Assistant Professor

Department of Human Development and Family Science

 Fall 2027

POSITION: The Department of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) at Oklahoma State University invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor with expertise in Child Development, beginning Fall 2027. We seek a collaborative scholar who will contribute to the department’s research, teaching, and service missions through a strong program of scholarship focused on child development. Applicants should demonstrate an interest in the university’s land-grant mission and a desire to make a positive impact on the development of children and the academic community through teaching, scholarship, and service.

Candidates should demonstrate a clearly articulated research agenda, strong potential for scholarly productivity and external funding, and the ability or potential to teach and mentor undergraduate and/or graduate students effectively. Previous college-level teaching experience is desirable but not required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Child Development and related areas within HDFS.

Contribute to curriculum development and continuous improvement of academic programs.

Establish and maintain a competitive, productive research program resulting in peer-reviewed publications, scholarly presentations, and pursuit of external funding.

Mentor undergraduate and graduate students through research training, scholarly activities, and professional development.

Collaborate with faculty and community partners to advance interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach.

Participate in service at the department, college, university, and professional levels and contribute to the mission of a comprehensive land-grant, Carnegie R1 research university.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Earned doctorate in Human Development and Family Science, Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Early Childhood Education, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.

A well-defined research agenda with the potential to produce impactful scholarship, publish in peer-reviewed outlets, and secure external research funding.

Demonstrated ability or potential to provide effective instruction, including the ability to use multiple instructional modalities and engage undergraduate and graduate students from varied educational backgrounds.

Demonstrated commitment to student mentorship and academic excellence.

Ability to contribute to research, teaching, and service responsibilities and fulfill other duties as assigned.

Evidence of employment eligibility as required by federal law.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential and relevant professional experience.

Experience teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in Child Life, Child Development, or related disciplines.

Demonstrated service through involvement in regional and/or national professional organizations.

Experience developing curricula, assessing programs, and continuously improving them.

Experience using evidence-based instructional approaches and varied teaching methods that promote student learning and success.

Experience providing instruction, academic advising, or mentorship to undergraduate and/or graduate students.

Evidence of scholarly productivity through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or other discipline-relevant research contributions.

Experience seeking external research funding or contributing to externally funded research initiatives.

Demonstrated engagement in interdisciplinary scholarship, collaborative partnerships, community-engaged research, or innovative academic and programmatic initiatives.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary will be commensurate with education, experience, qualifications and contingent on available funding. Benefits include comprehensive medical and retirement plans. Information on benefits can be found at https://hr.okstate.edu/benefits/index.html

GENERAL INFORMATION:

HDFS is a vibrant community of scholars with approximately 20 full-time faculty members, 400 undergraduate students, and 90 graduate students. Undergraduate specializations are offered in Child and Family Services, Early Childhood Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, and Opportunity Orange Scholars (inclusive post-secondary education for students with intellectual disability). Graduate specializations are offered in Applied Human Services, Developmental and Family Science, Early Childhood Education, and Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). Recent graduates with terminal degrees (B.S. with the ECE option, M.S. with the MFT and CFS options, and Ph.D.) have experienced near-100% success in finding relevant employment and passing licensing exams. Faculty in HDFS have active programs of research and currently have projects funded by diverse State and Federal entities including NIH, USDA, and NSF.

The department has established several outstanding centers and clinics, including the Cleo L. Craig Child Development Laboratory, the Center for Family Resilience, the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, Center for Developmental Disabilities, and the Center for Family Research and Engagement. Consistent with the land-grant emphasis on scholarship dissemination, members of the faculty work with community partners in regional agencies and with Cooperative Extension educators in all 77 counties in Oklahoma. Additionally, Oklahoma ranks fifth in the country for Pre-K access for 4-year-olds, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). Oklahoma also scores among the top 11 states in the nation for quality Pre-K programs. For more information about the department, its faculty, centers, and programs, please go to: https://education.okstate.edu/departments-programs/human-development-family-science/index.html

The College of Education and Human Sciences includes 7 academic units, 172 faculty, and nearly 200 full-time staff. Additional information regarding the College of Education and Human Sciences may be found at http://education.okstate.edu/.

Oklahoma State University, an R1 comprehensive land-grant institution with an enrollment of more than 25,000 students. The university offers 87 undergraduate majors, 84 Master’s programs, and 48 programs at the doctoral level at campuses in Stillwater and Tulsa. Stillwater is a micropolitan community of approximately 49,000 people with high-quality amenities and a comparably low cost of living. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are within a 1-hour drive, and cities such as Fayetteville, AR, Joplin, MO, and Wichita, KS are within a comfortable 2-3-hour drive time of Stillwater. In addition to excellent healthcare, education (public and private primary and secondary schools), and recreational services, the community affords a wide variety of cultural activities typical of a major university environment, including museums, music, art, and theater. Stillwater combines larger-city amenities, including an airport and cultural life, with the charm of a smaller community, affordable housing, and excellent schools, and is ranked one of America’s safest cities. See http://VisitStillwater.org for more information.

APPLICATION INFORMATION: Applications will be accepted online at https://jobs.okstate.edu/.  To apply, submit a letter of interest and qualifications for the position, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. This position is contingent on available funding.

Questions about the position may be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Brandt Gardner, brandt.gardner@okstate.edu.