The Futures Initiative is seeking applications from Graduate Center doctoral students in any field for a 2022-2023 fellowships. Our Doctoral Fellows are at the heart of the Futures Initiative, and the work we do is designed to support our mission and the professional goals of every Fellow. Our past fellows have gone on to do meaningful, inspiring work, both in the academy and beyond. We are seeking a Communications Co-Director for Fall 2022/Spring 2023 

These are one-year positions, and may possibly be renewed for one additional year (two additional years for students who have not received five-year GC fellowships). Graduate Center doctoral students may apply for more than one position. Doctoral students who have backgrounds underrepresented in the academy are especially encouraged to apply. As of October 7, 2021, Futures Initiative Fellowships offer a minimum total compensation of approximately $28,861. The FI Fellowship has two components: a graduate assistant B appointment and a financial aid fellowship. The graduate assistant appointment carries eligibility to purchase low-cost NYSHIP health insurance and offers in-state tuition remission for Fellows who are within their first 10 registered semesters of study. Fellows are required to work 450 hours for the academic year (225 hours per semester). This translates into 15 hours of work per week during each 15-week semester. Determinations of re-appointments are made on an annual basis depending on individual eligibility, GC needs, and available funding. If you’re interested in applying, please review the description below and apply using the link below by April10, 2022. Applicants who have previously applied to FI without an accepted offer, are welcome to re-apply. A CV is also required and should be emailed to futuresinitiative@gc.cuny.edu.

APPLY HERE, Communications Co-Director

About the Futures Initiative

The Futures Initiative is an incubator that designs and implements a wide range of initiatives supporting equity, innovation, engaged pedagogy, leadership for change, support of public higher education, and the use and development of technologies that enable these goals within the CUNY community and beyond.

Goals and Contributions of All Futures Initiative Fellows

– Be a valued member of a supportive team that prizes mentorship, growth, and leadership with a core mission of innovation founded on equity and a commitment to meaningful social and institutional change

– Have a key voice in a visionary organization that is working toward meaningful institutional and cultural change in higher education

– Gain skills in project management, events planning, leadership, communications, grant development, social media and web support, and programmatic support that will serve you in whatever career goals you aspire to

– Connect meaningfully with the CUNY and HASTAC communities

– Contribute to the program’s engagement with the public, including by regularly sharing and communicating relevant research, events, and opportunities via our various communications networks and platforms

– Build an ongoing portfolio of your contribution as a graduate student and an FI Fellow through monthly blog post communicating your research, teaching, and community experiences

– Participate in and co-lead weekly team meetings and assist with the designing and building of the program

– Assume leadership roles for running the program, including events and weekly meetings

– Share skills with one another and with others at the Graduate Center

Communications Co-Director 

In addition to the responsibilities of all fellows described above, this person will take lead on the following:

• Manage social media posts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube)  with appropriate content, events and announcements from the Futures Initiative
• Lead robust social media strategy (including a metrics strategy) to maximize the Futures Initiative’s reach beyond CUNY
• Collaboratively curate content and serve as lead editor of the monthly Futures Initiative Newsletter. Content may include announcements and blog posts from FI fellows, faculty, peer mentors, and staff as well as announcements, events, and more from affiliated groups at CUNY and beyond
• Assist with contributing a carefully curated selection of material to the quarterly HASTAC Newsletter for national distribution
• Support and lead doctoral fellows with public-facing blogging and social media posts emphasize equity, education, and active pedagogy. 
• Manage the development of visual materials and attractive graphics for communication needs related to the Futures Initiative’s events, annual report, newsletter, etc. 
• Some knowledge of Adobe, Photoshop, and other digital editing tools highly desirable
• Highlight and celebrate the voices of individuals in historically marginalized groups
• Manage marketing and outreach plans for FI events
• Serve as a liaison to the university’s communications department to share important materials and announcements
• Write post-event blog posts for marketing purposes that emphasize equity, education, and active pedagogy. 
• Gather alumni information and success stories to support effective research and the celebration of alumni accomplishments

Application Deadline April 10

For questions about the application process, please contact Adashima Oyo, Executive Director, The Futures Initiative at aoyo@gradcenter.cuny.edu.