Criminal Justice - Department Chair

About Alvernia University 

Alvernia University was founded in 1958 by the Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Through its main campus in Reading and locations in Philadelphia and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the university serves 3,000 students of diverse backgrounds from around the country. 

Alvernia offers a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts core education for the development of the mind, strong technical training in many high-demand majors, experiential learning through study abroad and internship experiences, and engagement with the community through our Franciscan-based community service model. We call our model of transformational education the Alvernia Advantage, and we believe this style of education transforms students into ethical leaders with moral courage. 

Alvernia University ranks in the top 100 among 2021 Best Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report, and we are recognized as a College of Distinction for our commitment to engaged experiential education. 

Criminal Justice - Department Chair (Assistant or Associate - Tenure Track)

The Criminal Justice Department of Alvernia University seeks a growth-oriented, visionary leader to serve as Department Chair beginning in August of 2025.   Located within the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences, Criminal Justice is one of the oldest programs at the university and is complemented by strong adjacent programs in social work, addictions and mental health treatment, psychology, forensic science, political science, and cybersecurity. The program also benefits from strong local partnerships and a dedicated crime investigation house for interprofessional simulations. Both residential undergraduates and adult online students are prepared for a wide array of careers through a strong grounding in theory and experiential opportunities that reinforce practical and professional skills. 

The successful candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills; a strong record of effective organization and administration skills with demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with units throughout campus. 

The college particularly welcomes candidates with knowledge, skills, and abilities that include:

• Interest in developing student-centered programming and experiential opportunities.
• Experience and interest in emerging areas of market growth areas (e.g., forensics, cybersecurity, national and global security
• Desire to innovate for the growth and development of the department.
• Desire to apply expertise in promoting engagement with the College's community partners.
• Commitment to mission, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in Criminal Justice or a related social science field.

• Evidence of increasing academic administrative experience.

• Active in scholarship

• At least two years of teaching experience in criminal justice or a related social science field.

• The ability to maintain and establish relationships with criminal justice agencies at multiple levels.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time, 9-month position with a separate 3-month summer contract.