Endowed Associate/Full Professor of Special Education

Job Description

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Open Date: Apr 27, 2026
Deadline:

Located in urban Philadelphia, Penn GSE is dedicated to preparing equity-oriented educators, leaders, and scholar-practitioners who advance opportunity for all students. We are seeking a colleague to strengthen this mission through rigorous research in special education, with a focus on teacher preparation and development.

In particular, Penn GSE seeks a scholar whose research advances knowledge in the field while also informing the preparation and development of educators and leaders. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: teacher preparation for special and inclusive education; neurodivergent learners and learning differences, including autism, ADHD, and executive functioning; literacy and language development for students with reading disabilities and language-based learning differences; high-incidence disabilities such as learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral challenges, and speech-language impairments; and interventions such as multi-tiered systems of support and Universal Design for Learning. We are looking for a colleague who considers intersections between learning and mental health and wellbeing, as well as the ways that systems and structures are implicated in both how disabilities are identified and potential interventions. We welcome candidates representing diverse disciplinary perspectives and methodological approaches.

Depending on the candidate's expertise and interest, opportunities exist to collaborate across Penn GSE's divisions and centers, including with faculty working in educational policy, school leadership, literacy, and instructional design. This endowed position, made possible through the generous support of the Usdan Family, represents a significant institutional investment in special education research and practice.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have an earned doctorate and an outstanding record of research, funding productivity, and teaching expertise, commensurate with experience level, with a focus on special education and its intersections with equity and inclusive practice.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success working in partnership with K-12 schools and districts to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, their educators, and their communities. The successful candidate will provide intellectual leadership within GSE's educator preparation programs and contribute to building sustained partnerships with the School District of Philadelphia and other high-need urban districts.

Application Instructions

Please submit a CV, cover letter, research statement, a statement of teaching philosophy, the names of three references, and at least three writing samples or publications through Interfolio. Please submit your application by September 15, 2026. The search committee will continue reviewing applications until the position is filled. You can contact the Office of Research and Faculty Affairs with questions at facultyaffairs@gse.upenn.edu.

To apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/185447