Kent State University Recreation and Wellness Services (RecWell) is seeking candidates for the following Graduate Assistant positions for the 2026 – 2027 academic year. Appointments in following academic years are awarded based on satisfactory performance in both your academic program and in your assigned responsibilities.  

• Competitive Sports (1)

• Well-being (1)

HOW TO APPLY:

• CURRENT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: Please submit a resume and cover letter via Handshake web portal by Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

  • Competitive Sports Graduate Assistant: position #10700288

  • Well-being Graduate Assistant: position #10719432

• APPLICANTS OUTSIDE OF KENT STATE UNIVERSITY: Please submit a resume and cover letter to Jeff Kingery, Coordinator of Student Personnel at jkinger2@kent.edu by Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

Applications via NIRSA Bluefish Jobs will not be accepted.

For more information about RecWell, please visit https://www.kent.edu/recwell.

Competitive Sports (1 position): 

The Competitive Sports Graduate Assistant will primarily focus on the Intramural Sports program area, by supporting the Competitive Sports professional staff with the day-to-day operations, program planning, policy review, and assist in the hiring, training, supervision, and development of student employees. This position may also have additional responsibilities with Club Sports, Community Leagues, Outdoor Facilities, and Youth Programs as needed. The position will require working a flexible schedule, including non-traditional work hours.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the management, administration, and supervision of the Intramural Sports program area, including planning, programming, implementing, tracking, and assessment.

• Help develop semesterly program activity schedules for intramural sports offerings.

• Recruit, hire, train, schedule, supervise, manage, develop, and evaluate approximately 20 student staff including Competitive Sports Supervisors, and Intramural Sports Officials.

• Provide on-site coverage and supervision for Intramural Sports activities on a regular basis.

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of rules, policies, and officiating mechanics for all Intramural Sports

• Provide feedback and insights for policy revisions, and sport-specific rule changes to enhance the program area

• Lead marketing and promotional efforts for intramural sports through social media, and campus collaborations

• Communicate with participants and staff to resolve conflicts, announce changes, and to promote activities

• Review nightly reports, submitted forms, and confirm scores from intramural contests on a daily basis

• Adhere to and enforce all policies and procedures set forth in the Department and area-specific staff manuals

• Attend all departmental and area meetings as requested

• Provide exceptional customer service to all participants, patrons, spectators, staff and community members

• Maintain and remain current with all required certifications for the position

• Serve as a liaison between professional staff and student employees, participants, and student groups

• Assist the designated supervisor with other job-related tasks when assigned

Qualifications:

• Experience with intramural programming including effective scheduling, organization, and training practices.

• Officiating experience in any of the following sports: basketball, football, soccer, softball/baseball, volleyball.

• Knowledge of IMLeagues.com (preferred) or other Intramural Sports league management software.

• Supervisory experience of student employees, and participants. Facility supervision experience is also preferred.

• Ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emergency situations.

• Must possess strong customer service skills. 

• Work both independently and collaboratively with others to achieve common goals.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills with students, coworkers, supervisors, and all RecWell patrons.

To view the full job description, please visit Competitive Sports GA Job Description.  

For any questions about the position, please contact Eli Mallahan, Coordinator of Competitive Sports and Youth Programs, at emallaha@kent.edu.

Well-being (1 position): 

The Well-being Graduate Assistant will assist the designated supervisor with the administration of the Well-being area.  The position will require working a flexible schedule, including non-traditional work hours.  

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with research projects focused on student and community health trends, well-being, and effective interventions.

• Assist with budget and data tracking.

• Assist with quarterly and annual impact reports on the effectiveness and benefits of the Kent State of Well-being.

• Assist in researching and drafting proposals for grants and cases of support aimed at funding well-being initiatives.

• Communicate with other departments, faculty, and student organizations to promote collaborative efforts around well-being.

• Track participation in programs, gather feedback from participants, and assist in compiling data on the effectiveness of wellness initiatives. This may include surveys or focus groups.

• Assist with the development, implementation, and analysis of periodic health and wellness surveys to provide health-related data, identify program needs and priorities, evaluate the effectiveness of programs and services, and track trends in student health status and behavior.

• Assist with staff events, perform presentations, assist with social norming, prevention and health promotion campaigns as needed.

• Assists the designated supervisor with other job-related tasks when assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A minimum of one year of health education promotion practicum experience (or completion of required internship experience).

• Familiarity with assessment planning, data collection, program planning and implementation and evaluation. 

• Experience with marketing and health communication.

• Understanding of health literacy and health behavior theories. 

• Experience with college student development. 

To view the full job description, please visit Well-being Graduate Assistant Job Description.

For any questions about the position, please contact Meghan Factor - Page, Senior Associate Director, Kent State of Well-being at mfactor@kent.edu.

Required Qualifications for all positions:

• Bachelor's degree conferred at the time the graduate assistantship begins.

• A candidate for a graduate assistantship must be admitted to an academic graduate program at Kent State University unconditionally.

• Maintain good academic standing and must carry a minimum of eight hours of graduate credits during each semester of the academic year appointment. Appointees may not accept any other paid employment within the university during the tenure of their employment unless approved in advance through an waiver process by the Graduate College.

• A total undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale. More information regarding Graduate School Admissions is below.

• Ability to positively create a welcoming environment for all and maintain a positive attitude at work.

• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.

• Demonstrates an articulation of one’s own personal and professional goals, strengths, and weaknesses, and how this work experience will be a growth opportunity.

• Work both independently and collaboratively with others in diverse working groups to achieve common goals.

• Ability to address conflict in a professional manner through problem-solving and critical thinking.

Graduate School Admissions and Application Information:

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 required for admission. Some programs may require a higher minimum undergraduate or graduate GPA. Learn more here. 

• GRE may be required (contact the Graduate Coordinator of the appropriate school for more details).

  • List of all eligible Graduate Programs: https://catalog.kent.edu/programs/#filter=.filter_2&.filter_5&.filter_6&.filter_47

 Competitive Sports Graduate Assistant: 

• Preferred candidates shall pursue one of the following graduate degree programs:

  • Sport and Recreation Management – M.A.

  • Sports Administration - M.A.

  • Hospitality and Tourism Management – M.A.

  • Exercise Physiology – M.A.

  • Physical Education Teacher Education – M.A.

  Applicants interested in other graduate degree programs are also encouraged to apply. 

Well-being Graduate Assistant: 

• Preferred candidates shall pursue one of the following graduate degree programs:

  • Health Education and Promotion - M.Ed.

  • Health Policy and Management  –  M.P.H.

  • Public Health – M.P.H.

  • Higher Education and Student Affairs– M.Ed.

  Applicants interested in other graduate degree programs are also encouraged to apply. 

Stipend and Benefits:

• $11,000 for the academic year appointment (minimum of 20 work hours per week) paid semi-monthly.

• Full tuition waiver, up to 16 credit hours per semester.

• Assistance with health insurance costs (if necessary)

• Assistance with travel costs for professional related development (when permitted). 

• Additional pay over summer breaks may be available at an hourly rate.

• Official University holidays off.

Working Schedule: 

• Assigned work hours are based on student availability and we appreciate that you are a student first.

• The appointment will be for the academic year (Aug. 20, 2026 – May 19, 2027) with certain academic breaks off unless predetermined by student and supervisor.

• The position may be renewed for a second academic year based on satisfactory performance in both your academic program and in your assigned responsibilities.  

• Additional pay over summer breaks may be available at an hourly rate. 

• A set schedule will be created and shared at the beginning of the fall and spring semester for certain aspects of the job. These hours will also be assigned based on availability. 

• Graduate Assistants are expected to keep regularly scheduled office hours in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center during the semester.

• Graduate Assistants must be available to attend all staff meetings/trainings during academic semesters.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

More about Recreation and Wellness Services at Kent State University:

WHO WE ARE - We are committed to building communities of belonging by encouraging well-being through inclusive leadership, recreation, and wellness experiences. Our staff includes programmers, administrators and more than 200 student employees who are all focused on creating an outstanding experience for the people we serve.

WHAT WE DO - Recreation and Wellness Services serves the Kent State University community. That community includes but is not limited to students, faculty, staff, and community members. We offer outdoor adventure programming, swim lessons, fitness classes, personal training, ice skating and hockey lessons, community sport leagues, paddling trips and so much more!

WHERE WE'RE LOCATED - We are located on Kent State University’s Kent Campus in Kent, Ohio, which is in Northeast Ohio. Recreation and Wellness Services maintains several facilities across campus, including the Beverly J. Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center, Ice Arena, Tri - Rec, Disc Golf course, outdoor courts, tennis courts, and outdoor sports fields. 

MISSION STATEMENT - We build communities of belonging by encouraging well-being through inclusive leadership, recreation, and wellness experiences. 

VISION STATEMENT - Connecting people through recreation and wellness experiences to support lifelong well-being. 

VALUES - Belonging, Excellence, and Sustainability. 

More about Kent State University:

Kent State University is the highest-ranked public university in northern Ohio on the Top Public Schools and Best National Universities lists by U.S. News & World Report. Kent State also holds the esteemed distinction of being one of only five institutions in Ohio to be recognized as an elite research university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. With eight campuses spanning Northeast Ohio, a College of Podiatric Medicine, a Twinsburg Academic Center and academic sites in major world cities, such as New York City, Geneva and Florence, Kent State is one of Ohio’s leading public universities and a major educational, economic and cultural resource far beyond the Northeast Ohio region it has served since 1910. Kent State is a national leader in award-winning student support services to graduate students.

Kent State University is committed to creating a community that is culturally and intellectually diverse and to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that respect differences, and are inclusive, welcoming, respectful and kind.

https://www.kent.edu/