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Instructional Associate Professor/Program Director - Public Administration - (FAC001478)



The Master of Public Administration Program (MPA) in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) at the University of Houston (UH) invites applications for a full-time faculty position at the rank of Instructional Associate Professor/Program Director in the field of Public Administration beginning August 2021.

The primary professional responsibilities of instructional faculty members are: teaching, scholarship and/or creative activity, and service to the University, the profession and the community. The successful candidate will be committed to the academic success of students and to an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and appreciates diversity and differences. To this end, the successful candidate will work effectively, respectfully, and collaboratively in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings. In addition, the successful candidate will be ready to join faculty, staff, students, and administrators in our University’s shared commitment to the principles of engagement, service, and the public good.

The person hired will teach two courses per semester until the transition to program director begins. Then he/she will teach 2/1 per academic year until the transition to the director is completed and the teaching load is two courses per academic year.

Program Director duties include:

  • Managing all membership program operations and supervising staff.
  • Managing recruitment, marketing, partnerships, program accreditation, strengthening relationships, event programming and fundraising.
  • Serving as primary liaison with the program’s MPA Alumni Association, strategic partners, and CLASS.


With the campus situated only a mile or two from downtown Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city with the largest medical center in the world, headquarters to 24 Fortune 500 companies, with 145 languages spoken, acclaimed as the city of the future for diversity, the University of Houston MPA Program is appropriately metropolitan driven. Its underlying theme is understanding and managing the complexity created by overlapping units of local government. Its electives focus on issues of interest in major metropolitan areas – managing in complex local governance environments, and addressing such policy issues as healthcare, the environment, immigration, energy, and transportation.

Applications should be submitted through the University’s online job site, http://www.uh.edu/human-resources/uh-careers/ . The position number keyword is FAC001478. The expected starting date for this position is August 2021. The search committee will begin reviewing applications in mid-November and continue until the position is filled. Complete submissions should include the following: a cover letter describing interest in the position, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts, three reference letters, and a sample of written work.

If you have questions, please email MPA Program Director and Chair of the Selection Committee James Thurmond, Ph.D. jhthurmond@uh.edu .

The University of Houston is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications :

Minimum Qualifications:

  1. An earned Ph.D. or DPA in Public Administration or a closely related field from an accredited institution and a commitment to public service are required.
  2. Evidence of strong teaching at the graduate level both face-to-face and online.
  3. Must be willing and capable of transitioning to the position of Program Director within one to two years.
  4. Documented research and scholarship in public administration in one or more of the following areas: public administration theory, policy implementation, public sector organization and governance, public management, and public budgeting.


Preferred Qualifications:

  1. Evidence of successful experience in teaching graduate level public administration courses specifically administrative theory, policy implementation, and public management.
  2. Evidence of successful teaching using high impact practices, including, but not limited to writing intensive curriculum, collaborative and problem-solving assignments and projects, best on-line teaching practices including hybrid classes, and/or community-based learning.
  3. Evidence of engaging students in scholarly and school related social activities.
  4. Has practical experience working for local, state, or regional level governments.


Notes to Applicant: Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of final candidate. All positions at the University of Houston are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

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