Chair and Professor, Department of Curriculum & Instruction (tenured position) (Waco)

The department chair is C&Is chief academic and administrative officer, overseeing and promoting the departments 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 MSOE, with the university at large, and with local school districts. As a member of the MSOEs leadership team, the chair reports to the dean of the MSOE. The 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 departments intellectual breadth and aligns with MSOE 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 PK12 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 MSOE 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 School of Educations (MSOE) largest producer of K12 educators, C&I plays a central role in undergraduate teacher preparation. The department also administers robust masters and doctoral programs that contribute to Baylors growing research profile and national visibility. C&I is distinguished by its emphasis on clinically rich practice and strong partnerships with PK12 schools, districts, and community organizations. These partnerships contribute to innovative educator preparation approaches, extensive field-based learning opportunities, and research-practice collaborations that extend the MSOEs 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 departments scholarly impact. The departments 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 Universitys Moody School of Education (MSOE) prepares leaders for a changing world, offering degrees at every level for careers in education, leadership, and human development. The Schools 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, MSOE has achieved significant gains in research productivity, external funding, and scholarly impact, reflecting Baylors Carnegie R1 designation and the Schools 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, MSOE is addressing pressing societal challenges with clarity and conviction.

MSOE 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: the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing, the Baylor Center for School Leadership, and the Baylor Center for Talent Identification Programs, serving families, communities, and schools across the United States and abroad.

Through strategic faculty hiring, expanding residential and online offerings, and continued program innovation, MSOE is in a period of strong momentum and opportunity, creating a compelling environment for leadership in research, teaching, and community engagement.

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: First-Year Experience (#4), Learning Communities (#9), Undergraduate Teaching (#27), Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (#40), National Universities (#88) Largest Protestant university in the world recognized as R1 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 26 94% of undergraduate courses are 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. Baylors curriculum includes 126 baccalaureate programs, 79 masters programs, 47 doctoral programs (including the JD), the Education Specialist program, and the Master of Laws program.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Doctorate in one of the disciplines 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 Baylors 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 un]]>