Director of Optometric Student Success

Job Summary

The Director of Optometric Student Success provides strategic leadership for academic success, learning enhancement, student support, and educational effectiveness initiatives within the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Reporting to the Dean or Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, the Director is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive, evidence-based programs that promote student achievement, retention, progression, wellbeing, and National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) success across the optometric curriculum.
Grounded in data-informed decision-making, learning science, and best practices in health professions education, the Director leads proactive student success initiatives including academic coaching, early-alert intervention, remediation support, peer tutoring, faculty development, and outcomes assessment. This position serves as a key program leader in advancing a culture of student achievement, continuous improvement, and educational excellence aligned with Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) standards.
The Director collaborates extensively with faculty, academic leadership, Student Success, and university partners to identify trends impacting student performance, develop strategic interventions, evaluate program effectiveness, and strengthen program outcomes related to optometric education and student success.

Essential Functions

• Strategic Leadership and Program Administration 
  • Lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of student success initiatives across the Pennsylvania College of Optometry 
  • Develop and oversee comprehensive academic support frameworks aligned with institutional priorities and ACOE accreditation standards 
  • Develop policies, procedures, and best practices related to student support, progression, and academic success 
  • Create reports, analyses, and recommendations for academic leadership regarding student outcomes, and program effectiveness of student success initiatives 
  • Represent the Pennsylvania College of Optometry on university committees and initiatives related to student success, educational effectiveness, and learner wellbeing
  • Collaborate with program faculty and administrative leaders to identify emerging educational challenges within the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and implement proactive interventions
  • Foster a collaborative, student-centered culture focused on academic achievement and learner development - (Essential)
• Academic Success Programs & Student Support Initiatives 
  • Design and implement evidence-based student success initiatives grounded in learning science and health professions education best practices
  • Develop orientation and transition programming to support student adjustment to the optometry curriculum 
  • Develop structured workshops and educational programming focused on study strategies, metacognition, test-taking performance, resilience, and clinical reasoning 
  • Direct and oversee individualized academic support and coaching for NBEO preparation for identified students
  • Evaluate effectiveness of support initiatives and implement improvements based on measurable outcomes 
• Individualized Academic Coaching & Learning Assessment
  • Conduct high-level individualized academic coaching sessions with optometry students experiencing academic difficulty or requiring enhanced learning support
  • Guide students in performance analysis, self-regulated learning strategies, and clinical reasoning approaches relevant to optometric education
  • Provide targeted support for students preparing for NBEO examinations and academic remediation processes 
  • Intervention & Remediation for Early Identified Students
  • Support academic progress committees and provide strategic recommendations regarding student success interventions 
  • Participate in the development of and oversee the individualized remediation plans developed for a student • Lead coordinated intervention strategies for students experiencing academic difficulty 
  • Maintain effective communication with faculty and administrators while ensuring confidentiality - (Essential)
• Assessment & Educational Effectiveness
  • Develop assessment methodologies and outcome measures to evaluate effectiveness of student success initiatives
  • Collaborate with program leaders on the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of NBEO performance outcomes data for students who participate in student success programming related to retention, remediation, progression, and NBEO performance
  • Identify trends and curricular factors positively impacting student achievement and report of them to program leaders using data-informed analysis
  • Identify trends, high-risk areas, and curricular challenges impacting optometry student success and report on them to program leaders with supporting data
  • Contribute to the preparation of accreditation-related reports, documentation, and evidence aligned with Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) standards 
• Faculty Development & Educational Leadership
  • Develop and deliver faculty development workshops grounded in evidence-based pedagogy and peer-reviewed educational research 
  • Serve as a resource to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry faculty on effective teaching practices, and student learning strategies
  • Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and scholarly teaching within optometric education - (Essential)
• Professional Development
  • Maintain current knowledge of learning science, cognitive psychology, educational assessment, and health professions education 
  • Participate in professional organizations and communities of practice related to student success and optometric education 
  • Contribute to scholarly activities including presentations, publications, and research related to student learning, remediation, and educational outcomes 

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Master's Degree in or the equivalent combination of education and work experience.
  • (Please review the Equivalency Chart for additional information.)
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in academic support, student success, educational assessment, learning services, or health professions education within higher education settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of learning theory, metacognition, and evidence-based instructional practices
• Experience applying data-driven approaches to optometry student learning, and academic intervention design
• Familiarity with optometric education and National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations preferred
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret academic performance data and translate findings into actionable strategies
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build rapport with diverse learners
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, administrators, and support staff
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and holistic student development
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sensitivity when working with students in academic difficulty

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with professional or graduate students in optometry, medicine, pharmacy, dental, nursing, or related health professions education strongly preferred.

Physical Demands

• Typically sitting at a desk/table

Location

• Salus Campus - Elkins Park

Additional Information
This position is classified as Exempt, grade M. Compensation for this grade ranges from $82,920 to $124,380 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position will vary based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

Applicants are encouraged to explore the Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on Drexel’s compensation framework. For information about benefits, please review Drexel’s Benefits Brochure.

Special Instructions to the Applicant
Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

A review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.