"Assistant/Associate Professor of Psychology (School, Clinical, or Developmental) - 001180"

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The Psychology Department at Western Carolina University (WCU) invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, with a projected start date of August 2026.

The typical teaching load is 3-3 (Fall/Spring), consisting of both undergraduate and graduate courses and the opportunity to support the Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) and Clinical Psychology graduate programs.

Potential graduate courses to be taught depending on expertise and interest include: advanced developmental psychology, psychoeducational assessments, academic interventions, school-based mental and behavioral health, and pre-school assessment/intervention. In addition, depending on departmental needs, undergraduate teaching opportunities could include child and adolescent psychopathology, child development, and behavioral interventions.

Supervision of practicum students is also available through our departments state-of-the art, public-facing McKee Assessment and Psychological Services Clinic. The McKee Clinic is dedicated to providing advanced assessment training for our graduate students (MA Clinical, SSP, PsyD combined clinical/school) through affordable comprehensive services to individuals, families, and schools in our rural community. This supervision would be part of the teaching load. School and community involvement is seen as an essential part of this position. As a teacher scholar, the successful faculty member is also expected to maintain a program of meaningful disciplinary research that is engaging to both undergraduate and graduate students. Ample opportunity is available for interdisciplinary research collaborations, including the Birth-Kindergarten program, School of Teaching and Learning, and College of Health Sciences. SSP and Clinical Psychology masters students both have the opportunity to complete a masters thesis and doctoral students in the combined Health Service Psychology program complete a dissertation.

The eligible candidate needs to have earned a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in school psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, or closely related field from an accredited program. Eligibility for NCSP certification and being licensed or license eligible as a psychologist in North Carolina is particularly desirable, but not necessary.

At the undergraduate level, the psychology major is WCUs second largest major with approximately 500 students. The department, college, and university offer faculty internal funding opportunities to support scholarship, conference travel, and professional development. Moreover, WCU is a 12,000-student regional comprehensive university in the University of North Carolina system. The university offers 115 undergraduate programs and more than 40 graduate programs.

The campus is located in the picturesque Cullowhee valley between the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains, just minutes from the town of Sylva, public schools, recreation centers, trails, and rivers. Cullowhee is midway between Charlotte and Atlanta, 50 miles west of Asheville, NC, a city with vibrant art, entertainment, food, and culture scenes, and 20 miles west of Waynesville, NC, the largest town in Western North Carolina with many options for dining, shopping, entertainment, and craft breweries. The entire region is noted for its excellent quality of life and access to outdoor activities.

The department of psychology is located in the College of Education and Allied Professions (CEAP). CEAP holds inclusive excellence as a core value, and we work together to foster a welcoming community, where all are respected and know they belong.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position

Minimum Qualifications

Doctorate in School Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology or closely related field from an accredited institution. ABD candidates will be considered with degree conferral by 8/1/2026.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with the practice of school psychology or clinical child psychology, including comprehensive psychological assessment.

Position Type

Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants

To be considered, applicants must apply online. Hard copy materials will not be accepted. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected.

Completed applications will include
A) a cover letter,
B) a CV,
C) a research statement,
D) a teaching statement,
E) unofficial transcripts from all graduate programs attended,
F) a list of three professional references (name, title, email address, and contact number) willing to be contacted as a reference, and
G) optional materials (e.g., evidence of teaching effectiveness, a representative publication).

Materials should be submitted online via the secure application site.

Questions about the submission should be directed to Dr. Kia Asberg, search committee chair, at kasberg@wcu.edu