting

Jul 17, 2026, 1:54:07 AM