Assistant Director of the National Fellowships & Awards Office

Description:

St. Mary’s College of Maryland at Historic St. Mary’s City is accepting resumes for the position of Assistant Director of the National Fellowships & Awards Office.

The National Fellowships and Awards Office (NFAO) seeks a highly motivated, intellectually engaged, and collaborative scholar-administrator to support St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the National Public Honors College, in advancing the institution’s mission of global impact, research, community engagement, and student success through recruiting and mentoring students pursuing nationally competitive fellowships and awards. This position will play a central role in supporting and advancing a campus-wide culture of mentored research and creative inquiry, providing guidance, resources, and strategic advice throughout the fellowship application process for any SMCM undergraduate, graduate student, or alumnus pursuing competitive fellowships or awards. A relatively new office, NFAO currently supports applicants for Goldwater, Udall, and Voyager Scholarships and for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program Awards.

This position is part of a Presidential priority to expand NFAO, so this role is ideal for a collaborative administrator with the passion and vision to help build this program. The Assistant Director will work alongside the current faculty Director to shape and expand the reach of NFAO in recruiting and advising students, partnering with faculty, and contributing to strategic initiatives, while also participating in the development of new programs and partnerships that advance inclusive excellence in undergraduate scholarship and creative endeavors. The Assistant Director will also become the lead for supporting fellowships and awards that best fit their areas of expertise. NFAO works closely with the Office of International Education-that currently mentors Gilman and Critical Language Scholarships-as well as with St. Mary’s numerous honors cohorts, including the DeSousa-Brent, Landers, Sum Primus, Monuments, and Global Scholars programs.

The ideal candidate will have a strong grounding in academic research and/or creative inquiry-particularly within the liberal arts; excellence in mentoring student’s intellectual growth; a background in equitable recruitment and programming; and an ability to communicate well with all members of our campus community, including students, faculty, staff, and administrators.

This position reports to the Director of National Fellowships and Awards, who is a tenured faculty member. The person in this position may supervise student workers. More information about the NFAO office may be found at: https://www.smcm.edu/national-fellowships-awards/

This is a two-year, full-time contractual payroll position with subsidized benefits. The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $75,000, depending on qualifications and experience.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the National Public honors College, is located in Historic St. Mary’s City, 70 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. St. Mary’s College is one of the nation’s best public liberal arts colleges – ranked near the top in U.S. News & World Report and a Best Value for in-state and out-of-state students. Non-sectarian since its founding, the college with its scenic waterfront campus is primarily undergraduate and residential, with a diverse coeducational student body numbering approximately 1600. The up-to-date curriculum is designed for today’s students who want an active, hands-on education led by professors who are committed teachers and experts in their fields. The quality of life is enhanced by the recreational opportunities of the Chesapeake region and close proximity to the amenities of Washington D.C., Baltimore and Richmond.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications (or equivalent combination of education and experience)

• Bachelor’s degree;
• Excellent writing and editing abilities;
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication, presentation, and organizational skills;
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment and foster a culture of continuous improvement; and
• One (1) to three (3) years of experience mentoring students for national and/or international scholarships and awards as well as managing, or helping to manage, multiple award cycles.

Desirable Qualifications

• Master’s degree;
• A familiarity with STEM-related awards;
• A commitment to advising practices and student engagement efforts that promote growth and development in students;
• Experience working with honors programs, fellowship programs, and with high-achieving undergraduate student populations;
• Experience and fluency with an array of relevant award programs;
• Experience designing and running workshops and/or presenting to students and/or stakeholders;
• Experience in data analysis, report generation, and using technology to support advising and student success initiatives;
• Ability and interest in learning applicant tracking systems and other application software; and
• Familiarity with social media platforms, graphic design software (e.g., Canva), Google platforms, and Microsoft Office Suite

Any combination of acceptable education and experience, which has provided the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfill the requirements of this position, may be considered.

Employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.

Application Instructions:

St. Mary’s College embodies diversity and inclusion in its mission. We create an environment that recognizes the value of individual and group differences and we encourage inquiries from applicants who will contribute to our cultural and ethnic diversity. Application materials should include a cover letter, resume (including email address), statement of how the applicant’s employment at the College will contribute to a culture of inclusion and campus diversity, and three references and submitted online at https://apply.interfolio.com/187606. Questions may be directed to Dr. Jennifer Cognard-Black, Professor of English and Director of National Fellowships and Awards, at jcognard@smcm.edu.

Review of applications will begin on Friday, June 26, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

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