Sherman Family Endowed Chair, Director Urban Education – University of Missouri-Kansas City

The School of Education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) announces its search for the Sherman Family Endowed Chair & Director of the Urban Education Research Center (UERC), beginning in Fall 2017. The successful candidate will have the credentials required to hold a faculty appointment at the rank of associate or full professor in any of the School’s three divisions. The individual selected will join a dedicated and collaborative group of faculty and staff, and will serve as a key part of the School’s strategic cluster hiring plan that includes two other endowed chair positions and an endowed professorship.

The Sherman Endowed Chair will be an outstanding scholar with expertise in an area of urban education and an established record of external research funding. The successful candidate will promote both applied and basic interdisciplinary research across the university. Further, the individual selected will possess the administrative skills necessary to carry out the Center’s mission of serving as an incubator for innovation in research and best practices. Among the key functions of its multi-pronged mission are: (a) serve as the evaluation and policy analysis arm of the School; (b) provide grant writing, technical, and administrative support to faculty and partners seeking external funding; (c) engage in research-based initiatives that address the needs and interests of the educational community in Kansas City; and (d) collaborate with entities/units across the university on initiatives that advance the School’s mission, such as the Institute for Urban Education (IUE) and Institute for Human Development (IHD).

Now is an exciting time to join the School of Education at UMKC as it revitalizes the UERC along with the IUE. The School has been NCATE-accredited since 1961 and serves as Kansas City’s research school of education and partner to the metropolitan area’s school districts.

Major Responsibilities:

•   Administrative oversight and management of the UERC operations and budget
•   Hire, supervise, and evaluate center staff
•   Conduct independent program of research consistent with the mission of the UERC
•   Secure external funding for independent research and UERC operations
•   Teach a 1-0 course load in division of faculty appointment
•   Advise and mentor students
•   Provide service to the division, school, and university

Minimum Qualifications

•   Ph.D. or equivalent degree that meets academic credentials for a tenured appointment in any of the School’s divisions.
•   Record of external research funding from grants.
•   Record of empirical research articles published in peer-reviewed journals that focuses on topics in an area of urban education.
•   Experience teaching in a college/university setting.
•   Strong background in research designs and advanced statistical methods related to program evaluation, such as randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, regression discontinuity, multilevel modeling, propensity score matching, structural equation modeling, and other methods.
•   Record of conducting interdisciplinary research with faculty and professionals outside of own discipline and professional background.
•   Experience advising graduate students and serving on dissertations.
•   Experience establishing relationships with external partners and schools.
•   Experience writing technical reports for a diverse public audience.
•   Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to social justice and urban issues.
•   Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with others.
•   Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

•   In addition to quantitative research methods, a background in qualitative methods and mixed methods.
•   Previous leadership or administrative experience in higher education.
•   Background in implementation science and formative evaluations.
•   Experience teaching or providing professional services in diverse urban communities and schools.

Full Time/Part Time

Full Time

Application Deadline

Formal review of applications will begin January 24, 2017 and continue until the position is filled. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their materials by January 24, 2017 to assure optimal consideration.

Application Instructions

You must combine all application materials (a letter expressing interest in and perspectives on the position, curriculum vita, a writing sample and other supporting materials, as well as contact information of four references) into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as your resume attachment to the position announcement located at https://myhr.umsystem.edu/psp/tamext/KCITY/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?SiteId=8 (Position #21886).

Limit document name to 50 characters. Size limit 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.).

References will not be contacted until advanced stages of screening, and candidates will receive prior notification.

For further information about this position, please contact Dr. Carolyn Barber, Search Committee Chair, at barberce@umkc.edu or at (816) 235-6151

If you are experiencing technical problems, please call (855) 524-0002.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UMKC is an equal access, equal opportunity, affirmative action employer that is fully committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information, call the Vice Chancellor – Human Resources at 816-235-1621.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Affirmative Action at 816-235- 1323.