Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership

at  Virginia Commonwealth University

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (TENURE-ELIGIBLE), DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

The Department of Educational Leadership (EDLP) in the School of Education (SOE) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is committed to preparing leaders able to influence equity, excellence, innovation, and impact in urban and other settings serving students with unmet needs. By combining innovative research, teaching and critical reflection with authentic community engaged learning experiences, the department prepares leaders who can address crucial needs in culturally rich and diverse environments. The faculty work to help students: 1) Reveal new understandings related to education and society through innovative research, and translate that knowledge into impactful practice; 2) Advocate for inclusive, equitable, and safe learning environments; and 3) Connect those who study educational leadership with practitioners and policy makers. By combining innovative research, teaching and critical reflection with authentic community engaged learning experiences, the department prepares leaders who can address critical needs in culturally rich and diverse urban and other high-need environments at multiple levels. EDLP has been named seventh in best online doctoral programs by Forbes and fifteenth in best online master’s in education in administration and supervision by U.S. News and World Report.
EDLP seeks applications for the position of Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track, of Educational Leadership, with specialization in one or more of the following areas:
Organizational/non-profit/public sector leadership, especially teamwork, organizational culture change;
Comparative and/or international education;
K12 leadership (school- and system-level experience, especially budgeting/finance, and/or legal issues);
Methodological expertise in quantitative or mixed methods research in support of doctoral Capstone projects and dissertations.
This is a nine-month, tenure-eligible research and teaching faculty position scheduled to begin August 10th, 2024. The Assistant Professor will conduct innovative and impactful research, maintain a scholarly agenda through writing, publishing, presenting at conferences, and obtaining external funding to advance their research and the field; teach graduate courses in the area of specialization, work with masters and doctoral students on capstones and dissertations and supervise/mentor students as necessary; engage in service to the department, school, university, surrounding community, and national/international professional organizations; will broaden participation among members of underrepresented groups; and will demonstrate through research, teaching, and/or public engagement the richness of diversity in the learning experiences and will integrate multicultural approaches and perspectives into instructional methods and research tools.
At Virginia Commonwealth University, we are UNcommon in learning, research, creativity, service, and discovery for our students, staff, faculty and community members. We create UNcommon opportunities and strive for UNmatched excellence. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers for diversity, VCU is a great place to work. It’s a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work. VCU also has excellent research/grant technical support. In FY23, the SOE brought in over 40 million dollars in external research support. In 2022, VCU achieved federal Minority Serving Institution (MSI) status and was designated by the U.S. Department of Education as eligible for the federal Title III and Title V MSI and Strengthening Institutions Programs for having met rigorous standards in the service of minority students, low-income students, and student success. We believe different perspectives and areas of expertise enhance possibilities and solutions. This philosophy drives our recruitment process. We welcome applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds who will contribute to an already diverse community of faculty, staff, and students. Candidates need to have demonstrated experiences advancing access, equity, and quality education for underrepresented learners, particularly within low-resource communities. This includes a commitment to addressing diversity, inclusion, social justice, equity, and antiracist practices in education/educational leadership through teaching, service, and mentoring.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Earned doctorate in educational leadership or related field;
• Leadership experience in an organizational setting;
• Potential to facilitate and/or lead adult learning;
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment;
• Strong facilitation and problem solving skills;
• Strong and applied commitment to diversity, equity, and access as they

relate to educational leadership, policy, and systems improvement;

• Experience with innovative programming around leadership for equity;
• Leadership experience (or potential) related to or within urban settings from a

culturally responsive and antiracist lens;

• Demonstrated (or potential) leadership experience in advancing access, equity,

and quality education for learners from historically marginalized and
underrepresented minority populations living in poverty and/or the educators

that serve them; and

• Demonstrated (or potential) experience working in and fostering a diverse and inclusive

faculty, staff, and student environment and commitment to do so as a faculty
member at VCU.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Evidence of successful teaching at the graduate level;
• Experience with master and doctoral students including advising and/or

chairing dissertations/capstones and serving on committees;

• Experience with online delivery of instruction;
• Ability to build and leverage meaningful cross-sector partnerships with local

organizations for the purpose of educating and preparing leaders who advocate

for social justice and lead communities of learning and continual improvement;

• Potential for developing programs for interdisciplinary settings;
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: K12 leadership; leadership

development; school law; fiscal and human resource management;

educational equity; and/or education policy;

• Experiences that inform worldviews and/or perspectives about minority

group status, to include race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, and

disability;

• Evidence of collaborations with research centers and institutes and/or with

community agencies; and

• Demonstrated work (e.g. practice, research, and/or scholarship) in

advancing access, equity, and quality education for learners from historically
marginalized and underrepresented minority populations living in poverty
and/or the educators that serve them.

Please refer the Job description for details