Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership

University of Northern Colorado • Greeley, CO

67d • $63,000 - $66,000

About The Position

The Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Dietetics at the University of Northern Colorado invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership (PEPAL) at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning August 2026. We seek a dynamic educator-scholar committed to preparing the next generation of physical education teachers/physical activity leaders and advancing the field through high-quality research, teaching, and service. The successful candidate will join a collaborative faculty committed to preparing highly qualified physical education teachers/physical activity leaders and conducting impactful research that promotes lifelong physical activity and well-being. The PEPAL program is a central component of the department's mission, with strong ties to K-12 partners, state and national professional organizations, and interdisciplinary initiatives across the College of Natural and Health Sciences.

Requirements

• Earned doctorate in Physical Education Teacher Education, Kinesiology, Curriculum and Instruction, or a closely related field (ABD considered, with doctorate completed by December 2026).
• Demonstrated potential for a focused line of scholarly inquiry with evidence of publications, presentations, or other scholarly products.
• Evidence of ability to teach courses in PEPAL at the undergraduate level.
• Commitment to working with diverse populations and fostering an inclusive learning environment.

Nice To Haves

• K-12 physical education teaching experience.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications and evidence of seeking or securing external funding.
• Experience supervising teacher candidates in field or clinical settings.
• Ability to teach and mentor at the graduate level.
• Evidence of engagement in professional service or leadership at the state, regional, or national level.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in PEPAL and related areas (e.g., Instructional methods in PE, sociocultural issues in PE/PA, secondary content and methods, comprehensive school physical activity programming, policy-advocacy).
• Conduct a focused and sustained program of research that contributes to the advancement of physical education and/or comprehensive school physical activity programs in collaboration with members of the UNC Active Schools Institute.
• Pursue external funding to support research and professional activities.
• Advise and mentor undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students, including directing action research projects and dissertations.
• Collaborate with school, community, and professional partners to enhance teacher preparation and support K-12 physical education and physical activity initiatives (e.g., field experience/student teaching supervision, state partnerships).
• Contribute to program, school, university, and professional service (e.g., recruitment & retention efforts, undergraduate program coordination, university committees, PE Club advising, state professional organization board).

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance.
• Selection of several defined contribution retirement plans for all full-time positions.
• Sick leave and other leave options may be available based on position.
• Tuition waiver benefits for full-time employees.
• Undergraduate dependent tuition grants of up to 50% for dependents and spouses of UNC Employees who are employed at 0.5 FTE or above.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees