Assistant Professor of Higher Education

Tennessee Tech University; Cookeville (TN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sick leave

University holidays

Educational benefits

Job summary

Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Higher Education. The position centers on teaching online Ph.D.

courses in higher education, curriculum, data science, and leadership, while pursuing scholarly work aligned with the department’s mission. The appointee will advise graduate students, chair doctoral committees, develop external funding proposals, and contribute to professional service.

Qualifications

• Holder of a doctorate or ABD in a field related to higher education administration.
• Strong record of scholarly accomplishment appropriate to career stage.
• Clear ability to instruct, manage, mentor and engage graduate students.
• Demonstrated potential for leadership in the Higher Education Ph.D. program.
• Strong training in quantitative methods.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Teach online Ph.D. courses focusing on higher education, curriculum, data science, leadership, and related areas.
• Advise graduate students, serve on and chair doctoral committees, and chair dissertation committees.
• Conduct scholarly research and disseminate findings through peer‑reviewed publications and conferences.
• Develop and submit grant proposals for external funding.
• Provide leadership for innovative higher education partnerships across the state.
• Contribute to service to the institution, the profession, and the community.

Skills

Teaching

Graduate student supervision

Communication

Leadership potential

Mentoring

Research productivity

Education

Doctorate or ABD in Higher Education Administration

Job description

Assistant Professor of Higher Education

Cookeville, TN, United States

Job Identification: 26044

Posting Date: 09/28/2026, 02:02 PM

Grade: 0

Job Description

Description of Job Duty:

Teach doctoral courses, perform research, and fulfill the mission of the Department of Curriculum; Instruction.

Tennessee Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Teach online Ph.D. courses that focus on higher education, curriculum, data science, leadership, and other innovative courses relevant to the candidate's areas of expertise.
• Ability to advise graduate students, serve on, and chair doctoral level committees, and chair dissertation committees.
• Tennessee Tech faculty are committed teachers/scholars who bring research and creative discovery to problems of practice in higher education settings.
• Establish and maintain a record of quality, well-defined scholarly productivity demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications, acquisition of external funding, and presentations at state, regional and national conferences.
• Provide leadership for innovative and successful higher education partnerships across the state.
• Provide service to the institution, profession, and community.
• Develop grant proposals for internal and external funding.

Physical Demands

Those typical to perform the duties listed.

Salary

• Commensurate with education and experience.

Benefits

• Benefits include the accumulation of one (1) sick leave day per month and thirteen (13) University holidays.
• Other benefits include medical and life insurance (shared cost with the university), retirement, optional 401k, and educational benefits.
• Deferred income and benefits over 12 months.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate or completion of all coursework (ABD) from an accredited institution in a relevant field related to higher education administration.
• Demonstrated high-quality scholarly accomplishment appropriate to stage in academic career.
• Clear ability to instruct, manage, mentor/motivate, and engage graduate students.
• Displays potential to assume a leadership role in the Higher Education Ph.D. program.
• Strong methodological training in quantitative methods.
• Excellent oral and written communication expertise.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with some elements of higher education administration processes (e.g., institutional effectiveness reporting, institutional research, department-level reporting, accreditation efforts, strategic planning, committee service, QEP or CIP efforts, program evaluation, finance, student success).
• Evidence suggesting success or experience with external funding to support research and teaching.
• Evidence/knowledge of university teaching experience, particularly at the Ph.D. level.
• Willingness to collaborate with Ph.D. students in research and grant activities.
• Ability to integrate technology into teaching and learning and model best practices.
• Interest in or experience with cross-disciplinary and/or inter-university collaborations through mechanisms such as grants, trainings, program outreach, etc.
• Strong data collection, analysis, and reporting skills.