Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, Special Education

Western Kentucky University • Bowling Green, KY

9h • Onsite

About The Position

Western Kentucky University’s School of Teacher Education in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences is hiring a full-time, nine-month, tenure-eligible faculty member in Special Education at the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor. The School of Teacher Education prepares teachers through traditional face-to-face instruction and innovative Grow Your Own programming, and its portfolio includes undergraduate and graduate programs in special education. Faculty collaborate to maintain program rigor and foster community engagement.

The faculty member will teach special education courses at undergraduate and graduate levels through in-person, online, and hybrid delivery; provide leadership and supervision for clinical experiences; conduct research and scholarly activities; collaborate with faculty on program development and implementation; serve on university, college, department, and program committees; advise undergraduate and graduate students; and support student participation in community activities.

Applicants must hold an earned doctorate in special education, have an established research record for Associate Professor or Professor rank or an emerging record for Assistant Professor rank, demonstrate potential for attracting external funding, and have experience teaching in elementary and/or secondary schools. Additional rank-specific qualifications apply. Assistant Professor candidates are expected to show potential for excellence in teaching and an active, productive research program. Associate Professor candidates must have at least six years of higher-education experience, demonstrate teaching excellence at both graduate and undergraduate levels, show sustained scholarly activity including publications and presentations, and have a record of service to the institution and profession. Full Professor candidates must have earned tenure at another institution, at least 12 years of higher-education experience, teaching excellence at both graduate and undergraduate levels, sustained scholarly activity including publications and presentations, and a record of service to the institution and profession.

The position is based at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Application materials must be submitted by November 27, 2026; expressions of interest may be considered until the position is filled. Required materials include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts, teaching and research statements (each no longer than two pages), and reprints or preprints of a scholarly article. Names and contact information for three references are collected during the application process; reference letters may be requested later. Employment is subject to a pre-employment criminal background check.

Requirements

• Earned doctorate in special education.
• Established research record for Associate Professor and Professor candidates, or an emerging research record for Assistant Professor candidates, with potential to attract external funding.
• Experience teaching in elementary and/or secondary schools.
• Assistant Professor candidates are expected to demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching and an active, productive scholarly research program.
• Associate Professor candidates must have at least 6 years of higher-education experience, demonstrate excellence in teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, show sustained scholarly activity including publications and presentations, and have a record of service to the institution and profession.
• Full Professor candidates must have earned tenure at another institution, have at least 12 years of higher-education experience, demonstrate excellence in teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, show sustained scholarly activity including publications and presentations, and have a record of service to the institution and profession.
• Submit a cover letter addressing qualifications, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts, teaching statement (maximum two pages), research statement (maximum two pages), and reprints or preprints of a scholarly article by November 27, 2026.
• Provide names and contact information for three reference providers during the application process.
• Successful employment is subject to a pre-employment criminal background check.

Responsibilities

• Teach special education courses at undergraduate and graduate levels using in-person, online, and hybrid delivery.
• Provide effective leadership and supervision of clinical experiences.
• Conduct research and scholarly activities.
• Collaborate with other faculty to develop and implement effective programs.
• Serve on university, college, department, and program committees.
• Advise undergraduate and graduate students.
• Support student engagement in community activities.

Benefits

• Comprehensive wellness and health benefits for employees and their families, including domestic partners and other qualified dependents.
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Tuition discount program for employees and dependents.
• Workplace culture that supports balancing work and family responsibilities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree