University of Delaware

Chair – Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

(Appointment effective on or before September 1, 2023)

The College of Health Sciences at the University of Delaware seeks applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The College seeks candidates who possess strong leadership ability and can articulate a bold vision for the advancement of our Department, aligning with the university’s  broader mission for excellence (https://www.udel.edu/about/leadership/strategic-plan/). The Chair is expected to effectively manage administrative and budgetary responsibilities, while maintaining our existing collaborative partnerships within an interdisciplinary healthcare community. Additionally, the College seeks candidates who will implement innovative ideas and practices to meet the evolving needs of clinical and research education.

The position is open to faculty who have obtained the rank of Associate or Full professorship. A doctorate is required, and ASHA CCCs are strongly preferred. The successful candidate will be someone who has prior administrative experience (e.g. managing a budget, preparing reports for programmatic review, etc.), and who has experience with a clinical education program. Excellent communication skills, experience in mentorship, along with the ability to work collaboratively are essential. We desire candidates who will foster diversity, equity, inclusion and provide a vision for ways to continue to strengthen our department’s efforts in these areas. We value a collaborative leadership style open communication among students, academic and clinical faculty, staff, and community partners are ideal. The successful candidate will be a strong advocate for our department, field, and profession and serve as an ambassador on our behalf to the state legislature, the region, and the larger University community. The chair will be expected to meet standard expectations for being a member of the faculty, including maintaining a sustainable research line, mentoring students, and being an effective instructor.

Description of Department: The incoming Chair will lead a premier innovative department that addresses communication sciences and disorders through multidisciplinary approaches to education, research, and service. Our Speech-Language-Hearing clinic team includes a Director of Clinical Education, Director of Research and Clinical Services, two full-time Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP), and 20+ supervising SLPs. Our academic faculty consists of 9 Tenured/tenure-track and 1 Research Assistant professors, who teach at the graduate level and who maintain highly active research programs. We rank among the most research productive departments in our field and bring in approximately $10 million in external funding from NIH, NSF, and various private foundations. The Department has a strong interdisciplinary profile and promotes active engagement with other departments and programs across campus (e.g. Linguistics and Cognitive Science, Psychology, Biology, Neuroscience, Education, Engineering, Physical Therapy, Nursing). We also maintain active collaborations in the state and region as well as nationally The Department has a commitment to learning, scholarship, and engagement that enhance the University’s efforts to promote and support diversity, and that connect with and support the surrounding community. More information is available at https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/chs/departments/cscd/).

GENERAL INFORMATION: The College of Health Sciences is a dynamic, innovative academic unit with more than 3,400 undergraduate and graduate students and 131 faculty, who are nationally recognized leaders across multiple disciplines. The College is housed in multiple buildings on the traditional main campus, but also is an anchor tenant of the University’s Science, Technology, and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus. STAR has become an exciting center that combines business, research and education, focused on leading topics in health science, biopharmaceuticals, data science, engineering, finance and other cross-cutting fields of study. In addition to Kinesiology and Applied Physiology (ranked #5 according to the National Academy of Kinesiology), the College also includes the departments of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Epidemiology, Medical and Molecular Sciences, Physical Therapy (ranked #1 by US News and World Report), and the School of Nursing. With annual research expenditures of approximately $19.5 million, the college currently houses a number of large, interdisciplinary grants with significant funding from the NIH and DoD. The college boasts strong research teams in the areas of neurological disorders, cardiovascular health, and other chronic disease conditions, as well as rehabilitation science and concussion.

With roots tracing back to 1743, the University of Delaware combines tradition and innovation, offering students a rich heritage along with the latest in instructional and research technology. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with diversity as one of its core values and, in that spirit, seeks a broad spectrum of candidates including women, minorities and people with disabilities.  The University of Delaware is the recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Grant, focused on enhancing the climate of the university for women and underrepresented minority faculty.  Located in scenic Newark, Delaware, within 2 hours of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., the University is a Land Grant, Sea Grant, Space Grant, and Carnegie Research University (with very high research activity, a designation accorded to fewer than 3% of degree-granting institutions in the U.S.), and with external funding exceeding $200 million. A state-assisted, privately governed institution, the University enrolls approximately 18,000 undergraduates and 4,500 graduate students.

TO APPLY: Review of applications will begin on October 31st and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should upload a complete CV, a written Vision Statement, contact information for three references, and a statement of interest, with an emphasis on visionary leadership, administrative experience, research and education. Questions may be addressed to the search committee co-chairs, Dr. Sayako Earle (fsearle@udel.edu) or Dr. John Jeka (jjeka@udel.edu). All possible discretion will be exercised to maintain the privacy of applicants throughout the search process.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Compensation packages are highly competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. The UD benefits package is one of the best in the nation. The University is responsive to the needs of dual career couples, supports work-life balance through an array of family-friendly policies, and is dedicated to broadening participation in higher education.

Notice of Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its employment, educational programs and activities, admissions policies, and scholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies. The University of Delaware also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence.