Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education

The University of Northern Iowa’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education seeks applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, starting August 2021, with demonstrated experience in early childhood education, early intervention, and early childhood special education, as well as a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice through the preparation of preservice and inservice teachers. 

The University of Northern Iowa provides a high-quality education, purposefully guiding students to find and develop their strengths and prepare them for success after college. We have a bold vision that we will be a diverse and inclusive campus community that provides an engaged education empowering students to lead locally and globally. As we advance our work to become an equity-oriented institution and realize our vision, we seek to elevate the diversity of our faculty across disciplines, departments, and colleges and to build an inclusive teaching and learning environment. Equity vision hires will be supported by faculty on campus who are working to reimagine our curriculum and pedagogy and to build equitable practices for tenure and promotion; policy review, development and implementation; and student retention, persistence, and success. They will be welcomed to join these efforts. 

Building on its historic excellence in teacher education, the university has developed outstanding programs in business, natural sciences, humanities and fine arts, and social and behavioral sciences with advanced degrees available in many programs. One of three state universities, UNI enjoys national recognition for its high educational standards. U.S. News and World Report the top three among Midwest public universities for over 20 years. The university’s size allows it to offer faculty the facilities and academic choices of a large university, while retaining a friendly, small-college atmosphere on a compact, park-like campus. For more information, visit www.uni.edu. 

Earned doctorate (EdD or PhD) degree in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, or a related field required. 

Required qualifications include experiences that maximize strengths of all learners, integrating play and developmentally appropriate practices, and using evidence-based practices to support child development and learning, especially for those from culturally and linguistically diverse families; a strong knowledge base of current best practice and experience teaching a variety of courses in a unified Birth to Grade 3 program that blends early childhood and early childhood special education; a demonstrated excellence in, or the potential for excellence in, research and a clear research agenda in the field of early education or early childhood special education; and experience teaching birth – age 8 with at least three years teaching infants, toddlers, or preschoolers with special needs in inclusive or natural environments.           

Preference will be given to candidates with three or more years of licensed experience teaching young children (birth - age 8); successful teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate level; successful experience in teaching face-to-face and online formats; knowledge of early childhood professional standards and inclusive, developmentally appropriate practices, including early intervention in natural settings and competence in interdisciplinary collaboration; demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following: STEM curriculum design, linguistically and culturally diverse populations, and early intervention; experience with program coordination, including student outcome assessments, recruitment, and program evaluation; and a commitment to community engagement.           

Applications received by March 1, 2021 will receive full consideration. To apply, visit http://jobs.uni.edu/. Inquiries may be sent to Mary Donegan-Ritter at 319-273-7007 or mary.donegan-ritter@uni.edu. Pre-employment background checks required. 

UNI actively seeks to enhance diversity and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  The University encourages applications from persons of color, women, individuals living with disabilities, and protected veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal and/or state law.

The University is a tobacco-free campus.