Director, Master of Library and Information Studies Program

University of Arkansas • Fayetteville, AR

11h • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Arkansas Libraries invites applications for a 12-month, tenure-track faculty appointment as Director of the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) Program. Reporting to the Dean of Libraries, the director will launch and shape the university’s first graduate program in library and information science. The role combines program leadership and administration, teaching, research, and service. The University Libraries preferentially seeks a candidate whose record qualifies them for appointment with tenure at the rank of Associate Professor upon hire.

The new, practitioner-oriented program is the only master's-level library and information science program in Arkansas. Based at Mullins Library on the Fayetteville campus, it offers an in-person curriculum developed in consultation with ALA-accredited peer institutions and is pursuing American Library Association accreditation. The program plans to welcome its first cohort in Fall 2027 and is projected to grow to approximately 36 students. Students will have opportunities to learn alongside working practitioners and participate in hands-on, experiential learning.

The position is in person. The workload is generally distributed as approximately 50 percent teaching and program leadership, 30 percent research, and 20 percent service. The director teaches two courses each fall and spring semester, advises and mentors graduate students, and maintains an active program of research and professional scholarship consistent with promotion and tenure expectations. Regular, reliable attendance and the ability to maintain collegial working relationships are essential.

Requirements

• Earned doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent) in Library and Information Science, Higher Education, or a closely related field, conferred no later than June 1, 2027.
• Master of Library Science (MLS) or Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited program.
• Demonstrated experience teaching in higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Record of teaching, scholarship, and service sufficient to qualify for appointment with tenure at the rank of Associate Professor upon hire.
• At least four years of academic administration experience, such as budgeting, curriculum development, course scheduling, strategic planning, project management, or program evaluation.
• Demonstrated supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Experience in academic libraries or other library and information science practitioner settings.
• Experience with new academic program development or accreditation processes, such as those of the American Library Association.
• Successful experience securing grants or external research funding.
• Experience recruiting, advising, and mentoring graduate students.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall vision, leadership, and day-to-day administration for the MLIS program, establishing policies, procedures, and long-term strategic direction with the Dean of Libraries.
• Serve as the principal liaison between the program, University Libraries leadership, campus partners, and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate student recruiting, admissions, orientation, and program communications.
• Lead curriculum development and coordinate course scheduling, staffing, and program assessment with program faculty, adjunct instructors, and University Libraries faculty.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and workload coordination for MLIS program faculty in partnership with the Dean of Libraries.
• Partner with the Assistant Dean for Finance to develop the program budget and approve unit expenditures.
• Lead the program’s efforts toward American Library Association accreditation, including preparation of self-study and candidacy materials.
• Teach two courses each fall and spring semester within the MLIS curriculum.
• Advise and mentor MLIS graduate students.
• Maintain an active program of research and professional scholarship consistent with promotion and tenure expectations.
• Represent the program on department, college, and university committees and participate in shared governance.

Benefits

• University contributions to health, dental, life, and disability insurance.
• Tuition waivers for employees and their families.
• 12 official holidays.
• Immediate leave accrual.
• Choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

What This Job Offers

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