VLC Programs Student Assistant Specialist

Join The New School 

At The New School, we redefine the boundaries of education, creativity, and innovation. Founded in 1919 and located in the heart of New York City, we are home to approximately  9,000 students from over 100 countries, offering more than 135 degree and diploma programs across our renowned colleges, including Parsons School of Design and the College of Performing Arts (Mannes, Jazz, and Drama), Lang College and the New School for Social Research, and Parsons Paris. Our progressive, interdisciplinary approach has earned us recognition as one of the most forward-thinking institutions in the world.

The Vera List Center for Art and Politics seeks a student to support our programs by assisting with various administrative, programmatic, social media, and design tasks, as well as supporting the presentation of public events such as the VLC Forum 2026. The student should be available 7–12 hours/week, including during the evening or weekend, at an hourly rate of $21/hour. The student will be expected to work in person at least 4 hours per week, some during the evening or weekend. The position begins in early September and will run through June 2027 with the possibility of being continued in future academic years. The student worker will report directly to Adrienne Umeh, the Director of Finance and Operations at the Vera List Center but will work closely with other members of the team at various times.

The student assistant specialist will gain insight into the Vera List Center’s organization, including its public events, publications, exhibitions, fellowships, prize cycles, development and operations. The student assistant will learn about the interdisciplinary contributions of the VLC to New York City’s cultural communities and will be engaged with the Center’s efforts to diversify its programs and make them broadly accessible. The position is open to graduate students in any program at The New School and seeks candidates who are passionate about the arts, how they intersect with current political issues, and often enhance social justice work and strategies. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties of the position include: 

• General administrative support such as help with preparing mailings, website updates, filing and organization, putting together itineraries, etc.

• Support of program evaluations, attendance, and statistics, and gathering other data relevant for outreach, PR, and development.

• Research and organizing information for VLC events, the VLC Fellows library and other initiatives.

• Organizing the VLC collections of books, papers, and art materials.

• Surveying the contemporary art landscape to produce a dataset of collectors whose interests overlap with the VLC.

• Supporting communication efforts in accordance with the VLC outreach calendar and social media, to include taking or organizing pictures and drafting posts. 

• Assistance with publication and other asset management and organization.

• Using the FileMaker database to archive the VLC projects and network, including creating new records for individuals, events, and programs; managing lists, updating prior entries; using it to export lists of contacts, addresses, etc. and saving backups of the FileMaker archive regularly.

• Other administrative and programmatic tasks as assigned.

• In-person event support, especially from October 5–November 1 to support the VLC Forum and Prize exhibition.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Passion for engaging with diverse communities of different backgrounds and an interest in contemporary art and social justice work. 

• Strong office, administrative, and organizational skills.

• Exemplary attitude and work habits including diligence and an attention to detail.

• Independent worker with great self motivation and initiative, who thrives working simultaneously across different tasks and platforms and is able to work without close supervision or alone.

• Commitment for two semesters and availability to work in the evenings and weekends to help with events.

• Outstanding research, writing, and communication skills.

 PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Curatorial and editorial experience.

• Event planning and coordination experience. 

• Social media and communication experience.

• Experience with video editing, graphic design, WordPress, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and/or Adobe Indesign software a plus.

WORK MODE:

Hybrid/Split #LI-DNI

HOURLY RATE

$21/hour

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, marital or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. The New School recognizes and values the benefits of a diverse workforce.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS *

Please submit a resume/CV.

Responsibilities:

The VLC Programs Student Assistant Specialist will work with various members of the VLC staff providing day-to-day support as well as working on longer term projects. This position is multifaceted and includes administrative, communications, development and programmatic responsibilities, at times extending to archival work or database management.