Calvin University invites applications for a full-time regular faculty member to join the Education Department and teach graduate courses in educational leadership and school leader preparation, online and in-person, beginning in August 2027, pending administrative approval. The position will also include teaching selected in-person undergraduate courses aligned with the candidate’s qualifications and departmental needs (e.g., literacy, educational philosophy, social context, student intern…
supervision, and student teaching seminar).
REQUIREMENTS
The university seeks applicants with vibrant Christian faith who are dedicated to integration of that faith with their field of study.
Ideal candidates will hold a PhD or EdD in educational leadership or a related field and will have served at least 5 years in a school leadership position (e.g., principal, head of school, etc.).
Candidates are expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and master’s levels as well as an active stream of relevant research and publication. Preference will be given to candidates with experience teaching using a variety of methods and instructional technology.
The university will prioritize candidates with broad interdisciplinary interests, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ability to integrate questions of meaning, significance, and ethics into all course content, and deep commitment to engaging students beyond the classroom.
FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES
Faculty members typically teach 24 semester hours per academic year. Faculty are expected to grow in Reformed Christian commitment, to pursue an active scholarly agenda, to teach effectively, and to serve the university, department, students, and the wider community. Candidates will be asked to affirm their commitment to the educational mission of Calvin University as a Christian liberal arts university in the Reformed tradition, affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. (See Educating for Shalom and Faculty Expectations.) Calvin University provides numerous faculty development opportunities to foster growth in these commitments.
FACULTY RESOURCES
Calvin University stands at the forefront of Christian scholarship across disciplines. The University hosts a number of Centers and Institutes and provides other funding opportunities to support faculty teaching and research, including sabbaticals, grants, course releases, summer research stipends, travel funds, and student research opportunities.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
The Calvin University School of Education prepares educators to serve with excellence, wisdom, and Christian purpose, equipping the next generation of teachers and educational leaders to serve in Michigan, throughout the United States, and in schools around the world.
Our undergraduate education program emphasizes teaching and learning informed and shaped by Christian convictions, content area knowledge, responsive practices for all learners in a wide variety of settings, and community within our classes and across the profession. Our Master of Education program challenges educators from around the world to grow in expertise and leadership. Students engage with current scholarship, innovative teaching practices, and the ethical questions that shape education, all through the lens of Christian faith, justice, equity, and renewal.
We are committed to research and scholarship agendas that serve students, PK-12 education, the development of Christian scholarship, and the broader educational research community. The Education Program is approved by the Michigan Department of Education and accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
ABOUT CALVIN UNIVERSITY
Calvin University is a top-ranked national university that equips students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Approximately 3,600 Calvin students study the liberal arts and select from a broad range of majors and professional programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate-level offerings. The university is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a thriving metropolitan region of approximately one million people situated equidistant from Chicago and Detroit. Furthermore, the West Michigan region is ranked by Forbes as the #1 place in the United States to raise a family. For more information, please visit http://www.calvin.edu/go/facultyopenings.
Calvin is building a tradition of diversity and accessibility and welcomes applications from persons whose personal characteristics will further that commitment. Calvin does not discriminate in the employment of individuals on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, sex, or age. Calvin University is an educational agency of the Christian Reformed Church and, in compliance with Title VII and other applicable law, reserves the right to give preference in employment based upon religion. Please note that, while we welcome applications from all qualified applicants, employment opportunities for foreign nationals may be subject to additional eligibility, timing, sponsorship, and funding considerations under current U.S. immigration and visa requirements.
TO APPLY
Complete the online application process and attach the following:
- Letter of application that addresses the requirements and responsibilities of the position, including your interest in teaching and scholarship at a Reformed Christian University
- Full curriculum vitae
- Sample(s) of scholarship
- A brief statement (250 words or fewer) identifying 4 – 5 scholars who have shaped your perspective on educational leadership and/or school leader preparation
- 2 letters of recommendation addressing teaching and/or scholarship
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. For questions, contact the department chair, Kate Strater, at kate.strater@calvin.edu.
FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT
1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.
2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.
DIVERSITY COMMITMENT
Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.