"Assistant Professor of Behavioral Health, Extension Specialist"

Job Details

Position Summary

The Department of Human Development and Family Science within the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at The University of Georgia is seeking applicants for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Behavioral Health Education and Extension Specialist, located at the Athens campus. This position is a full-time, academic year (9-month) appointment, with a 50% Extension, 25% teaching, 20% research and 5% service effort allocation. Tenure-track faculty appointments begin August 1, 2026 and this position will be located on the Athens campus. Please refer to UGA’s criteria for faculty appointment, promotion, and tenure.

The UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Extension network is a trusted partner of the Georgia healthcare system, advancing prevention and health outcomes in alignment with the university’s land-grant mission. Health Extension bridges the gap between clinical care and everyday life, delivering health education, prevention strategies and behavioral change support to individuals, families and communities throughout Georgia. This position is funded by the Presidential Interdisciplinary Faculty Hiring Initiative and as such, a successful candidate is expected to develop and implement local, state, regional, national, and internationally-recognized programs broadly focused on behavioral health extension to improve health outcomes for individuals and families in Georgia. This hiring initiative directly supports the land-grant mission of UGA and Extension and complements the new UGA medical school’s focus on rural health.

The successful candidate will collaborate with Extension Specialists in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance, USDA NIFA, Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and other established partners. The successful candidate will work with 109 FACS Extension agents and educators serving 51 counties in Georgia.

A successful candidate will show the potential to take responsibility on externally funded, peer-reviewed projects concerning behavioral health education; present research at a minimum of one national or international conference per year, and participate in service on departmental, college, and/or university committees to support education and engagement missions. In addition, a successful candidate will be expected to teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop a robust Extension outreach program that considers the needs of Georgia Health Extension Agents and Educators and delivers programming, with measurable outcomes, to meet those needs.
• Work collaboratively with university faculty and Extension colleagues in diverse subject matter disciplines to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based educational programs focused on behavioral health issues.
• Develop a research program focused on contemporary allied health and behavioral health systems and write grants to secure extramural funding to support an innovative and sustainable extension and research program in Behavioral Health Education.
• Provide subject matter expertise for County Extension Agents through trainings, information, and research-informed, evidence-based programs that meet identified county and statewide needs.
• Publish in appropriate outlets for Extension and research audiences, including peer-reviewed journals.
• Disseminate applied research results and educational materials through extension publications and other types of written, audio, and/or visual works.
• Participate in graduate student mentoring and education.
• Assist in other tasks as assigned by the department.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applications: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Full consideration will be given to applications received by Nov. 31, 2025. Required materials include a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, statements of research and teaching interests, and contact information for three references. Applicants have the option of submitting up to three preprints/reprints of representative publications. Direct any additional questions about the position to Dr. Diane Bales, dbales@uga.edu, HDFS Search Committee chair.

Posting Details

Posting Number: F2520P

Working Title: Assistant Professor of Behavioral Health, Extension Specialist

Department: FACS-Human Devel & Family Sci

About the University of Georgia: Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department: The Department of Human Development and Family Science provides leadership in the field through cutting-edge research, pedagogy, and service. We are an interdisciplinary program focusing on individual, relationship, and family development within diverse ecological contexts. Faculty research interests include infancy and childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, adult development and aging, parenting and caregiving, interpersonal relationships, health and biobehavioral processes, and the contexts of human development. We have a vibrant program with over 350 undergraduate majors, 48 graduate students, and 22 faculty members working in a collegial and supportive environment. Faculty in the department collaborate with numerous programs and institutions across campus, including the Owens Institute for Behavioral Research, the Georgia Center for Developmental Science, the Bio-Imaging Research Center, Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance, the Institute on Human Development and Disability, the Institute of Gerontology, the McPhaul Child Development Center, Center for Family Research, and UGA Cooperative Extension. Additional information about the department can be found at: https://www.fcs.uga.edu/hdfs.

College/Unit/Department website: https://www.fcs.uga.edu/

Posting Type: External

Retirement Plan: TRS or ORP

Employment Type: Employee

Benefits Eligibility: Benefits Eligible

Advertised Salary: Competitive Salary

Anticipated Start Date: 08/01/2026

Location of Vacancy: Athens Area

EEO Statement: The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

Position Details

Position Information

Classification Title: Assistant Professor

Faculty Rank: Assistant Professor

Contract Type: Academic (9 mo.)

Tenure Status: Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Requirements: Earned doctorate degree in HDFS or closely related field (e.g., psychology, public health, gerontology, nutrition, etc.).

Additional Requirements: The candidate must demonstrate evidence of innovative thinking, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively with faculty, students, extension colleagues, and community stakeholders to develop a collaborative research and Extension program.

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification

Preferred requirements include one year of experience with Extension programming or working with farmers.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

We seek a colleague with expertise in farm stress, health education delivery, prevention strategies and/or behavioral change to support individuals, families and communities.

The successful candidate should demonstrate potential for establishing a record of extramural funding, conducting research on behavioral health education topics.

Extensive practical knowledge in behavioral health topics is preferred.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter
3. List of References with Contact Information
4. Teaching Portfolio/Philosophy
5. Research Portfolio/Philosophy

Optional Documents

1. Sample Publications