Program Coordinator - Tisch College

Overview

The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life is a national leader in civic education, whose teaching, research, and community partnerships are setting the standard for higher education’s role in civic engagement. As the only university-wide college of its kind, Tisch engages Tufts students in transformational learning opportunities via hands-on field-based experiences, community building, and public service. These engagements prepare them to become active citizens and community leaders. Tisch research centers conduct groundbreaking research on young people’s civic and political participation and forge innovative participatory action research partnerships with communities.

Tisch College’s North Star - building robust, inclusive democracy for an increasingly multiracial society - seeks to cultivate knowledge, leaders and living experiments that expand possibilities for democratic development in the context of increasing risks to democracy worldwide. Our programs and research centers focus on strengthening the political participation and voices of historically marginalized people, especially youth, and on addressing the challenges of building and reviving democratic institutions needed for multiracial/ethnic societies.

What You'll Do

The Program Coordinator reports to the TUPIT (Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College) Interim Director and serves as a central member of the TUPIT team during a period of organizational transition and program redesign. The Program Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations of TUPIT's academic and reentry programming while helping ensure an exceptional educational experience for students before, during, and after incarceration. Working closely with the Interim Director, faculty, correctional partners, students, alumni, community organizations, and university colleagues, the Program Coordinator integrates operational excellence with direct student support, collaborative program development, and relationship management. The Program Coordinator oversees the complex logistics required to deliver high-quality prison-based higher education while contributing to the continuous improvement of TUPIT's educational and reentry model. The position helps cultivate strategic partnerships, supports student success and transition planning, coordinates operational systems, contributes to program assessment and organizational learning, and helps translate innovative ideas into effective practice. This position is well suited for a collaborative, entrepreneurial professional who combines strong organizational skills with a deep commitment to educational opportunity, restorative justice, and student success. This is a hybrid position requiring regular travel among Tufts University, participating correctional facilities, partner institutions, and community organizations.

• Academic Program Coordination and Student Success
• Coordinate semester implementation of prison-based educational programming, ensuring smooth delivery of academic courses and student support services.
• Deliver and help develop regular student success and reentry preparation programming for incarcerated students.
• Provide ongoing academic and reentry advising to students, identifying barriers to success and collaborating with the Interim Director to develop appropriate supports.
• Coordinate orientations, logistics, and ongoing support for Tufts faculty and student teaching assistants participating in prison-based instruction.
• Coordinate recruitment, application review, scheduling, and onboarding for student teaching assistants, making recommendations to the Interim Director.
• Coordinate registration materials, course evaluations, academic documentation, and communication among Tufts, BHCC, correctional partners, and students.
• Help foster a student-centered learning environment that promotes academic excellence, leadership development, and successful transition beyond incarceration.
• Program Operations and Administration
• Work closely with the Senior Program Coordinator to coordinate the day-to-day operations of TUPIT's prison-based academic and reentry programming, ensuring effective implementation across multiple educational sites.
• Support the tracking of program expenditures; assisting to process invoices, purchase orders, reimbursements, and other financial transactions; assist with reconciling expenses; and supporting the preparation of regular budget reports with the Interim Director.
• Maintain accurate program records, student files, rosters, operational documentation, and shared resources using university information systems.
• Coordinate program calendars, scheduling, meeting logistics, and shared planning documents to support efficient program operations.
• Coordinate procurement, preparation, and distribution of books, instructional materials, technology, registration documents, and other educational resources among Tufts, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), correctional facilities, and students.
• Provide logistical and administrative support for fundraising activities, donor engagement, public events, and external communications.
• Coordinate the schedules and day-to-day assignments of student assistants and volunteers supporting TUPIT programming.
• Reentry Coordination and Partnership Development
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with employers, housing providers, educational institutions, community organizations, mentors, and service providers that support successful student transition following incarceration.
• Coordinate individualized reentry planning, referrals, and resource navigation in collaboration with community partners and university colleagues.
• Maintain an up-to-date network of community resources and referral partners to support students before and after release.
• Coordinate communication and collaborative planning with correctional staff, community organizations, and university partners to strengthen continuity of educational and reentry services.
• Represent TUPIT professionally with external partners and at community meetings, conferences, and public events as appropriate.
• Program Development, Assessment, and Continuous Improvement
• Serve as a collaborative thought partner to the Interim Director in strengthening TUPIT's educational programming, student support systems, and operational effectiveness.
• Gather information, document current practices, and contribute to ongoing redesign and continuous improvement of TUPIT's educational and reentry model.
• Participate in program assessment, data collection, research activities, and evaluation projects that support organizational learning and evidence-informed practice.
• Help identify opportunities for innovative programming, strategic partnerships, operational improvements, and enhanced student support.
• Assist in preparing reports, presentations, materials, and other documents communicating TUPIT's work and impact.
• Tisch College and University Responsibilities
• Participate actively in TUPIT, Tisch College, and University meetings, trainings, committees, and professional development opportunities.
• Collaborate with Tisch College colleagues in planning and implementing college-wide events and initiatives.
• Support research, communications, assessment, and special projects that advance the mission of TUPIT and Tisch College.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of TUPIT's evolving mission and strategic priorities.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:

• Associate's Degree.
• 5+ years of related experience.
• 0-3 years of related office experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in higher education in prison, correctional education, reentry programming, restorative justice, adult education, student affairs, or closely related fields.
• Lived experience with incarceration, the criminal legal system, or successful community reentry.
• Knowledge of Massachusetts correctional systems, higher education in prison, and the network of organizations supporting successful community reentry.
• Experience developing collaborative partnerships with educational institutions, community organizations, government agencies, employers, or nonprofit organizations.
• Experience facilitating educational programs, workshops, group learning experiences, or student leadership development.
• Experience supporting program assessment, research, data collection, continuous improvement initiatives, or grant-funded programs.
• Familiarity with university student information systems, financial systems, and project management software.
• Demonstrated commitment to educational equity, civic engagement, restorative justice, and expanding educational opportunity for historically marginalized communities.
• Knowledge of or experience in subject matter preferred.
• Some familiarity with AirTable.

Pay Range

Minimum $27.85, Midpoint $33.15, Maximum $38.50

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.