Associate Professor of Exercise and Sport Science and Department Chair

Associate Professor of Exercise and Sport Science and Department Chair

Company:
William Peace University

Job Location:

Category:
Kinesiology, Exercise Science, and Phys Ed

Type:
Full-Time

Posting Number: WPU0060617

University Information

William Peace University ("Peace") provides a culture that fosters an energized team environment, builds on our strengths, promotes creativity and innovation, and encourages respect and open communication. We value our faculty and staff. We know they are important and vital to the growth of our university and culture. Senior leadership is personally dedicated to the professional growth and development of each employee. We want to help you build your career, while ensuring you have great work-life balance and flexibility.

We teach our students the skills needed for ethical citizenship, not just in the classroom, but by example. We believe in giving back to our community, and our employees take pride in working at Peace.

Department:

Exercise and Sport Science

Purpose of Department

The Exercise and Sport Science program at William Peace University equips students with scientific knowledge and practical experience to enhance health, fitness, and human performance across diverse settings.

Summary of Position

William Peace University seeks a strategic, student-centered leader to serve as Chair of the Exercise and Sport Science (ESS) Department at the rank of Associate Professor. Reporting to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Chair provides strategic academic leadership and oversight for undergraduate majors in Exercise and Sport Science, Sport and Fitness Studies, and Sport Management. The Chair cultivates and advances a distinctive departmental vision that prepares graduates for meaningful and successful careers and/or further study in health, wellness, sport, and related fields; leads faculty in developing innovative, immersive, high-impact curricula grounded in professional practice; and forges partnerships with schools, sport organizations, fitness and wellness centers, and healthcare providers that expand pathways from classroom to career.

This position aligns ESS programs with institutional strategy, regional workforce and graduate-study needs, and evolving opportunities in the broader health, wellness, and sport sectors, including potential online and graduate offerings, while fostering an inclusive, collaborative environment for faculty and students. In addition to academic leadership responsibilities, the Chair teaches a reduced load and maintains an appropriate record of scholarship/professional activity and university service.

This is a non-tenure track fixed-term appointment. Following the standard one-year initial appointment, faculty who meet performance expectations will be appointed to a multi-year term.

Essential duties and responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to fulfill the essential responsibilities and demonstrate the core competencies described below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

Academic Leadership, Teaching, and Program Strategy

• Provide strategic academic leadership for the ESS Department, setting a clear, forward-looking vision for majors in Exercise and Sport Science, Sport and Fitness Studies, and Sport Management; lead strategic planning and initiatives that advance the department's mission and programs; and ensure departmental priorities align with broader institutional goals while balancing leadership responsibilities with expectations for teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Teach a reduced load of undergraduate courses aligned with departmental needs, including science-focused courses such as Exercise Testing & Prescription, Kinesiology, Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Biomechanics, and deliver high-impact, immersive, student-centered instruction across modalities.
• Apply disciplinary knowledge in Exercise and Sport Science (e.g., kinesiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics), as well as related areas such as sport and fitness, coaching, and sport management, to inform curricula, high-impact learning experiences, and career-focused programming.
• Lead ongoing curriculum and program review, innovation, assessment, and preparation of required annual reports to support a culture of continuous improvement and ensure programs remain current, mission-aligned, and responsive to student needs, employer expectations, graduate-study requirements, and regional health and sport trends.
• Lead program revision and development, including new credentials and potential online and graduate offerings, guided by market analyses, curriculum mapping, and institutional priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight of the Exercise and Sport Science Laboratory, ensuring safe, compliant, and effective operation of all equipment and facilities while coordinating maintenance, calibration, repairs, supplies, and the lab budget to support teaching, research, and student learning.
• Manage the departmental budget.
• Oversee departmental course scheduling and program delivery to support timely student progression and effective use of resources.

Faculty Leadership and Student Success

• Advise and mentor students across ESS, Sport and Fitness Studies, and Sport Management majors, fostering a culture of engagement, belonging, and career readiness.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate full-time and part-time faculty; and support and guide faculty through reappointment and promotion processes and in their teaching, scholarship, and professional growth through collaborative problem-solving and constructive feedback.
• Collaborate with key university offices (e.g., Advising, Registrar, Enrollment Management, Student Success, Student Affairs, Institutional Research, Online Programs, Advancement, Athletics) to align departmental initiatives with institutional strategies for recruitment, retention, student success, and program growth.
• Represent the ESS Department on Academic Council and other faculty committees as appropriate, serving as a liaison between the department, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and other academic and administrative units.
• Communicate clearly and persuasively in writing and orally with diverse internal and external audiences, including prospective students, partners, and donors.
• Foster an inclusive, collegial environment that values diverse perspectives and supports student learning, faculty collaboration, and departmental excellence.

External Partnerships and Community Engagement

• Provide strategic leadership for the department's external engagement efforts. Develop and sustain partnerships with employers, alumni, community colleges, community organizations, and advisory boards that advance departmental and institutional priorities.
• Serve as the department's primary liaison to external partners and institutions, building collaborative relationships that enhance program visibility, responsiveness, and impact.
• Advance transfer and articulation pathways in partnership with community colleges and university leadership to strengthen recruitment, access, and student success.
• Cultivate and expand career-connected learning opportunities for students, including internships, applied projects, mentoring, and other experiential and professional development initiatives.
• Collaborate with university leadership and external stakeholders on advancement and philanthropic initiatives that support program growth, innovation, and long-term departmental goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned master's degree in Exercise and Sport Science, Kinesiology, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution that clearly qualifies the candidate to teach in the ESS major.
• Academic credentials appropriate for appointment at the rank of associate professor, including a record of effective college-level teaching, scholarly/professional activity, and service.
• At least two years of progressively responsible academic leadership or coordination experience (e.g., program director, clinical/field coordinator, or major initiative leadership) that demonstrates the capacity to think strategically, lead collaboratively, and promote growth.
• Experience with curriculum development and assessment in Exercise and Sport Science or closely related fields.
• Demonstrated success working collaboratively with faculty and staff in ways that build trust, foster shared ownership of departmental goals, and support an inclusive, student-centered culture, reflecting strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree strongly preferred in Exercise and Sport Science, Kinesiology, or a closely related field.
• Experience as a department chair, program director, or comparable leadership role in Exercise and Sport Science or a closely related field.
• Experience teaching in both face-to-face and online modalities, with a demonstrated interest in leveraging modality and program design to reach new student populations (e.g., adult learners, community college transfer students).
• Experience developing or leading community college transfer pathways and/or articulation agreements, particularly where those pathways are part of a broader enrollment or access strategy.
• Experience collaborating with employers, advisory boards, or professional associations to support internships and career outcomes.
• Experience conceptualizing and planning new academic programs, including early-stage exploration of graduate or professional programs.
• Experience using data to guide program design, revision, and growth.
• Demonstrated success mentoring faculty in ways that support innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Apply Now