Student Assistant I - Counseling

Palo Alto University (PAU), a private, non-profit university, founded in 1975 and located in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley, is a community grounded in values of social justice, dedicated to addressing pressing and emerging issues in the fields of psychology and counseling that meets the needs of today’s diverse society. The students at PAU reflect the diversity of the region, are engaged in their education, and committed to improving the lives of others. The University sees diversity in its staff and faculty as very important to serving its diverse student body (or synonymous with inclusive excellence). PAU offers undergraduate and graduate programs with online, hybrid and residential options. PAU has an engaged faculty who make significant contributions to their fields and prepare future leaders who make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. When you put all of this together, PAU creates a legacy of confident, competent, and compassionate professionals who are at the forefront of psychology and counseling and who move ahead in life by moving lives ahead. 

Position Description 

Job Title: Student Assistant I 

Department: Counseling 

Reports To:  Karen Roller

Location: Remote via Zoom  OR In-person Mountain View Campus

Date: January 8, 2026 - June 30, 2026

 Employment Status: Part Time; 1-10 hours per week 

Overview 

This position is to support in-person skills practice and review of mid-term and final skills recordings for the Couples Counseling class in Winter, and Crisis and Traurma Residency for two sections in Spring. 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Assist with student evaluation and gatekeeping processes.  
• Maintain accurate records safeguarding the confidentiality of subjects and students, as needed.  
• Conduct literature reviews and gather relevant research articles. 
• Assist in the preparation of manuscripts and presentations. 
• Attend research/administrative meetings and take notes. 
• Assist in the organization of research materials and data. 
• Complete clerical updates to Canvas 
• Assist with various course tasks.  
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Be a current PAU student 
• CES doctoral applicant preferred and will consider a MA in CMHC student 
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, or a related field 
• Be detail-oriented; Have strong organizational, verbal, and written communication skills ●  Ability to meet deadlines 
• Proficient with APA formatting 
• Proficient with Qualtrics 
• Comfort with Excel 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively 
• Knowledge of research methods and data analysis software is preferred  
• Familiarity with counseling-related research preferred 
• Experience with IRB protocols and procedures preferred 

Application Procedures: 

PAU is committed to providing an educational environment that supports a diverse, equitable and inclusive population.  In your cover letter, please include information on how your background and experience has prepared you to be in an environment that holds equity and inclusion core to its mission and values.  

EEOC Policy: 

No Discrimination: The University is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and in the application of its personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, employment decisions will be made irrespective of the staff member's backgrounds of race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. 

As provided by law, and when it is requested to do so, the University will offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, if the individual is otherwise qualified to safely and to the University standards of quality of work, perform all essential functions of the position and if it will be done without undue hardship to the University.

PAU has a high-quality work environment that attracts and welcomes a diversity of backgrounds of its employees.  In your application or in a cover letter, please include information on how your background and experience has prepared you to work at a high level of quality of work with co-workers from a variety of different backgrounds.