Bardo Distinguished Professor in Educational Leadership
The successful candidate will teach, supervise, and advise students in the EdD degree program in Educational Leadership primarily located at the WCU instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville, NC. Courses are offered to students in a hybrid format with in-person meetings held one weekend per month during the semester. Additional courses may be taught solely online.
The individual who is chosen to be WCU’s distinguished professor in educational leadership will provide visibility and leadership for Western’s Department of Human Services as s/he will lead the UNC-II goal for involvement in educational policy at the state, regional and national level. The focus of this work will be to positively influence policy for BK-12 education, community colleges, and the university. The individual will bring and exercise expertise in acquiring extramural funding and doctoral level policy with a preferred focus on rural education in the 21st century. The work of this distinguished professor will create a niche for Western Carolina University to become known for the articulation of policy through to practice as evidenced in our principal and superintendent preparation programs. There will also be a direct link through the Department of Human Services and the professorship in the work on the School University Teacher Education Partnerships (SUTEP) as policy issues are explored and connected with our local educational agencies (LEAs) on issues of teaching and learning.
- Teach a variety of instructional courses plus chair doctoral disquisitions. Specific load will be determined annually based on program need and other responsibilities of the Distinguished Professor role.
- Conduct scholarship and research activities according to the department guidelines and the specific role description.
- Provide program, department, college, university, and external/professional service according to the department guidelines and the specific role description with particular focus on faculty collaboration and mentorship across teacher and professional education.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Earned doctorate in Education Leadership or related field
- Earned tenure and promotion to Full Professor from an institution with equivalent criteria to (or higher than) WCU’s Department of Human Services
- Established as a scholar and leader in the field
- Established research agenda and pipeline
- Experience working in BK-12 education and higher education settings
- Experience teaching and mentoring at the master’s and doctoral levels
- Demonstrated ability to lead involvement in educational policy at the state, regional, and national level.
- Demonstrated ability to positively influence policy for BK-12 education, community colleges, and the university.
- Demonstrated ability to bring and exercise expertise in acquiring extramural funding and doctoral level policy with a preferred focus on rural education in the 21st century.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with the disquisition style of doctoral research
- Understanding of and experience with Improvement Science as a research methodology
- Leadership experience within BK-12 and/or higher education institutions
- Experience with positively influencing policy for BK-12 education, community colleges, and the university.
- Experience in leading involvement in educational policy at the state, regional and national level.
- Experience in acquiring extramural funding and doctoral level policy with a preferred focus on rural education in the 21st century.
About Western Carolina Univeristy:
Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:
• 2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
• 2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.
The primary location of this position is on the WCU Instructional site at Biltmore Park.
