Bardo Distinguished Professor in Educational Leadership - 001703

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is on the WCU instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville, NC.

Western Carolina University (WCU) invites applications for the Bardo Distinguished Professor in Educational Leadership, a 9-month faculty member position at the rank of Professor with tenure within the Department of Human Services in the College of Education and Allied Professions. The Distinguished Professorship designation is considered in five-year renewable terms. Anticipated starting work date is August 1, 2026 with the possibility of starting on January 1, 2027 depending on candidate availability.

The successful candidate will teach, supervise, and advise students in the EdD degree program in Educational Leadership primarily located at the WCU instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville, NC. Courses are offered to students in a hybrid format with in-person meetings held one weekend per month during the semester. Additional courses may be taught solely online.

The individual who is chosen to be WCUs distinguished professor in educational leadership will provide visibility and leadership for Westerns Department of Human Services as s/he will lead the UNC-II goal for involvement in educational policy at the state, regional and national level. The focus of this work will be to positively influence policy for BK-12 education, community colleges, and the university. The individual will bring and exercise expertise in acquiring extramural funding and doctoral level policy with a preferred focus on rural education in the 21st century. The work of this distinguished professor will create a niche for Western Carolina University to become known for the articulation of policy through to practice as evidenced in our principal and superintendent preparation programs. There will also be a direct link through the Department of Human Services and the professorship in the work on the School University Teacher Education Partnerships (SUTEP) as policy issues are explored and connected with our local educational agencies (LEAs) on issues of teaching and learning.

Duties (in addition to the above description)

• Teach a variety of instructional courses plus chair doctoral disquisitions. Specific load will be determined annually based on program need and other responsibilities of the Distinguished Professor role.
• Conduct scholarship and research activities according to the department guidelines and the specific role description.
• Provide program, department, college, university, and external/professional service according to the department guidelines and the specific role description with particular focus on faculty collaboration and mentorship across teacher and professional education.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned doctorate in Education Leadership or related field
• Earned tenure and promotion to Full Professor from an institution with equivalent criteria to (or higher than) WCUs Department of Human Services
• Established as a scholar and leader in the field
• Established research agenda and pipeline
• Experience working in BK-12 education and higher education settings
• Experience teaching and mentoring at the masters and doctoral levels
• Demonstrated ability to lead involvement in educational policy at the state, regional, and national level.
• Demonstrated ability to positively influence policy for BK-12 education, community colleges, and the university.
• Demonstrated ability to bring and exercise expertise in acquiring extramural funding and doctoral level policy with a preferred focus on rural education in the 21st century.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with the disquisition style of doctoral research
• Understanding of and experience with Improvement Science as a research methodology
• Leadership experience within BK-12 and/or higher education institutions
• Experience with positively influencing policy for BK-12 education, community colleges, and the university.
• Experience in leading involvement in educational policy at the state, regional and national level.
• Experience in acquiring extramural funding and doctoral level policy with a preferred focus on rural education in the 21st century.

Position Type:

Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include the following: letter of application, current CV, list of three professional references with complete contact information, and unofficial transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the masters degree level and higher*.

For questions or additional information please contact:
Dr. Jess Weiler (jrweiler@wcu.edu), Search Committee Chair and/or
Dr. April Perry (alperry@wcu.edu), Department Head.

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your masters degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.