Position Function:
The Coordinator supports the success of the Shackouls Honors College by managing internal and external fellowship and scholarship opportunities through the Offices of Prestigious External Scholarships and Undergraduate Research and Creative Discovery. This role advises students and alumni on nationally competitive awards, oversees communication strategies and outreach efforts, and coordinates funding processes for high-impact experiences. The Coordinator also builds partnerships across campus to promote student development and engagement with prestigious opportunities.
Salary Grade: 14
Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.
Department Profile:
Please see the Shackouls Honors College website at www.honors.msstate.edu.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Director of the Office of Prestigious External Scholarships (OPES) and the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Discovery (URCD), the Coordinator
1. Coordinates and assists in the management of fellowship and scholarship opportunities—both internal and external—for both the OPES and URCD.
2. Serves as a focal point for Honors College data management and funding processes for honors research, study abroad, internship, and research travel fellowships.
3. Coordinates the data management and funding processes for high impact experiences for the Presidential Endowed Scholarship (PES) program and the Bridgeforth Scholarship.
4. Advises current students and recent alumni on nationally competitive external scholarships and fellowships, including—but not limited to—the Rhodes, Gates-Cambridge, Marshall, Fulbright, Truman, PPIA, and Udall awards.
5. Leads campus outreach by collaborating with faculty, staff, and university offices to promote awareness of prestigious external awards.
6. Designs and implements innovative strategies to increase visibility and expand the applicant pool for OPES opportunities.
7. Coordinates with faculty to make classroom visits and meets with student organizations to share information about OPES and the Undergraduate Research and Creative Discovery (URCD) resources and programs.
8. Develops and manages a comprehensive communication strategy to promote OPES and URCD via existing social media platforms (Website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn).
9. Organizes and facilitates in-person and virtual information sessions about specific awards.
10. Engages with national fellowship foundations to stay current on trends and best practices in scholarship advising.
11. Works one-on-one with students to guide them through the application and essay-writing process.
12. Assists in coordinating faculty review panels and institutional endorsement processes for competitive awards.
13. Supports Shackouls Honors College initiatives related to student development.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Experience (yrs.): Three years of professional experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
Background of honors education, student affairs, and/or academic affairs. Knowledge competitive external scholarships.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Excellent communication skills. Experience using Qualtrics, Excel, and Adobe to track and create reports. Familiarity with Slate, Banner, and Canvas a plus.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
• Requires occasional travel to professional development conferences, to visit Foundations, and to support students interviewing away from campus.
• No unusual physical requirements. Requires limited lifting of files and records and nearly
all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.
• Frequent external imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one's control; interruptions
influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond
a few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to
position; involves conflict-resolution or similar interactions involving emotional issues or
stress on a regular basis.
• Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with
hands.
Instructions for Applying:
Applicants must apply online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu by completing the professional application and attaching a resume, cover letter, and the complete contact information for at least three professional references.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
