Assistant/Associate Professor in Secondary Social Studies Education and Teacher Education

Assistant/Associate Professor in Secondary Social Studies Education and Teacher Education

The University of Rhode Island's Feinstein College of Education invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor or tenured Associate Professor position in Secondary Social Studies Education and Teacher Education, beginning Fall 2026. We seek a dynamic scholar-practitioner to lead and coordinate our Secondary Social Studies Teacher Education Program, contribute to innovative curriculum development, and engage in impactful research and partnerships that strengthen educator preparation across the state.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The search committee is particularly interested in candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or service, will enhance the College's commitment to nurturing a diverse range of teachers to meet the needs of the region's schools. The successful candidate will join a collegial and forward-thinking faculty committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.

An earned doctorate in Education or a closely related field at the time of hire is required. Candidates at the Assistant Professor level must demonstrate potential for excellence in research, teaching, and service. Candidates at the Associate Professor level must meet the University's criteria for tenure, including a sustained record of scholarly productivity, teaching excellence, and service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate the Secondary Social Studies Teacher Education Program, including curriculum development, program evaluation, and collaboration with local schools and certification organizations.
• Teach social studies teaching methods course and assist in supervising social studies student teachers.
• Advise and mentor preservice and graduate students in teacher education.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in secondary education and social studies methods, and contribute to the doctoral program through teaching and mentoring doctoral students.
• Maintain an active research agenda, with potential for securing external funding.
• Build and sustain school-university partnerships that enhance social studies education across Rhode Island.
• Collaborate with History faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences to ensure consistency between the programs and students' access to required courses.
• Contribute to college and university service, including committee work and program development.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Perform other duties as required.

LICENSES, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT: Personal computers, printer, word processing, database management, and spreadsheet software.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED:

1. Ph.D/Ed.D. in Education or closely related field at time of hire.
2. Record of scholarly activity commensurate with level of professional experience.
3. Three or more years experience as a social studies teacher, with at least two years teaching in a public school setting.
4. Experience in pre-service or in-service teacher education.
5. Proficiency in oral communication skills.
6. Proficiency in written communication skills.
7. Ability to work with diverse groups/populations.

PREFERRED:

• Ph.D/Ed.D. in Education, Teacher Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or Secondary Education.
• Commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion in education.
• Experience teaching at the secondary level in school environments with linguistically, culturally, racially, and/or economically diverse students.
• Evidence of potential for developing, securing, and managing externally funded projects.
• Evidence of high-quality teaching at the undergraduate or graduate level.
• Experience with state-level licensure and accreditation processes.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with national and Rhode Island Social Studies Standards.
• Evidence of social studies program coordination, including accreditation, program approval, curriculum development, and advising.

ABOUT URI AND THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

With over 18,000 students representing 76 countries and 48 states, the University of Rhode Island is a research-intensive university (Carnegie R1 research classification, as of January 2025) with a commitment to high-quality teaching and community partnerships. College faculty benefit from institutional support for research, including grant development resources, interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities, and access to regional school partnerships.

Located on URI's Kingston Campus, the Feinstein College of Education fosters a vibrant academic community with strong ties to local schools and educational organizations. The College is a community of educational scholars, leaders, and practitioners with a shared commitment to enhancing equity and inclusion within and outside of schools, bridging research and practice, and serving diverse and underserved populations. Significant opportunities exist for teaching and scholarship with the College's undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please attach the following 4 (PDF) documents to your online Employment Application: (#1) Cover letter that provides an overview that addresses how you meet required (and if relevant, preferred qualifications) (as one complete document). (#2) A curriculum vitae. (#3) A research statement (limited to 1000-words) that shares details of your research agenda, teaching philosophy and how your teaching and research reflect a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in teacher education (as one complete document). (#4) Other Document - contact information for three professional references.