Chairperson, School of Psychology

Kentucky State University•Frankfort, KY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chairperson serves as the chief administrative officer and academic leader of the School of Psychology, providing strategic leadership for the School’s academic programs and overseeing fiscal management, faculty development, curriculum innovation, student success, and stakeholder collaboration. The Chair oversees undergraduate and graduate offerings, including the B.S. in Psychology, psychology and related minors, the Certificate in Social Issues and Human Relations, and M.A. concentrations in Forensic Science and Forensic Counseling. The Chair leads ongoing Master’s-level programmatic accreditation efforts and directs the conceptualization, curriculum development, resource planning, state approval, implementation, and future accreditation of a proposed Ph.D. program in Psychology. The position also supports institutional alignment with SACSCOC standards and relevant state licensing requirements. The Chair manages the School’s operations and budget; leads faculty governance, recruitment, evaluation, and development; and advances student recruitment, retention, advising, practicum placement, and graduation outcomes. The Chair maintains an active teaching role, builds partnerships with community, healthcare, correctional, criminal justice, and mental health organizations, represents the unit on institutional committees, and facilitates the School’s Advisory Council. This is a full-time, exempt, on-site faculty position at the Main Campus, reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

Requirements

Earned Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Psychology or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution.
Minimum 2–3 years of academic leadership experience at the department, college, or university level.
Demonstrated success in curriculum development, program assessment, and specialized accreditation.
Comprehensive understanding of APA, regional (SACSCOC), and state-level licensing board standards, such as those of the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology.
Expertise in developing graduate-level curricula, practicum/internship supervision structures, and research infrastructure for Master’s and Ph.D. programs.
Demonstrated administrative skills in budget management, project management, data-informed decision-making, and conflict resolution.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills for working with diverse students, faculty, external stakeholders, and community partners.
Proficiency with learning management systems, administrative software such as Microsoft Office, and academic assessment tools.
Ability to teach assigned courses and participate in academic advising.
Must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States; the University is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

Nice To Haves

Faculty rank of Associate Professor or Professor preferred; candidates at Assistant Professor rank with an exceptional record in teaching, research, and administrative leadership will be considered.
Experience building or managing graduate or doctoral programs preferred.
Experience with specialized accreditation such as APA, MPCAC, CACREP, or SACSCOC.

Responsibilities

Direct the operational, administrative, and strategic activities of the School’s academic programs.
Lead ongoing Master’s-level programmatic accreditation efforts and continuous improvement, including alignment with relevant APA, MPCAC, and state standards.
Lead the conceptualization, curriculum design, faculty recruitment, resource planning, state approval, implementation, and future accreditation of a new Ph.D. program in Psychology.
Ensure institutional alignment with SACSCOC accreditation standards.
Lead unit meetings and oversee faculty and staff recruitment, retention, tenure, promotion, post-retirement appointments, performance evaluations, and professional growth.
Drive student recruitment, matriculation, retention, advising, practicum placement, and graduation outcomes across undergraduate and graduate programs.
Manage the School’s operational, equipment, and departmental budgets and pursue revenue, grant funding, and donor opportunities.
Teach assigned undergraduate and/or graduate courses and support student-centered, active-learning pedagogy.
Coordinate academic advising efforts.
Develop partnerships with healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, state boards, and community agencies for practicum placements, research, and workforce pipelines.
Represent the School on institutional committees and facilitate the School’s Advisory Council.
Guide departmental policy development regarding academic standards, course offerings, and scheduling.
Make formal recommendations on faculty appointments, reappointments, tenure, and promotion in accordance with University policies.
Perform other duties as assigned.