Student Life & Wellness Specialist, Cornell Tech (NYC)

About Cornell Tech

Cornell Tech is Cornell University’s state-of-the-art campus in New York City that develops leaders and technologies for the AI era through foundational and applied research, graduate education, and new ventures. Located on Roosevelt Island, the growing campus was founded in partnership with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and in close collaboration with the NYC Economic Development Corporation after Cornell won a worldwide competition initiated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration to create an applied sciences campus in New York City. More than 1,000 Cornell students are now educated annually on the campus, including 700 in Cornell Tech programs. Since opening in 2012, nearly 120 new companies have spun out from startup programs at Cornell Tech, and 95 percent of them are based in New York City. Cornell Tech continues to have a transformative economic impact on the region’s tech sector.

Position Summary

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

The Student Life & Wellness Specialist is a full-time, visible resource to Cornell Tech graduate and professional students as well as Ithaca-based Cornell undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who live and/or study on the Cornell Tech campus. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Graduate Education at Cornell Tech, the position provides non-clinical student support, health referral, and crisis intervention, creates and implements proactive wellbeing programming and plays a lead role in student life programming in collaboration with the Associate Director of Technical Programs & Student Life including orientation, study breaks, team building, DEI events, PhD Visit Days, and the year-end Recognition Ceremony.

Successful candidates will need to have and display the following competencies as part of this role

• Communicates effectively - Provides timely and helpful information to students and others across the organization
• Interpersonal savvy - Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people
• Instills trust - Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
• Being resilient - Is confident under pressure; handles and manages crises effectively

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position located at the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City . The candidate must be available evenings and weekends by phone and email for occasional student crises and to implement student events. Currently, Tech staff work a hybrid schedule. Flexible work arrangements are subject to change.

Visa sponsorship is not available.

Starting salary range: $74,100 to $83,000

Essential Functions Include

Proactive Outreach, Training, and Programming - 60%

• Hold weekly office hours and utilize other strategies to establish visible presence among students.
• Assess wellness training and programming needs and opportunities. Design and implement appropriate proactive programs and materials.
• Work with students who live on campus to establish healthy roommate relationships.
• Support and collaborate with University resources to ensure appropriate training and education for the campus community around topics including, but not limited to, sexual misconduct, positive relationships, and bystander intervention.
• Assist in training and advising faculty, staff, and students on identifying, managing and responding to students of concern.
• Create and implement student programming including orientation, study breaks, community building, socials, DEI, volunteer events, PhD Visit Days and the Recognition Ceremony in collaboration with the Associate Director of Technical Programs and Student Life.
• Develop promotional materials of student resources and events. Maintain updates to the Student Wellness website.

Response to and Support of Students in Distress - 20%

• Support students in need, including, for example, those who have recently gone through a crisis and need follow-up attention; who have returned from a health or personal leave; who are experiencing challenges with identifying or accessing medical, mental health or wellness services in New York City; or who come to the attention of the campus through a faculty member, staff member, or other campus partner.
• Meet individually with students as needed to support their progress and provide referrals to services. Follow-up and track cases to ensure adequate support.
• The support work does not include direct counseling, but may include informal discussions with reflective listening; coordinating services among academic, counseling, medical and other campus partners; checking in over a period of time to learn of on-going needs; providing information related to housing, child care, health, mental well-being; and making referrals to the appropriate campus partners or NYC services.
• Support for personal (non-academic) student issues living on campus not related to housing policies.
• Be a resource to students in crisis studying in NYC, but not living on the Tech Campus, through their program administrators or faculty and in coordination with Ithaca-based Student Advocacy and Support team

Development of Strategic Relationships with NYC and University Resources - 10%

• Recruit and train campus partners (program specific staff and appropriate support resources) to assist with supporting student wellness including health and fitness.
• Identify and develop informal or formal relationships as appropriate with direct service providers including the on campus CAPs counselor.

Other position-related responsibilities - 10%

• Participate in projects or other duties as assigned with occasional work responsibility falling above or below current classification.
• Completion of any university required compliance trainings.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, human development, social work, education, or related field and 2-3 years of related experience in a complex higher education setting.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Experience working directly with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Knowledge of FERPA, HIPAA, Title IX, Cleary Act and other emergent issues pertaining to student support, including work with international students.
• Ability to work independently and autonomously without direct supervision and possess the ability to make sound judgment calls when necessary and relay information appropriately and consistently.
• Ability to advise students from various backgrounds, make referrals, set boundaries, and equip students with skills and strategies to engage in self-advocacy.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues, both within the organization and in the wider community, and at every level of an institution’s hierarchy.
• Knowledge and experience with mental and physical health and wellness resources in NYC.
• Experience working with inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, human development, social work, education, or related field and/or additional relevant work experience. Advanced certification or license in mental health, social work or related field.

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Culture Of Inclusion and Community Standards

As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recog nize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all. Cornell Core values

As a people manager and university leader you will model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing by fostering an environment where everyone has the ability to thrive and navigate work and life’s challenges because they feel like they belong and have the tools and support they need .

While position responsibilities vary greatly, the Skills for Success and Leadership Skills for Success are foundational to what is expected of every employee and leader working at Cornell . These skills are essential for individual and organizational success. Staff Skills for Success ; Leadership Skills for Success

Rewards And Benefits

Competitive compensation, generous time-off, and great benefits … More on Cornell Benefits

University Job Title

Student Svc Assoc II

Job Family

Student Services

Level

F

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Range

$72,209.00 - $94,904.00

Remote Option Availability

Hybrid

Company

Endowed

Contact Name

Menasha Joseph Seeraj

Contact Email

[email hidden]

Job Titles and Pay Ranges

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator .

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement . To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates .

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Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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2026-07-30