Assistant Professor of Higher Education Leadership - Department of Leadership, Technology, & Workforce Development

About Us

As a comprehensive institution of the University System of Georgia, Valdosta State University (VSU) is a welcoming, aware, and vibrant community founded on and dedicated to serving our communities' rich and diverse heritages. Through excellence in teaching, basic and applied research, and service, VSU provides rigorous programs and opportunities that enrich our students, our university, and our region. As such, the VSU mission consists of three interrelated parts that includes a student mission, university mission and regional mission. The university is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practice civility, integrity and citizenship. As members of this community and proud Blazers we strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University, as stated in the Blazer Creed and reflected in our commitment to the University System of Georgia's Core Values.

Blazer Creed
Valdosta State University is a learning environment based on trust and mutual respect in which open dialogue, vigorous debate, and the free exchange of ideas are welcome. The University is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practice civility, integrity, and citizenship. As members of this community, and proud Blazers, we will strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University.

Civility - A Blazer shows courtesy and compassion as well as respect for the dignity of every human being.
Integrity - Each Blazer is responsible for his or her own actions, and our community is stronger when we contemplate the context of our decisions and uphold the principles of trust and honesty.
Citizenship - Every Blazer has an interest in the well-being of the community, and, therefore, a duty to stay informed, to make positive contributions, and to offer support to those who need help.

As a Blazer, we pledge to uphold the core principles of Civility, Integrity, and Citizenship.

Job Summary

The Department of Leadership, Technology, & Workforce Development in the Dewar College of Education and Human Services seeks applicants for an Assistant Professor of Higher Education Leadership (tenure track) faculty position beginning January 1, 2027. The selected candidate will be responsible for teaching courses in the candidate's area of expertise, creating and publishing scholarly works, and providing service to the department, college, and university.

The Dewar College of Education and Human Services is an award-winning institution and is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). We continually strive for excellence with each renewal of accreditation. In addition, several of our programs are accredited or nationally recognized by their specialized professional organizations.

APPLICATION PROCESS
An online application is required. Applicants will be required to attach the following to their online application:

• CV
• Cover Letter
• Unofficial Transcripts (Official Transcripts and Official International Course-by-Course Evaluations Due Upon Hire)
• Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of at least three references

For more information, contact Dr. Steve Downey, Department Head, via email at sedowney@valdosta.edu or phone 229-333-5633. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

Responsibilities Department Summary

Teaching graduate courses in higher education administration and leadership in a 100% online format, advising graduate students, leading graduate student research, serving on dissertation committees as a member, researcher and/or chair, contributing to program assessment and leadership as needed, maintaining scholarship productivity, and participating in service at the department, college, and university levels.

Typical Allocation of Duties:

Teaching and scholarship - 80%
Teaches classes and conducts/presents research in the employee's academic discipline.

Service - 20%
Participates in service at the department, college, and university levels.

Required Qualifications

• Doctorate in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Leadership & Policy, or a related educational field.
• Experience teaching leadership, organizational development, finance, and policy courses.
• Experience teaching and developing online courses and infusing technology in the delivery of instruction.
• Experience with and/or record of research productivity or other scholarly activity.
• Experience teaching in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, as well as scholarship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as chair or research methodologist on doctoral dissertations.
• Ability to lead department/program initiatives and work effectively in a collaborative setting.
• A record of effective teaching appropriate to the applicant's career stage.

Proposed Salary

Commensurate with experience

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment

Applicants are required to provide:

• professional references with current contact information
• documentation of academic credentials
• employment history

Please note that during the search process, VSU reserves the right to: ask candidates who will serve in Positions of Trust to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment, view social media outlets, and remove job postings without additional notification.

Employment is contingent upon: successful completion of a background check investigation, including a criminal background check; reference checks.

Employment may also be contingent upon the job-based requirements if applicable for your position: satisfactory credit check; successful completion of a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR); pre-employment drug testing; confirmation of credentials.

After initial hiring, employees will be required to successfully complete all of the following training:

• New employee orientation
• VSU's Annual Compliance Training:
  • USG Ethics Policy
  • Conflict of Interest/Outside Activities Policy
  • Drug Free Workplace
  • Sexual Misconduct and Title IX
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • Motor Vehicle Policy
  • Workers Compensation (new hires)
  • Georgia Open Records Act (new hires)
  • USG Cybersecurity Training (required twice yearly)

Job-specific training such as: FMLA and Worker's Compensation, Budget Manager training, Purchasing Training (ePro & PCard), and Defensive Driving

Equal Employment Opportunity

Valdosta State University is an equal opportunity educational institution. It is not the intent of the institution to discriminate against any applicant for admission or any student or employee of the institution based on the age, sex, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation of the individual.

Background Check

• Standard

Accommodations

If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings, apply for a job on this site, or participate in the search process as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting our Benefits Team, in the Office of Human Resources at vsubenefits@valdosta.edu.

Special Applicant Instructions

Valdosta State University may provide employment-based immigration sponsorship for select positions when consistent with institutional needs, University policy, and applicable law. Sponsorship is considered on a case-by-case basis and is not available for all positions. Applicants who anticipate requiring employer sponsorship now or in the future are encouraged to contact Human Resources early in the recruitment process with questions regarding sponsorship eligibility.

Clery Disclosure

The Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act requires institutions of higher education to publish an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR). The ASFSR includes crime statistics for the three previous calendar years of reported crimes that occurred on campus; in or on certain non-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by our institution; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and fire safety policies and statistics. The ASFSR is published annually by October 1 and is available online at: https://www.valdosta.edu/administration/finance-admin/police/documents/2025-asfr-final-draft-aa.docx.pdf. You may request a paper copy of the report by emailing openrecords@valdosta.edu.