Open Rank Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Coordinator

The University of Virginia's School of Education and Human Development seeks a faculty member to be the doctoral capstone coordinator (DCC) for its developing Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program, housed within the Department of Kinesiology. The DCC will collaborate with the OT Program Director to develop the doctoral capstone as a dynamic and innovate component of the curriculum. The DCC will also shape other aspects of a new academic program at a premier public university. This is a tenure-ineligible position with the successful candidate to be appointed to the Academic General Faculty-Teaching track with rank commensurate with experience and qualifications. The inaugural DCC will be responsible for ensuring student-centered, transformational learning experiences through the capstone.

The successful candidate will demonstrate evidence of expertise in occupational therapy practice, teaching, and scholarship. The DCC will partner with capstone sites, serve as a liaison between the occupational therapy program and the capstone sites, and coordinate with faculty in the occupational therapy program across the capstone process. The successful candidate should have strong interpersonal communication, organizational, and time management skills to develop and lead the doctoral capstone component of the occupational therapy program in accordance with all Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) requirements. The DCC faculty position includes administrative, teaching, scholarly, and service responsibilities that support the scholarship agenda and strategic plan of the occupational therapy program. Load is set annually consistent with the School's load planning policy.

The DCC will join a rich interprofessional community within the School of Education and Human Development, which currently houses accredited health sciences programs in Athletic Training, Communication Sciences & Disorders, School & Clinical Psychology, and Counselor Education and is committed to establishing new professional doctoral programs in Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.

Charlottesville is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is consistently listed among the top cities in the country in national rankings of the most desirable places to live. It brings together the best of many worlds, offering the livability and community of a small city with the amenities and cultural attractions (e.g., regular literary, film, musical, and theatrical festivals) of a metropolis. UVA assists faculty spouses and partners seeking employment in the Charlottesville area. To learn more please visit https://dualcareer.virginia.edu/. For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Occupational therapist, licensed or eligible to be licensed, in the state of Virginia
• Hold a doctoral degree awarded by an institution that is accredited by a USDE-recognized institutional accrediting agency.
• Have 3 years of documented experience in the field of occupational therapy which must include:
  • Clinical practice experience as an occupational therapist
  • Teaching responsibilities at the postsecondary level
  • Scholarship (e.g., scholarship of application, scholarship of teaching and learning)

Preferred Qualifications:

• A doctoral degree is required; it is preferred that the doctoral degree be post-professional and be in occupational therapy, occupational science, rehabilitation sciences or similar related field (OTD, PhD, EdD, or equivalent
• Prior graduate teaching experience
• Prior experience as a DCC or Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrated administration and leadership skills
• Proven record of collaboration with students and colleagues
• Evidence of professional service in Occupational Therapy at local, regional, or national levels

Application Instructions

Apply here: https://apply.interfolio.com/190671. Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Teaching philosophy statement
• Vision statement about innovation and impact of the doctoral capstone to the preparation of doctoral-degree level occupational therapists
• Contact information for three professional references (References will not be contacted until after in-person interviews are conducted.)

The University of Virginia's Mission Statement affirms its enduring commitment to a vibrant and unique residential learning environment marked by the free and collegial exchange of ideas; unwavering support of a collaborative community bound together by distinctive foundational values of honor, integrity, trust, and respect; and universal dedication to excellence and affordable access.

As part of your application, please describe your potential contributions to any aspect of this mission. Please focus upon your work skills and experience. In doing so, you may choose to refer to your personal perspective, but the focus of our consideration is on your potential contributions through skills and experience, rather than personal opinions or beliefs. Review of applications will begin in late September, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. The selected applicant will be required to complete a background check prior to their first day of employment.

For questions about the position, please contact search committee chair and Occupational Therapy Program Director Allison Ellington at [redacted]. For questions about the application process, please contact Raj Seneviratne, Director, Faculty Affairs at [redacted].