Assistant/Associate/Full Professor - College of Education, Curriculum & Instruction Early Childhood

Open Rank Position: Early Childhood Literacy
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
College of Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the leading public universities in the world, with a student enrollment of more than 50,000 and nearly 3,000 faculty. The campus is renowned for creating architectural accessibility (curb cuts were born here), wheelchair athletics, and accessible higher education for individuals with disabilities. Our vibrant and diverse community of 130,000 offers the residential advantages of a medium-sized university city, excellent cultural opportunities, and a high quality of life, with a cost of living lower than the U.S. average. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign assists faculty spouses and partners seeking employment in the Champaign-Urbana area. Please visit the dual academic career webpage for more information.

The College is comprised of faculty across four departments with active research agendas. Altogether, the College of Education has $53 million in active grant funding from federal funding agencies (e.g., NIH, OSEP, IES). The College of Education offers: a history of collaboration with schools to conduct research; technology support and infrastructure; and doctoral programs wherein students assist with research.

Position: The Department of Curriculum and Instruction is seeking a faculty member at open rank (assistant, associate, or full professor) in early childhood literacy. This is a full-time, nine month, tenure-line or tenured appointment depending on rank at the time of hire.

Position Description: The Department of Curriculum and Instruction possesses an outstanding reputation in the areas of early childhood, literacy, and teacher education. We seek a colleague who will join our Department and College of Education to engage in scholarship, discovery, and innovation that will create transformative learning experiences for students and impacts on society.

In this search, we seek candidates with expertise in early childhood literacy education (preschool through grade 3). Our future colleague will undertake a program of research that will lead to an outstanding and sustained record of scholarship and external funding. Teaching assignments will include literacy methods courses in the early childhood and elementary licensure programs and graduate courses in literacy, multiliteracies, and writing across the curriculum. This colleague will participate in graduate program development in on-campus and online environments and in the recruitment, advising, and training of graduate students.

Qualifications: An earned doctorate in literacy education or a related field is required. Evidence of scholarly activity/potential related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools is required. Candidates at the associate or full professor level must have an established record of research, teaching, and service to meet the University’s requirements for tenure at the appropriate rank. Candidates at the assistant professor level must have an earned doctorate by the proposed start date. A minimum of three years teaching experience (or documented equivalent) with students in the range of P-3^rd grades is required.

Preferred Experience: We prefer candidates who have the following qualifications: (1) five years of teaching experience in preschool or elementary school settings; (2) significant professional and/or academic experience in multicultural and diverse educational settings; (3) publications on early literacy research, with attention to diversity, equity and inclusion in schools; (4) demonstrated commitment to undergraduate teacher preparation and working with diverse populations; (5) prior university teaching experience; and (6) experience in the use of technology for instructional delivery, including online course delivery.

Responsibilities: Our new colleague will be expected to (1) carry out an active program of research and actively pursue external funding; (2) develop and teach undergraduate and graduate-level course work related to literacy and early childhood; (3) advise and recruit master’s and doctoral students in education; (4) contribute to the ongoing development of undergraduate and graduate programs; and (5) provide leadership and service at the national, state, and local levels related to early childhood education.

Salary and Starting Date: Salary will be commensurate with experience. The proposed starting date is August 16, 2023.

For full consideration, all application materials must be received by October 17, 2022. Please create a candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload one pdf file that contains (in this order) a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a teaching philosophy statement (2-page single-spaced maximum), a research philosophy statement (2-page single-spaced maximum), one publication (published, in-press, or under review), and full contact information for three references (including a note about your relationship to each) by the closing date. All requested information must be submitted in a single file for consideration.

Please contact Dr. Stephanie Smith, the search chair, with any questions at ssmit37@illinois.edu.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.