Our currently available positions and volunteer and internship opportunities are listed below.  To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to our Program Coordinator, Snow Pressey at snow@southernscholars.org.  Thanks so much for your interest!

 

 SCHOLAR ADVISOR - Part-Time; Remote

Position : Scholar Advisor

Status: Part time

Location: Remote 

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Organization: The Dr. Doretha Pressey Southern Scholars Initiative is a 501c3 nonprofit scholarship and college completion program dedicated to creating access, equity, and success for students of color from low-income communities in the rural South. We are motivated and guided by the legacy of our founder, Dr. Doretha Pressey, a passionate and determined educator who committed her life to generously helping those in need. Education, Determination, and Generosity were three of the core principles that exemplified Dr. Pressey's life and work and they have become the three major tenets upon which our work is based.

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Job Purpose: Advisors work with a caseload of students, meeting individually and in small groups to provide comprehensive academic, financial and personal support and navigate barriers that may affect persistence. Advisors collaborate with the broader Southern Scholars team to plan and deliver programming to help students achieve specific learning outcomes. 

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Primary Responsibilities:

 

Student Engagement (80%) 

Manage a caseload of students by meeting in person on campus or virtual interactions via Zoom or phone 

Support students in navigating the comprehensive range of academic, financial, career and personal issues 

Assist students to best leverage scholarship funds based on a thorough understanding of individual financial aid packages 

Provide ongoing evaluation of scholar progress throughout the academic year using a focused intervention approach 

Maintain case notes on student encounters with a focus on progress against learning outcomes 

Facilitate gatherings and meetings to help Scholars build community 

Collaborate with mentors as appropriate 

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Program Development & Collaboration (20%) 

Work closely with the Executive Director to create and maintain relationships with college and university liaisons 

Collaborate with Executive Director to implement, and evaluate program-wide activities to support students 

Provide input into the learning outcomes and design of curriculum to help Southern Scholars succeed 

Support research and evaluation efforts to improve the effectiveness of the advising services and program offerings 

Participate in special projects to improve processes, engage stakeholders and resources, prepare for and/or present updates, etc. 

Participate with Southern Scholars team to recruit, select, and onboard scholars 

 

Minimum Qualifications & Experience: 

Related education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree plus three (3) years of professional experience working directly with students to provide counseling, advice and programming focused on ensuring comprehensive academic goals are set and achieved 

Familiarity with post-secondary educational requirements, college student development needs and potential obstacles students may face 

Hands-on experience building partnerships with students and their associated stakeholders to facilitate access to resources 

History of commitment to educational equity and experience working with diverse college student populations including students of color,  first-generation students, and students from rural communities

Savvy with office technology required to maintain student records and create professional communications, presentations and reports 

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

Related education and experience equivalent to a master's degree in higher education, student affairs, social work or a similar field plus college-level advising experience 

Skilled at facilitating awareness of social justice issues and student identity development 

Holistic, proactive approach that draws on effective practices in college advising, academic coaching, student development theory, and excellence in teaching and learning 

Thorough and nuanced understanding of curricular options, requirements, and engagement 

opportunities 

Thrives in an environment that requires self-direction and working remotely while maintaining 

transparency and trust 

Experience living or working in the rural South and commitment to rural education strongly preferred.

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GRANT WRITER - Volunteer - Part Time; Remote

Southern Scholars Initiative, Inc. is seeking a Volunteer Grant Writer with excellent research, proofreading, and communication skills to help write grant applications to fund our expansion to more low-income students of color from communities across the rural South.  The time commitment for this role will be between 5 and 10 hours per week. This is the perfect opportunity for an organized, thorough, hard-working, and self-motivated individual to help a growing organization. Previous grant writing and fundraising experience is highly desirable. 

Responsibilities:

• Prepare first drafts of grant proposals and grant applications

• Research, identify, and apply for public and private grant opportunities that are applicable to Southern Scholars’ mission.

• Maintain up-to-date records of past, current, and future grant applications in Excel

• Assist with other fundraising projects as requested

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Qualifications:

• One to two years grant writing experience

• Outstanding grammar and research skills; ability to write clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals

• Excellent organizational skills in order to manage several projects under tight deadlines

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, or a related field and/or related experience

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GENERAL VOLUNTEER & INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITES

If you are interested in volunteering or completing an internship with us, please click the link below and complete our contact form.  We will be in touch soon. 

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