Assistant Professor of Psychology

Delta State University; Cleveland (MS); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Delta State University seeks an Assistant Professor of Psychology for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track appointment beginning Spring 2027 or Fall 2027. The program emphasizes teaching and mentorship, with active scholarship and student development.

Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, developing a scholarly program, mentoring students, advising majors, and contributing to curriculum growth within a small, teaching-focused psychology program.

Qualifications

• Earned doctoral degree in psychology; ABD near completion may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate psychology courses and graduate courses in educational psychology using evidence-based practices.

Skills

Teaching undergraduate courses

Graduate courses instruction

Student mentorship

Curriculum development

Scholarly agenda

Education

PhD in psychology

Tools

Statistical software (SPSS/R)

Job description

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

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Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter describing their professional preparation, teaching and scholarly interests, and interest in the position. We especially encourage applicants to discuss what they would be excited to teach, build, investigate, or develop as part of our psychology program.
• Samples of scholarly publications or other representative scholarly work.
• Names and complete contact information for three professional references.

Applicants are encouraged to use the cover letter not simply to summarize their CV, but to tell us how they envision themselves contributing to a teaching-centered psychology program and what opportunities they would be excited to pursue here.

Position Information

Job Title

Job Title Assistant Professor of Psychology

Working Title

Working Title Assistant Professor of Psychology

Position Type

Position Type Faculty

Department

Department School of Leadership, Research, & Psychology

Posting Number

Posting Number 201201755

Full or Part Time

Full or Part Time Full Time

Benefit Eligible Yes

If Other, Please Explain:

Salary Basis

Salary Basis 9 month

If Other, Please Explain:

Position Summary Information

Responsibilities

We are seeking a collaborative and enthusiastic colleague to join our growing psychology program in a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position beginning Spring 2027 or Fall 2027. This is an excellent opportunity for a psychologist who wants to build a career at a teaching-focused university while maintaining an active scholarly agenda, mentoring students, and helping a small program think ambitiously about what comes next.

Our size is one of our strengths. Faculty have the opportunity to know their students, develop new courses and experiences, contribute ideas that can actually become reality, and have a visible impact on the direction of the program. We are especially interested in candidates who are excited by the possibility of helping us grow – whether through innovative teaching, undergraduate research, new programs or partnerships, creative uses of technology, community engagement, or ideas we have not yet considered.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Teaching undergraduate psychology courses and graduate courses in educational psychology using effective, engaging, and evidence-based teaching practices.
• Developing and maintaining a focused program of scholarship leading to professional presentations, publications, and, when appropriate, external funding.
• Mentoring students and involving undergraduate and graduate students in research, scholarship, and other high-impact learning experiences.
• Advising undergraduate psychology majors and helping students identify academic, professional, and graduate-school pathways.
• Contributing to the continued development and growth of the psychology program, including curriculum development and other initiatives aligned with the candidate’s interests and expertise.
• Participating in service to the program, school, university, profession, and broader community.

We are primarily a teaching institution, and excellent teaching and student mentorship are central to our mission. At the same time, we value scholarship and recognize that strong teachers remain engaged with the development of their disciplines. Faculty are encouraged to pursue meaningful scholarly agendas, collaborate with colleagues and students, and develop a professional identity that integrates teaching, research, and service.

Qualifications

Candidates should hold an earned doctoral degree in psychology. Candidates who are ABD and nearing completion of the doctorate may also be considered.

Area of specialization is open. Rather than seeking a narrowly defined specialty, we are interested in candidates who can contribute broadly to undergraduate psychology education.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• A commitment to excellent undergraduate teaching.
• The ability and willingness to teach courses across the psychology curriculum.
• Evidence of, or clear potential for, an active and sustainable program of scholarship.
• Interest in mentoring students and involving them in research or other scholarly activities.
• Enthusiasm for working collaboratively in a small academic program.
• Interest in contributing ideas to the continued growth and development of the psychology program.

We especially welcome applicants who enjoy experimenting with new approaches to teaching, research, student engagement, technology, community partnerships, interdisciplinary collaboration, or program development.

Salary Commensurate with experience, qualifications, and university’s resources.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates who are ABD will be considered if they are nearing completion of the doctorate. Applicants must demonstrate teaching experience and evidence of research productivity or a developing scholarly agenda.

Candidates should be prepared to teach a range of psychology courses and contribute to the academic life of a teaching-focused university.

Preferred Qualifications

An earned doctoral degree in psychology is preferred by the time of appointment.

Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Experience teaching multiple areas of psychology.
• Evidence of effective and engaging college-level teaching.
• Experience involving undergraduate or graduate students in research.
• A scholarly agenda that can thrive within a teaching-focused institution.
• Interest in developing new courses, research opportunities, programs, partnerships, or other initiatives.
• A collaborative and creative approach to program growth and student success.

Area of specialization remains open, and candidates from a wide range of psychological disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter describing their professional preparation, teaching and scholarly interests, and interest in the position. We especially encourage applicants to discuss what they would be excited to teach, build, investigate, or develop as part of our psychology program.
• Samples of scholarly publications or other representative scholarly work.
• Names and complete contact information for three professional references.

Applicants are encouraged to use the cover letter not simply to summarize their CV, but to tell us how they envision themselves contributing to a teaching-centered psychology program and what opportunities they would be excited to pursue here.

Additional Information

The anticipated start date is Spring 2027 or Fall 2027.

This position may be particularly appealing to someone seeking a tenure-track academic home where they can develop as a teacher-scholar, work closely with students, and have a meaningful voice in the future of a growing psychology program.

At a small university, good ideas do not have to remain small. We are looking for a colleague who would like to help us imagine – and build – what comes next.

Open Date

Open Date 10/26/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  • DSU Employee
  • DSU Job Website
  • Invited by Department to Apply
  • MS State Employment Service
  • HigherEdJobs
  • Chronicle of Higher Education
  • Diverse Issues
  • Indeed.com
  • Other
• * Will you now or in the future require "sponsorship" for an employment based visa status?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter/Letter of Application
• Teaching Philosophy
• Writing Sample
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Letter of Reference 1
• Letter of Reference 2
• Letter of Reference 3

Optional Documents

• Other Document
• Other Document 2

Delta State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Delta State University is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment free from sexual and gender-based discrimination or harassment. Our goal is for all to have equal access to the many great services and opportunities we offer. For more information, or to report an incident, see https://www.deltastate.edu/titleix/ or email [e-mail] .