Department Chair, Sociology

The University of Akron•Akron, OH

11h•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Akron’s Department of Sociology seeks an innovative, collaborative leader to serve as Department Chair beginning July 1, 2027. The position is a 12-month administrative appointment with a concurrent tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Professor in the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences. The Chair will advance sociology as a public-facing discipline, strengthen enrollment, expand community-engaged research and teaching, and build pathways connecting sociological training to meaningful careers. The successful candidate will work with faculty, students, and university leadership to position the department for growth and explore future collaboration across related programs. The department prepares students to engage with real-world problems, including public health and public safety. Students develop analytic and communication skills, critical thinking, and creative approaches to social problems. Through hands-on research projects and internships, graduates are prepared to address systemic issues in local, regional, and global communities. The department is positioned to strengthen collaborations across the university and with regional partners, including local government, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies. Areas offering opportunities for research and engagement include health and well-being; crime and justice; inequality and social mobility; urban and community development; and social policy and program evaluation. The Chair is the department’s academic and administrative leader, responsible for advancing excellence in teaching, research, and service. The role includes articulating and implementing a strategic vision; supporting faculty scholarship and development; fostering applied and community-engaged partnerships; overseeing curriculum, program assessment, and new initiatives; managing budgets, staffing, and course scheduling; promoting student recruitment, retention, and career preparation; building a collaborative departmental climate; representing the department; maintaining an active scholarly agenda and contributing to teaching; and partnering with the Dean and college leadership on potential collaboration with related programs. Applicants should submit a cover letter describing their qualifications, leadership experience, and vision for sociology at a public metropolitan university; a curriculum vitae with contact information for three references; brief statements on leadership style and philosophy and teaching philosophy and experience; and teaching evaluations, if available. At least three letters of recommendation should be submitted directly to the search committee chair. Application review begins December 5, 2026, and continues until the position is filled. Compensation is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Employment offers are contingent on credential verification and a satisfactory criminal background check. All work performed as a University employee is expected to be performed in Ohio.

Requirements

PhD in Sociology or a closely related field.
Record of scholarship and teaching consistent with tenure at the rank of Professor.
Demonstrated leadership or administrative experience in an academic setting.
Evidence of commitment to student success and faculty mentorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience with strategic planning or program development.
Demonstrated ability to build interdisciplinary and community partnerships.
Interest in strengthening career-relevant pathways for sociology graduates.
Experience with student recruitment, program growth, or enrollment development.
Experience securing external funding or supporting faculty grant activity.
Experience with interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-departmental initiatives.

Responsibilities

Articulate and implement a strategic vision for the department, including initiatives to strengthen enrollment and student success.
Support faculty research, collaboration, and professional development.
Foster community-engaged and applied research partnerships with public and nonprofit organizations.
Oversee curriculum development, program assessment, and new program initiatives.
Manage departmental budgets, staffing, and course scheduling.
Promote student recruitment, retention, and career preparation.
Cultivate a collaborative and intellectually vibrant departmental climate.
Represent the department within the college, university, and broader community.
Maintain an active scholarly agenda and contribute to teaching.
Partner with the Dean and college leadership on ongoing conversations about collaboration with related programs.
Advance initiatives connecting sociological training with career pathways, expanding experiential learning, and building partnerships across Northeast Ohio.