"School Director & Professor"

About Auburn:

At Auburn, our work changes lives. Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a premier public institution, Auburn University is dedicated to shaping the future of the people of Alabama, the nation, and the world through forward-thinking education, life-enhancing research, scholarship, and selfless service. Auburn is nationally recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, community outreach, a positive work environment, student engagement, and a thriving community. Chartered in 1856, Auburn University holds a Carnegie classification of Research 1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production. The university also holds the Elective Classification for Community Engagement. Academic programs at Auburn enroll approximately 28,000 undergraduate students and 6,200 graduate and professional students. Detailed information about the university can be found by visiting https://auburn.edu/.

Why employees choose Auburn: Auburn University was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the state of Alabama’s best employers, with employees staying an average of ten years. Employees enjoy competitive benefits that include top-notch health insurance, generous retirement plans, tuition assistance for employees and dependents, flexible spending accounts, and more.

Position: School Director and Professor

This is a 12-month tenure-track position in the School of Kinesiology beginning summer 2026. This faculty member will be hired to serve as the unit leader for the School of Kinesiology, which works to improve the health of society through research, outreach, and teaching. The school offers BS and MS degrees in Exercise Science and Exercise, Performance & Health Optimization and a PhD in Kinesiology. It also houses a Physical Activity and Wellness Program and a Doctor of Physical Therapy program that launched its first cohort in the summer of 2025. The school emphasizes research productivity, academic excellence, hands-on learning, and superior mentorship of students at all degree levels.

The School of Kinesiology includes 26 full-time faculty members and nine full-time staff members (including four academic advisors, a coordinator of the physical activity program, and a marketing and communications director). As of Fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment was 750 and graduate enrollment was 86 (including 40 doctoral students). Research interests of faculty members include various aspects of biomechanics, exercise physiology, neuroscience, psychology, rehabilitation, and human performance. The School is housed in the College of Education, which includes three other academic units and boasts an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 1,600 and a graduate enrollment of approximately 850 (as of Fall 2024).

The university’s commitment to excellence is outlined in the Auburn University Strategic Plan 2035: Grounded & Groundbreaking (https://ocm.auburn.edu/strategic_plan/). Review of applications will begin October 13, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Provide visionary and collaborative leadership for all aspects of the school, including but not limited to: Academic and administrative management; Faculty recruitment, development, and evaluation; Oversight and facilitation of curricular development, review, and revision; A culture of excellence in teaching, research, and outreach; Advocacy for stakeholders both inside and outside the university; A positive and collaborative work environment; Strategic engagement in revenue generation; Contribute effectively to college-level leadership groups and functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in one of the school’s program areas or in a closely related discipline at the time employment begins
• Evidence of having achieved tenure and promotion to full professor at an institution of higher education comparable to Auburn University
• Academic credentials sufficient to meet tenure eligibility requirements of Auburn University
• A distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and service
• Experience with and understanding of unique needs of and synergies between clinically-focused professional programs (e.g., Doctorate of Physical Therapy) and traditional academic kinesiology programs
• Academic unit-level leadership experience including faculty and staff evaluations, budget oversight, and facility management
• Documented success as a collaborative leader with effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Evidence of capability to effectively support and develop faculty members’ success in securing extramural funding
• Commitment to the values and priorities of the College of Education (https://education.auburn.edu/college-of-education-strategic-plan/; https://education.auburn.edu/about-the-college/vision-mission-and-core-values/) and the Auburn University Strategic Plan

Desired Qualifications

• Record of successful leadership and faculty experience at a Research 1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production
• Familiarity with the unique characteristics of the land grant university
• Understanding of the role of a flagship university
• Record of leadership roles on major externally funded research grants, especially those involving cross-disciplinary collaborations
• Record of developing and implementing faculty professional development activities related to teaching and/or research
• Record of promoting a positive work environment
• Record of strategic engagement in revenue generation

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please submit the following: 1. A letter of application for the position that speaks to the required and desired qualifications listed above 2. Curriculum vita 3. Unofficial graduate transcripts (official transcripts required upon hiring) 4. Contact information for 3-5 professional references, preferably from a direct report, a supervisor, and a colleague at a similar level Questions regarding the position may be addressed to Dr. Paul Fitchett, head of the Department of Curriculum and Teaching and chair of the search advisory committee, at pgf0011@auburn.edu. Note: Please submit documents 3 and 4 in the Other Documentation section. Candidates for this position must meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States at the time of appointment.