Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education and Director of the Early Childhood Research Center

Ashland, Inc./ Nystrand Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education and Director of the Early Childhood Research Center on Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Issues and Initiatives

The Department of Special Education, Early Childhood, and Prevention Science (SECP) in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at the University of Louisville is seeking a senior scholar/researcher for the position of endowed chair/open rank professor. Candidate expectations include the capacity to lead in conceptualizing, developing, and implementing a systematic research program for studying the education and development of young children (birth-5 years) in education and community settings including Head Start, public prekindergarten, and private preschool programs.

This senior scholar should demonstrate expertise and commitment to NAEYC standards and to research-based scholarly work in the field of interdisciplinary early childhood education and child development, including interventions for children with developmental delays. Responsibilities include oversight of the Early Childhood Research Center (ECRC; https://louisville.edu/education/centers/ecrc). The ECRC consists of a community of scholars dedicated to interdisciplinary research, innovative teaching strategies, and collaborative partnerships focused on contemporary issues impacting young children. 

The work of the ECRC includes extensive efforts with diverse, multicultural, multilingual, and at-risk populations of young children and professionals working with them. The candidate will engage in the study of policy issues associated with interdisciplinary early childhood education and the development and the evaluation of early educational programs and related activities. As such, the Endowed Chair/Director is responsible for collaborating with colleagues across the Commonwealth on initiatives related to current research and effective practices in early childhood, cultivating knowledge about emergent curriculum approaches, mentoring junior faculty, and effectively communicating those activities locally and nationally.

Department, College, and University

The Department of Special Education, Early Childhood, and Prevention Science (SECP) currently includes 9 tenure-line faculty members, 7 clinical faculty members, and a number of grant funded personnel. Faculty and staff in SECP and in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) pursue studies and issues that affect education in the diverse local community and beyond, as well as the nature of pedagogy and learning and cultural diversity. The department’s work has helped the college establish strong connections and partnerships in the community through national and state accredited educator preparation, research, curriculum development, professional development programs, and school reform.

The department currently has approximately $2 million in annual external funding that involves collaborative projects across faculty. Along with the ECRC, the department also houses the Kentucky Autism Training Center (KATC; http://louisville.edu/education/kyautismtraining) focused on improving the quality of life for Kentuckians affected by autism spectrum disorder; and the Center for Instructional and Behavioral Research in Schools (CIBRS; https://cibrs.com) focused on the application of scientific methods to understand how specific actions can be implemented to prevent student failure and improve outcomes for all students. The department is affiliated with the Early Learning Campus (ELC; http://louisville.edu/education/elc), an early child development center for children of UofL faculty, staff and students, and residents of the Louisville Scholar House. The facility is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and offers full day curriculum for children aged six weeks to four years.

The College includes more than 93 FTE faculty and serves approximately 3,300 students in five departments: Special Education, Early Childhood, and Prevention Science; Elementary, Middle and Secondary Education; Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development; Health and Sport Sciences; and Counseling and Human Development. The College is committed to advancing knowledge, promoting the highest levels of learning, and developing leaders who generate and use research to inform policy and improve practice. The College is known for the Grawemeyer Award, support for grant writing and management, new faculty mentoring programs, computer resources and technology support, ongoing research projects, and strong collaborations with the local public schools, including Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), the 27^th largest school district in the nation. The diversity of our region is reflected in the students served by JCPS, an urban district enrolling a racially/ethnically diverse population of over 101,000 students, including more than 12,000 students with disabilities, more than 6,000 students who are homeless, and more than 8,000 students who are English language learners. Among this population, more than 120 languages are spoken. In addition, more than 60% of the school population receives free or reduced lunch and some 15,000 children receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). There is a large early childhood population in the state of Kentucky; approximately 50,000 children with an 11% preterm birth rate. Of these children, about 54% of children come to Kindergarten meeting Kindergarten readiness standards and only about 6,500 of over 19,000 children 5-6 years old are enrolled in Kindergarten. Additionally, 898 children receive First Steps interventions. Please visit the CEHD web site at http://www.louisville.edu/education/ for more information about our College and its programs and collaborations.

The University of Louisville, a “Very High Research Activity” institution, is a nationally recognized metropolitan university of approximately 22,600 students in an urban area with a population of approximately one million people. The University of Louisville is a state supported research university located in the city of Louisville, Kentucky's largest metropolitan area. The university has three campuses. The 287-acre Belknap Campus is three miles from downtown Louisville and houses seven of the university's 11 colleges and schools, including the CEHD. The Health Sciences Center is located in downtown Louisville's medical complex and houses the university's health related programs and the University of Louisville Hospital. To learn more, visit the University of Louisville web site at http://www.louisville.edu.

The CEHD embraces the mission of the University to be a premier, nationally-recognized metropolitan research university, and is committed to advancing the intellectual, cultural and economic development of our diverse communities and citizens. Learn more about the CEHD at www.louisville.edu/education.

Duties and Responsibilities

Tenured faculty members are expected to teach, conduct research, and perform service activities within their field of study. The Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education is expected to teach and advise doctoral students; conduct and publish research and other scholarly work in the area of interdisciplinary early childhood education; secure grant funding; collaborate with the university’s Early Learning Campus, other UofL faculty in units associated with interdisciplinary early childhood education and development, local and regional schools, and community agencies; and collaborate with colleagues across the Commonwealth on policies and initiatives that advocate for the enhancement of early childhood education. Additionally, as the Director of the Early Childhood Research Center, responsibilities include seeking funding and partnerships to support research and creative endeavors, supporting early childhood teacher research and development, and overseeing grant management and grant staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Ed.D. in Early Childhood Special Education, Early Childhood Education or a closely related field Significant scholarly productivity, including a history of publications on issues in interdisciplinary early childhood/early childhood special education (focus on birth-5 years) Successful history of grant funded research Excellence in teaching Effective mentoring of junior faculty and doctoral students Strong record of interdisciplinary leadership Commitment to equity and social justice Ability to collaborate with colleagues and community partners Successful school and/or community partnership experiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Successful teaching experience in a teacher preparation program in higher education Experience in supporting accreditation processes, such as CAEP and NAEYC Administrative experience, including successful management, oversight of staff, and funding of a center of research

Salary: Competitive, based upon qualifications and experience.

Beginning Date:  July 1, 2023

Appointment: The Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education/ Director of the Early Childhood Research Center will have a 12-month appointment.

Application Procedures

The Search Committee is chaired by Dr. Jill Jacobi-Vessels.  Questions regarding the position may be directed to jill.jacobivessels@louisville.edu. Additional information about the department can be found at: http://louisville.edu/education/departments/sped   

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. All applicants must complete an on-line application available at http://www.louisville.edu/jobs using position #44574. You will be asked to complete a self ID form and submit electronically the following: 1) a letter of interest explaining how required and preferred qualifications are met and describing relevant experiences, 2) a current curriculum vitae, and 3) reference list that includes the name, telephone number, and e-mail address for three references. A transcript will be requested for final candidates. Please combine all materials into a single document prior to submitting your application.

The University of Louisville is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, pregnancy, or veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact the Employment team at employment@louisville.edu or 502.852.6258.