Graduate Program Director, Physical Activity and Exercise Science

Graduate Program Director
Department of Kinesiology

The past year has magnified the ways that inequities, due to structural and historical forms of oppression, contribute to health disparities. These inequities are a major public health threat and demand a concerted, interdisciplinary effort. At the College of Public Health, we dedicate ourselves to public health in all its parameters, from epidemiology to nursing, from social work to rehabilitation sciences. Social justice advocacy, practiced through a health equity framework, drives our work and is the foundation of our college. The College of Public Health’s interprofessional culture fosters collaboration both within and outside the College. We value differences among our faculty and believe that we can better serve and understand our Philadelphia community through the diversity of our individual faculty and our disciplines. Join us in our mission to develop progressive, compassionate students, researchers, and practitioners in building a better tomorrow, grounded in creating the environments and health infrastructure that will make us the healthiest nation.  We invite applications for a Graduate Program Director of Physical Activity and Exercise Science to join us in August 2022.

The Position. The Department of Kinesiology is seeking an innovative leader to serve as the Program Director (PD) of a new physical activity-based graduate program. This leadership position will join us in the August 2022 in preparation for our first cohort of students in fall 2023. The PD will be responsible for the ongoing growth of the new graduate program, including the development of academic courses, assisting in faculty recruitment, program marketing and communications, student recruitment and admissions, and overall program management. This is an instructional faculty position with release time for administrative responsibilities (i.e., course development and scheduling, program oversight). The PD will provide guidance to all graduate students in the program, develop workshops, journal clubs and other professional development opportunities for graduate students, attend monthly graduate council and curriculum meetings, and coordinate program improvement initiatives. The PD will lead curriculum improvement, teach relevant courses, and conduct other duties as needed.

Qualifications. We seek an enthusiastic, passionate professional committed to academic leadership in training a new generation of physical activity/exercise professionals. Qualified candidates should have an earned doctorate and/or training in kinesiology, exercise science, or a related field. The ideal candidate will have a strong teaching record, familiarity with online instruction, and experience working in community-based settings with community organizations and coordinating field placements. As an urban institute in North Philadelphia, we value diversity and seek individuals committed to inclusive, interdisciplinary education, research, and practice to join our commitment to prioritizing sustainable, inclusive, and anti-oppressive practices. Rank is open at the level of assistant, associate, or full professor dependent on qualifications. Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience.  COVID-19 vaccinations are required for employment at Temple University unless granted a religious or medical exemption (see www.temple.edu/coronavirus).

The Department. The Department is in the middle of an exciting period of expansion for both our academic programs and research initiatives in alignment with the public health mission of the College. We place a high priority on exploring local public health inequities and working proactively with community partners to address existing health disparities. Our undergraduate programs include Bachelor of Science degrees in Kinesiology and Exercise and Sport Science. In addition to offering rigorous academic programs for a diverse body of more than 300 undergraduate majors, the Department is also responsible for delivering undergraduate courses in anatomy and physiology, as well as physical activity, to students across the college and the university. At the graduate level, the Department began offering an MPH in Nutrition degree in August 2021 to train the next generation of public health dietitians.

This new graduate program is designed to provide a pathway for students completing undergraduate kinesiology, exercise science, or other related programs to utilize their training and skills in developing a health-related career. We are developing a unique and innovative program that places exercise professionals at the heart of primary and secondary disease prevention by training our learners to serve as a community-based extension of healthcare teams, providing physical activity guidance to a broad range of individuals both within and external to the clinical setting. Our program will strive to ensure that our students are knowledgeable and skilled in physical activity, chronic disease, health behavior change, and working with

diverse populations. Our students will have multiple applied learning experiences working directly with different client/patient populations. The ultimate goal of this new program is to provide our students with a comprehensive set of skills that positions them as health leaders and makes them attractive for any number of career pathways.

The College. Devoted to an interprofessional environment for education, research, and practice, the CEPH-accredited College of Public Health consists of academic units in the public health disciplines, health professions, and the School of Social Work, enrolling approximately 4,200 students. The College’s research aims to understand the fundamental factors that affect the health and well-being of individuals and populations by examining health problems through foundational research, policy and practice, and the development and dissemination of evidence-based interventions. We focus on social determinants of health and social justice with strengths in cancer, obesity, HIV, substance abuse, mental illness, mobility research, cognition and language, developmental disabilities, organ transplantation and aging. CPH research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, Gates Foundation, and other major private foundation, state and federal agencies. The College is home to an Office for Community Engaged Research and Practice, the Center for Obesity Research and Education, and the Collaborative on Community Inclusion. The Office of Clinical Affairs and Interprofessional Education leads our clinical activities, including the COVID-19 RapidVax effort and forward-looking IPE within the College and throughout the university. The college is staffed by a robust complement of seasoned professionals including robust offices of Communications and Marketing, Information Technology, Sponsored Research, and Academic Affairs.

The University. Temple is an urban, research-intensive Carnegie R1 university located in historic and culturally rich Philadelphia, the nation’s 6th largest city. The city was ranked 3rd by the New York Times as a world tourist destination. The National Science Foundation ranks Temple among the top 100 universities in the country for research expenditures. Temple is the 6th largest provider of professional education in the nation and includes Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Law, and Dentistry and research centers.  It also is the home of the Fox Chase Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Inquiries about the position can be directed to Dr. Mark Stoutenberg (mark.stoutenberg@temple.edu). To apply, submit a cover letter describing your qualifications, a detailed CV, a statement of your leadership experience and philosophy (2 pages max), a statement describing your commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (2 pages max), and a list of 3-5 references to kinesiologysearch@temple.edu. Review of applications begin immediately and will continue until position is filled.

Temple University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

People of color, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.