Department Head, Communication Sciences and Disorders

The Dewar College of Education and Human Services seeks applicants for a tenure track administrative faculty position in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders beginning July 1, 2023. The position is tenure earning and rank will be either associate or full professor and is dependent upon credentials and qualifications. The Department Head is responsible for directing and participating in the teaching and other functions of an academic department and will also function as the program director for the Master’s program.

Valdosta State University is proud to have a highly diverse student body, and we are seeking to recruit and retain outstanding candidates who exhibit a clear commitment to diversity and inclusion and who will enhance the diversity of our faculty and staff.

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs. These include the B.S. Ed. Degree with a major in Communication Disorders, the M.Ed. Degree with a Major in Communication Disorders (accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association), and the SLPD, Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

The department is home to the vibrant Valdosta Speech and Hearing clinic that serves as a training facility for students and provides state-of-the-art treatment and evaluation to individuals of all ages in our region. In addition, the program partners with the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia to support and administer the RiteCare Center for Communication Disorders where students work alongside faculty to provide dyslexia evaluations and interventions to help school-age children improve their language and literacy skills.

Finally, the department houses a grant that supports the delivery of services through Babies Can’t Wait, Georgia's statewide interagency service delivery system for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. For more information about the department visit https://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/education/communication-sciences-and-disorders/. 

Online application is required.  Review of completed applications will begin May 1, 2023, and continue until the position is filled.  For more information regarding the position, contact Kate Warner, Search Chair, via email kwarner@valdosta.edu.     

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting directly to the Dean, the department head is responsible for the overall day-to-day functions of the department and serves as its primary spokesperson and advocate. Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Hire, manage, and evaluate faculty and staff members in the department; Conduct regular departmental meetings;
• Foster a positive department environment that supports excellent teaching, scholarship and service;
• Establish a collaborative department vision and agenda that is aligned with the university and college mission and strategic plans;
• Schedule classes and sections for each faculty member in each academic semester;
• Support students through mentoring, overseeing internships and providing an outstanding curriculum;
• Teach necessary courses throughout the fiscal year;
• Participate in research and scholarly activities;
• Attend required conferences, including discipline and accreditation related events;
• Support experiential learning activities, including undergraduate and graduate research and clinical experiences;
• Facilitate curriculum reviews to maintain excellence and align with accreditation requirements;
• Participate in College Executive Committee meetings, monthly Council of Department Heads meetings, and events that sustain the life of the university, like commencement and awards ceremonies;
• Serve as program director for the master’s program;
• Serve as the Budget Manager for the department.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Doctoral degree in Speech Pathology;
• Licensed or eligible for licensure in Georgia as Speech Language Pathologist;
• Hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology from ASHA;
• A record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service;
• A record of progressively responsible and relevant leadership experience;
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, as well as scholarship;
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion;
• A demonstrated awareness of current trends in higher education & communication disorders and a commitment to innovation in teaching and learning;
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills;
• A commitment to shared governance and a consultative leadership style;
• Experience working with clinics or internships that train students and provide services to the public.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with grant writing and extramural funding;
• Record of successful outreach to community;
• Experience with faculty evaluation and promotion and tenure processes;
• Experience with preparing annual CAA in Speech Language Pathology program reports;
• Experience with the CAA accreditation process;
• Experience as a department head.

Our investment in changing lives through education and service runs deep. In addition to the Department of Communication and Sciences Disorders, the college is home to four other departments: Humans Services; Leadership, Technology, & Workforce Development; Library & Information Studies; and Teacher Education. As a result of our commitment to experiential and service learning, the college is home to four active clinics where students learn by working with faculty to provide services to individuals and families. In addition to the Valdosta Speech and Language Clinic, our other clinics include Azalea Consulting, The Sullivan Literacy Center, and FamilyWorks Therapy Clinic.

Valdosta State University, founded in 1906 and elevated to university status in 1993, is a regional comprehensive university located on a gorgeous 168-acre campus of palm trees, vast green lawns, Spanish mission style architecture and an award-winning design. The university serves a student enrollment of approximately 9,300 from all states within the US and hosts over 300 international students from more than 76 countries. Located in the city of Valdosta, the city is a very family friendly area with new housing developments, modest living costs, excellent public and private schools, a vibrant music and arts scene, and a 170-acre theme park, Wild Adventures. The city is served by the Valdosta Regional Airport and is home to Moody Air Force Base. The city is located just north of the Florida state line on Interstate 75 and is within a two-hour drive of Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida and a three-hour drive of Atlanta, Georgia. For more information visit https://www.valdosta.edu and for more information about the community visit https://www.valdostachamber.com.

Valdosta State University is an Equal Opportunity educational institution and has a strong institutional commitment to diversity. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including, but not limited to, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. Valdosta State University has a non-discrimination policy that includes sex, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, and veteran status.