Head and Professor - Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling

POSITION: Head and Professor. This is a 12-month tenure-track position in the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling beginning Fall 2027. This faculty member will be hired to serve as the unit leader for the department, which works to improve education and health through research, outreach, and teaching. The department offers a B.S. degree in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, and in Special Education; Minors in Counseling, and in Special Education for Health and Related Service Professions; MEd's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, Collaborative Teacher Special Education K-12, Early Childhood/Elementary Special Education P-6, and in School Counseling; and a PhD in Counseling Psychology, Counselor Education, and Special Education. Also offered are certificate programs in three areas - Transition Specialist, Vocational Evaluation Forensic, and in our Educational to Accomplish Growth in Life Experiences (EAGLES) program, which has a substantial footprint across campus and in the community. Additionally, the Auburn University Regional Autism Network (RAN) is a statewide initiative.

The department includes 28 full-time faculty members and 12 full-time staff members. As of Fall 2026, undergraduate enrollment was 242 and graduate enrollment was 171. Research interests of faculty members include various aspects of special education, rehabilitation and disability studies, counseling psychology, and counselor education. The department is housed in the College of Education, which includes three other academic units and boasts an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 1,650 and a graduate enrollment of approximately 850 (as of Fall 2025).

The university's commitment to excellence is outlined in the Auburn University Strategic Plan 2035: Grounded & Groundbreaking (https://ocm.auburn.edu/strategic_plan/) and the College of Education Strategic Plan 2035 (College of Education Strategic Plan 2035 | College of Education). Review of applications will begin December 4, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

Responsibilities

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide visionary and collaborative leadership for all aspects of the department, including but not limited to:
  • Leading effective and efficient academic and administrative operations
  • Recruiting, developing, and evaluating faculty
  • Overseeing and facilitating curricular development, review, and revision
  • Fostering excellence in teaching, research, and outreach
  • Representing the department's interests, achievements, and contributions to internal and external stakeholders
  • Cultivating a positive and collaborative work environment
  • Advancing strategic revenue-generation initiatives
• Contribute effectively to college-level leadership groups and functions

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS

Please submit the following:

1. A letter of application for the position that speaks to the required and desired qualifications listed above
2. Curriculum vita
3. Unofficial graduate transcripts (official transcripts required upon hiring)
4. Contact information for 3-5 professional references, preferably from a direct report, a supervisor, and a colleague at a similar level

Questions regarding the position may be addressed to Dr. Matt Miller, Director, School of Kinesiology, and chair of the search advisory committee, at mwm0024@auburn.edu.

Note: Candidates for this position must meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States at the time of appointment.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned doctorate in one of the department's program areas or a closely related discipline at the time of employment
• Record of achieving tenure and promotion to full professor at a college or university comparable to Auburn University
• Academic credentials sufficient to meet Auburn University requirements for tenure eligibility
• Distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and service
• Understanding of unique needs, opportunities, and synergies associated with a unit that houses both clinically focused professional programs and traditional academic programs
• Academic leadership experience at the department, school, or comparable unit level
• Demonstrated success as a collaborative leader across varied academic programs, supported by strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to support faculty success in securing and managing extramural funding

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Record of successful faculty and administrative leadership experience at a Carnegie R1 university
• Familiarity with the mission, culture, and opportunities associated with a land-grant university
• Understanding of the role and responsibilities of a flagship public research university
• Experience with evaluating faculty and staff, overseeing budget and personnel, and managing facilities
• Demonstrated success leading or supporting complex academic, clinical, outreach, or service-oriented programs, centers, networks, or initiatives involving a variety of stakeholders and partnerships
• Experience with accreditation, assessment, program review, and collaborative leadership across multidisciplinary programs, units, and community-engaged enterprises
• Record of leadership on major externally funded research grants, particularly those involving interdisciplinary collaboration
• Record of developing and implementing faculty professional development initiatives related to teaching, research, and scholarly productivity
• Record of supporting and advancing staff professional development
• Record of strategic leadership in revenue generation and resource development
• Record of fostering a positive and collaborative work environment while representing the interests of programs and personnel and promoting understanding of broader institutional priorities within a complex university environment

Contract Type

Continuing