Department Head - KHS

Requisition ID: 2025-9501
# of Openings: 1
Location: US-UT-Logan
Category: Faculty
Position Type: Benefited Full-Time
Job Classification: Faculty
College: E Eccles Jones Coll of Ed & Hum Svs
Department: Kinesiology & Health Science
Advertised Salary: Commensurate with education and experience, plus excellent benefits.

Overview

The Department of Kinesiology and Health Science (KHS) at Utah State University invites nominations and applications for the position of Department Head. We seek a transparent, proactive, and visionary leader whose record demonstrates distinction in research, teaching, and mentorship. The selected person will be expected to help the department increase its national and international reputation by promoting cutting-edge research initiatives, sustaining rigorous academic instruction, and engaging in meaningful service to the community and the state of Utah.

This is a fiscal year administrative appointment with a start date of July 1, 2026. Review of applications will begin October 15, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

Inquiries may be directed to the search committee co-chairs, Dr. Brennan Thompson (brennan.thompson@usu.edu, 435-797-5785) or Dr. Scott Bates (scott.bates@usu.edu, 435-797-2975).

Responsibilities

• Leadership: In collaboration with departmental faculty and staff, continue developing and shaping a shared vision and strategic plan that aligns with college and university priorities; foster and support initiatives that strengthen research, education, and outreach; demonstrate a strong personal commitment to scholarly excellence and model collaborative leadership that advances the department's mission in research, teaching, and service.
• Personnel management: Provide oversight of all departmental personnel. This includes communicating clear expectations of job duties and performance; coordinating the hiring of faculty and staff; and maximizing faculty, staff, and student professional growth and potential.
• Fiscal management: Engage in responsible budget management and oversee the development of strategic approaches for departmental budgeting, including areas that may result in budget growth.
• Enrollment management: Develop and employ strategies to thoughtfully grow undergraduate and graduate enrollments in a way that meets the needs of students and addresses needs in the state of Utah.
• Research and scholarship: Maintain an active program of research that enhances the department's scientific contributions and reputation.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate in one of the disciplines represented (kinesiology, recreation, sports management, public/community health, health science) in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science or a closely related field.
• A record of distinguished research, teaching, and other professional accomplishments that are commensurate with an appointment at the rank of Professor with tenure in KHS at Utah State University.
• Evidence of successful academic leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience as a department head/chair, associate department head, or undergraduate/graduate program chair.
• Experience developing and managing budgets.
• Record of submitting and obtaining extramural research grants.
• Experience evaluating candidates for the tenure and promotion process and managing the tenure/promotion process.
• Experience with program assessment or accreditation/reaccreditation.
• Experience with advancement/development and alumni relations.
• Demonstrated multidisciplinary experience and understanding, including the ability to engage with and appreciate the distinct perspectives, research approaches, and technical requirements across multiple subdisciplines within kinesiology and health science.
• Evidence of teaching success and pedagogical innovation, with experience in experiential and online instruction, and demonstrated commitment to student mentorship and academic development.
• National-level academic leadership and service within an area of kinesiology or health science.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Curriculum vita to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV"
2. Cover letter to be uploaded under "Other Documents 1-10"
3. Statement of leadership philosophy and vision for the department to be uploaded under "Other Documents 1-10"
4. Contact information for three professional references to be entered in the Candidate Profile

Document size may not exceed 10 MB.

College/Department Highlights

The Department provides a multidisciplinary, reputable, accredited program of education and training in Kinesiology and Health Science. Our campus-based and off-campus graduate programs offer degrees in MS, MSM, MED, MPH, and PhD (with the PhD administered outside the department) to students who teach, provide community leadership, work in industry, and conduct research. More than 1,500 undergraduate and over 150 graduate students are currently matriculated in our programs. The Department offers an extensive program of elective activity courses, serving approximately 5,000 Utah State University students per semester.

Under the direction of nationally recognized faculty, students in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science engage in innovative research and immersive internships across a wide range of disciplines. The department actively cultivates partnerships within the community to enrich student learning and elevate the quality of internship experiences. Faculty and students conduct pioneering research in eight state-of-the-art laboratories, each dedicated to advancing knowledge of how human movement, physical activity, and motor behavior influence health and performance. These include the Biomechanics Lab, Exercise Physiology Lab, Neuromechanics Lab, Neuromuscular Lab, Perception-Action Lab, Sensory Motor Behavior Lab, Kids in Motion Lab, and two Sport Psychology Labs. These facilities offer students exceptional opportunities to explore the science of human health and performance, contribute to meaningful discoveries, and prepare for impactful careers in the field.

As part of a land grant institution, we deliver our programs to students on campuses across the state of Utah through interactive broadcast, hybrid, and online delivery. We value our partnerships with local, state, national, and international leaders, and we welcome the numerous ongoing opportunities to collaborate on common goals. Drawing on an extensive knowledge base in both theoretical and practice-oriented research, we nurture a vision of providing effective and equitable educational experiences for all our students.

Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services is committed to academic excellence in research, teaching, and service activities across a wide array of education and human service fields. The college is home to eight academic departments with over 200 faculty who are engaged in innovative research and high-level graduate and undergraduate education. The college is consistently ranked by US News and World Reports as one of the top Graduate Colleges of Education in the country, ranking 26th among public institutions of higher education in 2025 and 1st in the state of Utah for the past 25 years. The college's programs and outreach missions are strengthened by an on-campus elementary laboratory school and a number of stand-alone centers, including the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence. Faculty, students, and staff within the college also engage with a broad range of community partners to provide opportunities for community-engaged research projects and learning, which enhances the overall quality of education and human service programs throughout the state of Utah.