Job Details

Chair and Professor, Tenured, Department of Curriculum & Instruction

Position Number: 9788221
Location: Waco, United States
Position Type: Education - Curriculum and Instruction

Chair and Professor, Tenured, Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Education

Location: Waco, Texas
Open Date: Aug 25, 2026
Deadline: Feb 01, 2027 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Description:
RESPONSIBILITIES:

The department chair is C&I's chief academic and administrative officer, overseeing and promoting the department's research productivity and impact, academic programs, service, and outreach. The chair provides strategic leadership, insightful evaluation, and sound mentoring and professional development for faculty (all ranks) and staff. The chair is responsible for leading the department and enhancing its relationships with other departments in the Moody School of Education (SOE), with the university at large, and with local school districts. As a member of the School's leadership team, the chair reports directly to the dean. The department chair is responsible for:

Providing strategic leadership for the C&I Department, advancing its mission across research, teaching, and service.

Leading the department in strengthening its national and international reputation as a research-intensive unit, including support for high-impact scholarship and research growth.

Developing and implementing a shared vision that reflects the department's intellectual breadth and aligns with Moody SOE and university priorities.

Supporting faculty success across all ranks through mentoring, professional development, promotion guidance, and leadership cultivation.

Recruiting, retaining, and supporting an intellectually diverse faculty, recognizing excellence across research, teaching, and service.

Strengthening and expanding academic programs, including doctoral education, student mentoring, and research training.

Advancing educator preparation programs and cultivating strong PK-12 partnerships that support clinically rich practice and community engagement.

Overseeing department operations, including:

? Strategic budget development and management

? Course scheduling and instructional quality

? Policy development and implementation

? Personnel management, including performance reviews.

Collaborating with Moody SOE leadership to advance strategic initiatives and institutional priorities.

SALARY AND BEGINNING DATE: The salary will be commensurate with qualifications and professional experience. The ideal date of appointment is June or July 2027 but could be negotiated.

Candidates who are outside of the United States and do not have other nonimmigrant visa status will not be sponsored for an H1-B petition.

DEPARTMENT: The Department of Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) encompasses diverse educator preparation contexts, scholarly traditions, research methodologies, and disciplinary perspectives. The department prepares professional educators, scholars, and leaders for transformative impact in teaching, research, and policy. Faculty and graduates contribute to advancing knowledge and practice in ways that address complex educational challenges with innovation, creativity, and rigor.

As Moody SOE's largest producer of K-12 educators, C&I plays a central role in undergraduate teacher preparation. The department also administers robust master's and doctoral programs that contribute to Baylor's growing research profile and national visibility. C&I is distinguished by its emphasis on clinically rich practice and strong partnerships with PK-12 schools, districts, and community organizations. These relationships contribute to innovative educator preparation approaches, extensive field-based learning opportunities, and research-practice collaborations that extend the MSOE's impact beyond the university.

The C&I department faculty is widely recognized for innovative pedagogy and exemplary instruction. Since 2021, four members have been honored with university-wide Outstanding Faculty Awards for teaching and outreach, and in each of the past three years, a C&I faculty member has been designated a Baylor Fellow, a distinction reserved for those who exemplify pedagogical innovation and inspirational teaching. Nationally, two C&I faculty members have been selected as Spencer Fellows (in 2021 and 2026), underscoring the department's scholarly impact. The department's student success is equally notable. In seven of the past nine years, a Baylor C&I graduate has been named Texas Student Teacher of the Year, and a Baylor C&I graduate earned the National Student Teacher of the Year distinction in 2019, 2022, and 2024.

To learn more about the department, please visit: ci.moody.baylor.edu.

SCHOOL: Founded in 1919 and endowed by the Moody Foundation in 2025, Baylor University's Moody School of Education prepares leaders for a changing world, offering degrees at every level for careers in education, leadership, and human development. The School's programs are nationally recognized for exemplary preparation of research scholars, educational leaders, innovators, and clinicians, distinguished by a blend of theory and robust clinical experiences.

In recent years, Moody SOE has achieved significant gains in research productivity, external funding, and scholarly impact, reflecting Baylor's Carnegie R1 designation and the School's growing research stature. Its applied research and outreach activities impact thousands of communities, families, schools, and students annually. With a distinguished faculty, highly cited scholarship, and a growing portfolio of innovative graduate programs, the School is addressing pressing societal challenges with clarity and conviction.

Moody SOE includes more than 70 full-time faculty across four departments (Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Professional Online Learning) and offers a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate through doctoral programs. The School is also home to three nationally recognized research centers that serve schools, communities, and families across the United States and abroad: the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing, the Baylor Center for School Leadership, and the Baylor Center for Talent Identification Programs..

Through strategic faculty hiring, expanding residential and online offerings, and continued program innovation, Moody SOE is experiencing strong momentum and opportunity, creating a compelling environment for aspiring department leaders.

To learn more about the Moody School of Education, please visit moody.baylor.edu.

UNIVERSITY: Baylor University is located in Waco, Texas and is the oldest college in the state. It has a diverse student population of 21,000 and is recognized as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Baylor is also noted on the honor roll of "Great Colleges to Work For" by ModernThink. We offer competitive salaries and benefits, allowing faculty and staff to live in one of the fastest-growing parts of the state. As a Christian university with historic Baptist roots and as reflected in the Notice of Non-Discrimination, Baylor strives to be a place characterized by civility and respect. We believe each student, faculty, staff, and administrator is made in the image of God. Baylor's new strategic plan, Baylor in Deeds, guides the university as it continues to fulfill its mission of educating men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.

Select Baylor Accolades:

R1 Carnegie Classification (reaffirmed in 2025)
U.S. News & World Reports Recognition and National Rankings: First-Year Experience (#4), Learning Communities (#9), Undergraduate Teaching (#27), Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (#40), National Universities (#88)
Largest Protestant university in the world holding R1 classification
14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 26
94% of undergraduate courses taught by Baylor faculty

Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor's curriculum includes 126 baccalaureate programs, 79 master's programs, 47 doctoral programs (including the JD), the Education Specialist program, and the Master of Laws program.

Qualifications:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Doctorate in a discipline represented within the department or a closely related field with academic credentials sufficient to merit the rank of tenured full professor at an R1 institution.

Ability to advance Baylor's strategic priorities and current strategic plan, Baylor In Deeds.

Proven record as an academic leader with relevant administrative experience.

Nationally recognized scholarship with a strong refereed research publication record.

Demonstrated ability to support, secure, or facilitate externally funded research, commensurate with disciplinary expectations.

Demonstrated commitment to collaborative and innovative approaches that advance teaching and research.

Sustained experience with and strong commitment to educator preparation program(s) with active PK-12 school partnerships.

Ability to collaboratively develop and advance a shared departmental vision that promotes excellence, innovation, and collegiality.

Strong commitment to transparent communication, shared governance, and faculty engagement.

Demonstrated ability to support innovative approaches to recruitment, development, and support of undergraduate and graduate programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience in a formal academic leadership role (e.g., department chair, program director, associate dean) in an R1 or comparable environment.

Experience leading educator preparation program(s) with active PK-12 school partnerships.

Demonstrated success in faculty development, including mentoring across career stages and supporting promotion and advancement.

Evidence of excellence in teaching and commitment to student success across undergraduate and graduate programs.

Experience fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative academic programming

Leadership in national and international professional organizations related to the Department's disciplines.

Application Instructions:
To apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/191624

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin October 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Nothing received after February 1, 2027 can be considered.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Candidates should include the following in their application materials.

REQUIRED:

1. Letter of interest that addresses the position's qualifications and responsibilities and includes a statement of personal faith and potential fit with Baylor's mission

2. A curriculum vitae

3. Transcripts documenting the terminal degree

4. Contact information for three to five professional references. Note: Reference checks will only be initiated for those applicants who advance to the finalist phase (i.e., on-campus interviews).

All applicants must complete the self-disclosed Religious Affiliation Form (RAF) in Interfolio.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact search committee chair, Dr. Grant Morgan (grant_morgan@baylor.edu).

Baylor University, a private not-for-profit university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, is committed to compliance with all applicable anti-discrimination laws, including those regarding age, race, color, sex, national origin, military service, genetic information, and disability. Baylor complies with statutory Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity requirements. Baylor's full official Notice of Non-Discrimination may be read online.