AssistantAssociate Professor, School of Leadership & Professional Studies

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a student-centered applied-research institution committed to providing its students with a transformative academic and social experience and to elevating its surrounding communities. Founded in 1906 WKU is the third largest public four-year institution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with approximately 16293 students and nearly 2612 faculty and staff employees.

Western Kentucky University is committed to empowering its campus community. At the heart of our mission we seek to provide holistic education and employment experiences that prepare students faculty and staff to become effective scholars contributors and leaders in our ever-evolving communities.

Located 65 miles north of Nashville TN and just over 100 miles south of Louisville KY WKUs main campus is in Bowling Green KY - a city with approximately 70000 residents. Our population is ethnically diverse with more than 85 languages spoken in and around Bowling Green and people from 35 nationalities call our community home.

Western Kentucky University seeks to attract talented faculty and staff who are inspired individually to contribute to WKUs strategic plans and ongoing success. We offer comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families including domestic partners and other qualified dependents and take pride in providing a workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life. Paid-time off for holidays vacation and sick leave and a tuition discount program for employees and dependents are also provided. Learn more about WKU and Bowling Green at Description:

Assistant or Associate Professor Educational Administration School of Leadership and Professional Studies College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Western Kentucky University Full-time tenure-eligible nine-month appointment

The Opportunity

The School of Leadership and Professional Studies invites applications for a full-time tenure-eligible faculty position in Educational Leadership and Administration at the rank of assistant or associate professor. WKUs Educational Administration program prepares school administrators across Kentucky and was one of seven university programs nationally selected for the Wallace Foundations University Principal Preparation Initiative a $6 million redesign undertaken in direct partnership with school districts and state agencies and centered on equity in context and a $1.3 million dollar Department of Labor grant to create a principal apprenticeship pathway the first of its kind in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The successful candidate joins a program with a demonstrated record of translating research and district partnership into practice and will teach and conduct research across a program that spans four distinct pathways for developing educational leaders.

What You Will Do

Teaching

• Teach courses in educational administration across all program pathways: MAE Rank I Certification Only and EdD

Scholarship

• Conduct and publish research in educational administration and leadership in the P-12 setting
• Advance a research agenda that supports the programs mission and its work on equity-centered leadership preparation

Program Support

• Support the programs work in developing school leaders who understand the role of equity diversity and inclusion in education
• Demonstrate practice that embraces supporting the success of students from diverse backgrounds through teaching advising and research

*Candidates applying at the associate rank must demonstrate research and academic activity consistent with the departments promotion and tenure policy. That policy is provided to finalists at the time on-campus interviews are scheduled.

The successful candidate will bring:

• An EdD or PhD in Educational Leadership Educational Administration or a closely related field from an accredited university
• At least three years of experience as a school principal or a combined five years of experience as a principal and central office administrator
• A demonstrated ability to advance a research agenda in educational leadership that supports the programs mission (*associate professor candidates)
• Experience supporting the success of students from diverse backgrounds in educational leadership

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Revised 1992 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race color ethnicity national origin creed religion political belief sex sexual orientation gender identity/expression marital status age uniformed services veteran status genetic information pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process may contact the Office of Institutional Equity at for assistance. To report concerns related to WKUs Discrimination and Harassment Policy No. 0.2040 and/or WKUs Sex and Gender-Based Discrimination Harassment and Retaliation Policy No. 0.2070 please complete the Discrimination Harassment and Retaliation Reporting Form. Additional information regarding Title IX including contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and reporting options is available on WKUs Title IX website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: information related to job postings application status or the hiring process please email.

The following items must be submitted through this electronic talent management system by October 1 2026 although expressions of interest may be considered until the position is filled:

• Letter of Intent
• Curriculum Vita
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy

Names and contact information of three reference providers will be collected during the application process. Reference letters will be requested by the Search Committee through an online process at a later date.

You will receive email confirmation once you have successfully completed the application process.