E. Garrard Hall Professor in Early Childhood Education

Ugajobsearch; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Endowed professorship

Job summary

The Elizabeth Garrard Hall Professor in Early Childhood Education at the University of Georgia invites applications from established scholars with a doctorate in early childhood or related fields.

The successful candidate will lead high‑impact research, mentor graduate students, and collaborate across the Mary Frances Early College of Education and beyond to advance equity and excellence in teacher preparation and policy.

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in early childhood education, elementary education, or a related field.
• Evidence of a strong publication and presentation record.
• Active, externally funded research agenda and graduate mentoring experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct high‑impact, collaborative research and provide intellectual leadership within ETAP and MFE COE.
• Advance national and international visibility through research, teaching, and service.

Skills

Research leadership

Scholarly publications

Grant proposals

Mentoring graduate students

Education

Doctorate in ECE/education

Job description

E. Garrard Hall Professor in Early Childhood Education

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

Posting Details

Posting Number: F2815P

Working Title: E. Garrard Hall Professor in Early Childhood Education

Department: COE‑Educational Theory & Practice

About the University of Georgia Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university ( https://www.uga.edu/ ). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,200 faculty and more than 7,900 full‑time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 44,000 students including over 33,000 undergraduates and over 11,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 20 schools and colleges, including the newly established School of Medicine and the Victoria Kay Investor School of Nursing.

About the College/Unit/Department As the 4th largest public college of education in the country and the 3rd largest college at UGA , the MFECOE improves the lives of residents of Georgia and beyond through our instruction, research, and service. The MFE COE is a comprehensive college with disciplines focused on teacher preparation, counseling and human development, communication sciences, human movement sciences, career development, student affairs, and educational administration and policy. We place significant emphasis on graduate education with approximately 40% of our students at the graduate level, making us the second largest college at UGA with respect to graduate education. ETAP has contributed to this stature locally, nationally, and internationally. The department is characterized by critical, forward‑thinking research and innovative, dynamic teaching. ETAP is committed to making equity, access, and belonging visible in its courses, programs, policies, and practice.

Our outreach and research include a variety of multifaceted collaborations, including those with local school districts and local community‑based informal education projects, as well as projects that extend across the state of Georgia, the United States, and a variety of international contexts.

The Elementary Education program at UGA , which includes Early Childhood Education, has been ranked among the nation’s top 10 elementary education programs by U.S. News and World Report for more than a decade.

Our mission in the Elementary Education program is to blend theory and practice grounded in our shared philosophy of critical pedagogy. Upon program completion, we expect our students to demonstrate teaching competencies related to habits of reflexive practice, integrating scholarship and research, engaging in professional collaboration, and appreciating and supporting multiple backgrounds and perspectives. These elements of thought and action are viewed as key to supporting critically informed and equitable teacher decision‑making. The Elementary Education program is designed to offer theoretically and clinically rich experiences in diverse environments. By the end of the program, teachers are prepared to enact these commitments as leaders in their classrooms, schools, and communities.

The Elizabeth Garrard Hall Professor will be expected to advance and extend the program’s national and international visibility and reputation by producing high‑quality and rigorous research and actively participating in the broad community of scholars in education in general, and early childhood/elementary education in particular.

Location of Vacancy Athens Area

Position Details

Title Professor

Classification Title Professor

FLSA

Faculty Rank Professor

Contract Type Academic (9 mo.)

Tenure Status Tenured

Minimum Qualifications Earned doctorate in early childhood education, elementary education, or a related field.

Position Summary The University of Georgia Department of Educational Theory and Practice ( ETAP ) invites applications for the Elizabeth Garrard Hall Professorship in Early Childhood Education. The candidate for this endowed position must be eligible for appointment at the rank of Full Professor at the University of Georgia beginning August 2027 (or a date to be negotiated with the candidate).

The successful candidate will conduct high‑impact, collaborative research and provide intellectual leadership in the Mary Frances Early College of Education ( MFE COE ) and beyond.

The Elizabeth Garrard Hall Professor will receive endowment support to engage in innovative teaching and scholarship, including mentoring graduate students, preparing teachers and other educational professionals, and collaborating with faculty on research related to the mission of the Department of Educational Theory and Practice and the MFE COE .

Elizabeth Garrard Hall was an extraordinary Georgia native whose experiences growing up during the Great Depression shaped her into a hardworking, resourceful, and deeply compassionate person. After earning her B.A. in Latin from the UGA College of Arts and Sciences in 1935 and beginning her career as a high school teacher in Fayetteville, GA, she and her husband, a chemist with the Coca‑Cola Company, shared a commitment to expanding educational opportunities for young people. Having supported an orphaned child, she later continued this effort by generously helping impoverished children in Haiti. Ms. Hall’s love for education, respect for intellectual curiosity, and innate pragmatism has been honored through this permanent endowment.

• Established program of research through strong publications and presentations
• Record of externally funded research
• Record of service and leadership in national and international organizations in the field
• Eligibility for tenure and appointment at the rank of Full Professor in the Department of Educational Theory and Practice

Please review the Department of Educational Theory and Practice’s promotion and tenure guidelines and the University of Georgia Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure of Academic Rank Faculty for more information on requirements for tenure and the rank of Professor. Any request for tenure must be approved before hiring.

We seek an established scholar and leader in early childhood education with expertise in grades PreK‑5. The candidate will have a strong, sustained record of research, including outstanding scholarly accomplishments through publications and presentations, as well as an active research agenda that includes developing proposals for external funding and overseeing project implementation. The candidate will also demonstrate a strong record of professional service and leadership within national and international professional organizations in the field.

Physical Demands Work is primarily sedentary and performed in an office, classroom, or digital environment. Requires extended periods of sitting, standing, and using standard office equipment and technologies (such as computers and projectors) throughout the workday. May involve occasional movement within campus facilities and the ability to lift or move light materials (e.g., laptops, textbooks, or instructional supplies) weighing up to 25 pounds. Is this a Position of Trust? No Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No Does this position require a P-Card? No Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No Is driving a responsibility of this position? No Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) No Credit and P-Card policy Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website . Background Investigation Policy Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter
• Sample Publications
• List of References with Contact Information
• Other Documents #1
• Other Documents #2