Director of Academic Advising

The Director of Academic Advising provides strategic leadership, administrative oversight, and operational direction for the university's academic advising program. This position is responsible for creating, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive, student-centered advising model that supports undergraduate and graduate students across all stages of the academic lifecycle—from initial enrollment through degree completion.

To thrive in this role, the Director will lead a team of professional advisors and establish the vision and standards for advising practice consistent with institutional priorities in retention, persistence, and timely degree completion. The Director will collaborate closely with community campus directors, academic deans, department chairs, faculty, program coordinators, enrollment management, student affairs, and institutional effectiveness to integrate advising into the broader ecosystem of student success.

Minimum Qualifications:  Bachelor’s degree in related field and four years progressively responsible relevant experience and one years management experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Typical experience:

Master's degree in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, educational leadership, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.

● Minimum of five (5) years of progressive professional experience in academic advising or student success within a higher education setting.
● Demonstrated understanding of student development theory, advising frameworks, and evidence-based practices in academic advising.
● Proven ability to lead student success initiatives and work effectively with students from a variety of backgrounds, including first-generation, adult learners, low-income, veterans, and underrepresented populations.
● Experience in a multi-campus, rural, or geographically distributed post-secondary education setting.
● Familiarity with a variety of advising models that may include guided pathways, appreciative advising, or proactive case management approaches.
● Experience administering grants or externally funded student success programs.
● Experience advising transfer students and familiarity with articulation and statewide transfer frameworks.
● Demonstrated success developing advising services for online and hybrid student populations.

Position Details:

This position is located on the University of Alaska Southeast campus in Juneau, Alaska. This is a full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 81, based on education and experience.

Application review will begin on October 15, 2026. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration; however, the recruitment will remain open until filled.

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Eleyna Whitson, HR Coordinator, at ewhitson@alaska.edu.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at ua-ada@alaska.edu.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.