| About the Position: |
Assistant Professor Early Childhood and/or Elementary Literacy Education
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Department of Education invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Early Childhood and/or Elementary Literacy Education. Primary responsibilities of this position include 1) teaching pre-service early childhood/elementary education literacy courses to undergraduates and graduates; 2) maintaining an active research and publication agenda; 3) providing service to the community, department, university, and profession, and 4) mentoring a diverse population of students. Our new colleague will demonstrate a commitment to and experience in fostering justice through equity-focused research and/or teaching. The successful candidate should also exhibit the desire and ability to thrive and grow in a diverse, collaborative, interdisciplinary environment. Scholar-teachers interested in collaborating with undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students on interdisciplinary research are encouraged to apply, as collaborative research is a hallmark of UMBC’s learning community.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County
UMBC is a public, very high-activity research (R1) university serving over 14,000 undergraduate and graduate students in a suburban setting between Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC with a vision to redefine excellence in higher education through an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement. We advance knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds. The university is innovative, interdisciplinary, inclusive, and committed to advancing ground-breaking research. UMBC is consistently cited – most recently by U.S. News & World Report – as one of the best universities for undergraduate teaching, and as a leading innovator in higher education. For the past eight years, the university has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Great Place to Work. UMBC has been designated as a Minority Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education since 2017.
The UMBC Department of Education
The mission of the UMBC Department of Education is to advance research on teaching and learning and to develop caring, thoughtful, knowledgeable, skilled, and responsive educators. We expect our graduates to respect diversity, to be leaders in their schools, and to advocate for democracy and social justice. The education department offers various accredited programs, including early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, and TESOL. The department is engaged in several university, state, national, and international collaborations, including an expansive network of partner schools, grants with the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Sherman Teacher Scholar Program. This program supports and helps prepare teachers to serve in urban and high-need schools in the region.
Our new colleague will work alongside our nationally and internationally recognized and award-winning faculty. We are deeply committed to supporting new faculty, and there are several support programs, including start-up funds, summer fellowships, and the Eminent Scholar Mentoring Program, which links tenure-track faculty at the Assistant rank with external mentors of their choice. UMBC has various faculty-led affinity groups designed to support the recruitment, visibility, and retention of diverse faculty and staff.
Required Qualifications:
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Doctoral Degree (or ABD pending graduation, in hand by hiring date) in Early Childhood and/or Elementary Education; Language, Literacy & Culture; Curriculum & Instruction; Teacher Education, or a related field
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An emerging research record with identified field(s) of study
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Demonstrated commitment to and experience in fostering justice through equity-focused research and/or pedagogy
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Knowledge of and orientation toward culturally relevant, responsive, or sustaining pedagogy
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At least three years of demonstrated successful teaching of learners in ages 0-12 within ethnically, culturally, or linguistically diverse school settings
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Evidence of experience teaching in higher education (advanced/specialized or intro courses)
Preferred Qualifications:
Additional consideration is given to candidates who possess one of more of the following:
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Demonstrated success in research and publications in peer-reviewed journals that apply a critical lens to literacy education
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Demonstrated success in advising and mentorship of students/teacher candidates
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Demonstrated experience in working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations
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Interest in transdisciplinary approaches to literacy, including areas in STEM
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Experience with seeking and participating in externally funded projects
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Demonstrate commitment to inclusive excellence
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
UMBC is committed to equity, justice, and inclusive excellence and is especially proud of the diversity of its 14,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The Department of Education is committed to attracting diverse applicants for this position. We firmly commit to promoting inclusive excellence, equity, and justice. Candidates should demonstrate a focus on fostering equity and justice in research, leadership, teaching, mentorship, and service. We encourage applications from people of color, veterans, women, individuals with disabilities, and other minoritized groups.
Information on faculty diversity initiatives is available at UMBC Faculty Diversity. Resources to promote work-life balance for our faculty are available at Work Life Balance.
Application Submission
Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, the names and contact information of three references, a scholarly writing sample (e.g., dissertation chapter, book chapter, article), a separate statement addressing the applicant’s commitment to and experience in fostering inclusive excellence, and an unofficial transcript. The cover letter should include a) a discussion of how the applicant’s qualifications align with the position, b) a teaching philosophy statement, and c) a description of the applicant’s current and future research path. Please submit all application materials via Interfolio at the following link: http://apply.interfolio.com/137613
Please address any inquiries about the application process to Ms. Abby Shaffer (ashaffe2@umbc.edu). Questions regarding the position can be directed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr. Jennifer Mata-McMahon (jmatamcm@umbc.edu). For best consideration, please submit your application material by Monday, February 5, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is August 2024.
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