Muslim Student Life Coordinator

Title: Muslim Student Life Coordinator

Department: Dean of Students

Duration: 2 months

Job Summary

The Muslim Student Life Coordinator will support Muslim students at Occidental College by advising Muslim students, supporting Occidental College’s Muslim Student Association and working with the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life to plan educational, spiritual and cultural programs, prayer services and events. The coordinator will advocate for Muslim students at Occidental College and work with different campus constituencies to nurture a campus climate supportive of Muslim students and to address any potential anti-Muslim bias on campus.

Job Duties

• 30% - Counsel Muslim students on religious, spiritual, ethical, vocational and personal matters. This includes engaging in an extensive outreach campaign identify Muslim students and helping them identify how their religious values and beliefs can inform their life choices. - (Essential)
• 25% - Provide guidance to students leading Occidental College’s Muslim Student Association as they implement programs to help students grow intellectually, religiously, and spiritually or host events to enable students to practice their faith in community with other students. - (Essential)
• 20% - Plan regular prayer services (frequency based on student interest), text studies and holy day prayer services and celebrations. This includes working with the Occidental community to ensure that Muslim students can properly engage in Ramadan practices or rituals in the event that Ramadan occurs during the academic year. - (Essential)
• 6% - Work with the ORSL professional staff and campus partners to plan events to educate students about Islam and Muslim culture such as hosting guest speakers or panels or cultural events. - (Essential)
• 5% - Work with the ORSL staff and religious and spiritual student clubs to address anti-Muslim issues and work proactively to nurture a positive campus climate for Muslim students. - (Essential)
• 5% - Advocate for Muslim students across the institution. This includes working with the Director for Religious and Spiritual Life, the Dean of Students and senior campus leaders to advocate for college policies, procedures and practices that promote respect for Muslim students and educating the larger community about the unique needs, beliefs, practices and concerns for Muslim students. - (Essential)
• 5% - Work with the Director of Religious and Spiritual Life and student religious and spiritual group leaders to plan and organize programs to promote interfaith cooperation and religious pluralism. - (Essential)
• 3% - Provide a Muslim presence for students, staff, and faculty at interfaith events on campus such as the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Lunch and Interfaith Baccalaureate Service. Represent the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life at annual campus events such as Convocation and Commencement or special interfaith services, vigils or programs in response to campus, national and international emergencies. - (Essential)
• 1% - Attend ORSL staff meetings and attend Division of Student Affairs meetings as necessary and as the schedule allows. - (Essential)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in religious studies, theology, or Islamic studies or equivalent.
• 2-3 years of prior relevant work experience in campus setting.
• Ability to read and understand the Quran.
• Proven experience speaking to small and large diverse groups, preferably college-aged individuals.
• A demonstrated excitement and interest in providing religious, spiritual, educational and vocational support to Muslim undergraduate students.
• Knowledge of how to enhance students’ intellectual and personal growth and development, including critical thinking, effective communication, self-esteem and leadership.
• Comfort with one’s Muslim identity and able to support college students as they seek to incorporate their religious and spiritual identity into their sense of self.
• Knowledge of issues and trends facing Muslim undergraduate students.
• Ability to develop meaningful relationships with students and to help them plan activities to support Muslim students on campus. This includes empowering students with the tools and resources to create innovative programs and the ability to analyze all aspects of the program to ensure that funds and resources are being used to maximize outcomes.
• An appreciation for and understanding of Occidental College’s values of equity, diversity and inclusion and the intersectionality of identities.
• An appreciation for and understanding of the value religious pluralism and a commitment to interfaith cooperation on campus.
• Open minded and creative thinker who is open to new ideas and innovative solutions.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively on a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to speak Arabic is a plus.
• Master’s Degree in Islamic Studies and Leadership, Islamic Education or Islamic Chaplaincy.

EXPECTED HIRING RANGE: $29.00/hr