Assistant Professor of Therapeutic Recreation, School of Health Science & Wellness

Assistant Professor of Therapeutic Recreation, School of Health Science & Wellness

Company:
Northwest Missouri State University

Job Location:

Category:
Recreation and Leisure Studies

Type:
Full-Time

EMPLOYMENT TERMS: 9-month, full-time position

PRIMARY DUTY: This Assistant Professor will teach undergraduate and graduate courses within the School of Health Science and Wellness. The teaching load will include courses in the undergraduate and graduate programs in the major of Recreation, Parks, Sport, & Tourism, and other health-related disciplines, with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation courses. Specific teaching assignments will be determined based on the expertise of the candidate. The position also requires participation in student advisement, supervision of student interns, coordination of Therapeutic Recreation program activities, and involvement in graduate student research committees.

Candidates MUST be certified through NCTRC and continue certification during employment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Teaching: Graduate and undergraduate courses in therapeutic recreation and other related areas within the School of Health Science and Wellness
2. Creative and Scholarly Efforts: Establish a line of creative and scholarly research, seek extramural funding, participate in knowledge generation and knowledge sharing via related peer, professional, and community opportunities
3. Professional Involvement: Active participation in related professional and community organizations, service on departmental, college, and university committees
4. Student Support: Assist with student recruitment, student advisement, student development and student retention. Serving on student (graduate/undergraduate) research and thesis committees
5. Perform other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS:

Education: Doctorate degree in therapeutic recreation, recreation therapy, recreation, or a closely related field; ABD may be considered with completion by the start date

Certification/License: Certification through NCTRC as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Experience: University-level teaching experience; at least one-year of experience as a recreation therapist or in a closely related field

Skills: Ability to develop and deliver on-campus and online courses in therapeutic recreation and related areas; ability to communicate clearly and promptly with students and colleagues both verbally and in written form; ability to articulate to students the nature of the therapeutic recreation process and all related elements and functions; ability to effectively manage the multiple responsibilities of a faculty member (instructor, advisor, colleague); ability to conduct scholarly research that contributes to the professional body of knowledge

WORKING CONDITIONS: Typical office and classroom environment

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Graduate and undergraduate students involved in class or departmental projects and graduate and/or undergraduate research; possibly students employed within the department

EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Typical teaching tools in a classroom environment; Online learning platforms such as “Canvas”; Ability to utilize Microsoft Office software, document cameras, projectors, etc.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to lift up to 20 pounds

COMMUNITY: Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information, visit the city’s website at www.maryville.org.

UNIVERSITY: With an enrollment of about 9,000 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus and through Northwest Online.
Founded in 1905 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top public regional universities in the Midwest, Northwest boasts a high retention rate and a graduation rate in the 95th percentile among its peers. Additionally, results of the Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory show Northwest students are more satisfied than students at national peers, and 78 percent of Northwest students report they would repeat their University experience, compared to 75 percent of students surveyed nationally at their respective institutions.
Furthermore, the University is a national model for student success and career placement with 93 percent of bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data.
Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers while maintaining competitive tuition rates and generous financial assistance to help minimize the financial barriers students may face when pursuing a college degree.
Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area, a partnership with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency. In conjunction with its emergency and disaster management program, Northwest organizes and hosts Missouri Hope, an annual mass casualty training exercise that attracts first responders and emergency workers from throughout the nation and provides hands-on training in preparation for a natural disaster.
The University’s vibrant and diverse learning community also offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, saving students an estimated $6,900 over four years. Northwest offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.
For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Until the position is filled

DATE AVAILABLE: January 2027

TO APPLY: Follow the steps of the online application process. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at 660-562-1121 or email ewilmes@nwmissouri.edu if more information is needed regarding the process.

APPLICATION MATERIALS: A letter of application, professional vita/resume, names, addresses, and telephone numbers of current references, copies of transcripts, statement of teaching philosophy, and three current letters of recommendation

INQUIRIES FOR THE POSITION CAN BE MADE TO:

Dr. Rhonda Beemer
Chair of the School of Health Science and Wellness
Email: rbeemer@nwmissouri.edu

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