The Director of Bridges to Belmont provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all aspects of the Bridges to Belmont programs. The Director leads and manages all aspects of the Bell Tower Scholars program. Coordinates and/or supports pre-college programs, such as University You and Bruins Connection. Oversees other access scholarship programs, including E.S. Rose Scholars, Ingram Scholars, Faculty Scholars, and Nashville State Scholars. Facilitates community partnerships with community-based organizations, non-profits, and local community colleges. Creates, implements, and coordinates student access, success, retention, and completion programming for all scholars within the Bridges to Belmont programs to support student success and flourishing at Belmont University and beyond. Reports to: Assistant Provost for Academic Excellence.

Job Duties

Leadership - Provides direction, leadership and oversight to the high-profile Bridges to Belmont program. Administers and coordinates the Bell Tower Scholarship, including all programming and supports. Supervises all Bridges personnel, including student leaders. Supports the University You college access program, including all co-curricular programming. Coordinates and collaborates with a variety of internal and external partners and stakeholders, including Metro Nashville Public Schools, and Belmont enrollment, financial aid, student formation, and student success personnel. Program Development & Implementation - Design and coordinate transition and success support programs that provide academic, social, and emotional support for participants. Lead strategic planning and continuous improvement efforts for all Bridges to Belmont programming, ensuring alignment with institutional goals for access and student success. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop innovative curricula, experiential learning opportunities, character formation efforts, and community engagement initiatives. Monitor program effectiveness through data analysis and feedback and adjust programming to meet evolving student and community needs. Student Support & Advocacy - Identify academic challenges and provide necessary referrals for intervention including academic counseling, academic advising, tutoring, counseling, and other support services. Provide individualized support and mentorship to program participants, supporting students to persist and progress to graduate. Advocate for the unique needs of students within the university community. Meet with individual scholars to problem-solve academic challenges and create an academic success plan. Lead Scholar reinstatement committee, and directly provide support to those who have been reinstated with success and mentoring action plans. Serve as a mentor, facilitator, and convener for student access and success support initiatives. Assessment, Data Collection, and Strategic Planning - Facilitate academic success and timely graduation of students within the Bridges to Belmont Scholars Programs. Develop and implement strategies to monitor student progress, retention, and academic performance using Belmont data and information systems. Conduct annual assessments of all program components to evaluate effectiveness and inform strategic goal setting. Analyze data to identify trends and areas for improvement and use these insights to guide outreach efforts and make data-driven recommendations for program enhancements. Manage semesterly academic reporting and ensure that all program decisions are aligned with institutional priorities and student success outcomes.Strategic Budget Oversight & Financial Stewardship - Provide leadership in the strategic planning, oversight, and management of the comprehensive Bridges to Belmont program budget. Oversee the allocation and reconciliation of all resources and expenditures, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and student success outcomes. Direct the procurement strategy for academic supplies within the Bell Tower Scholars Program, optimizing resource utilization and operational efficiency. Collaborate annually with Student Financial Services (SFS) to conduct in-depth evaluations of scholarship funding, analyzing year-over-year trends and forecasting future budgetary needs to support long-term program sustainability and growth. Support for Recruitment & Admissions - In partnership with the Office of Admissions, develop overall student recruitment and selection strategy for the Bridges to Belmont Bell Tower Scholarship. Co-review applications, and participate in recruiting events for Bridges to Belmont Bell Tower Scholars Program as needed. Coordinate on-campus programming such as summer academies and transitional experiences for all Bridges to Belmont Programs. Cultivate partnerships with local community colleges and community-based organizations (CBOs) to expand access pathways. Maintain working knowledge of Belmont’s admissions, financial aid offerings and related enrollment support programs to guide prospective students effectively. Marketing & Communications - Provide strategic oversight of all marketing and communication projects related to the Bridges to Belmont initiative, including the development and maintenance of program materials and the Bridges to Belmont website. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure consistent branding, messaging, and accessibility across all platforms. Lead efforts to highlight student success stories, program impact, and community engagement through digital and print media.