AssistantAssociate Professor Organizational Leadership

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a student-centered applied-research institution committed to providing its students with a transformative academic and social experience and to elevating its surrounding communities. Founded in 1906 WKU is the third largest public four-year institution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with approximately 16293 students and nearly 2612 faculty and staff employees.

Western Kentucky University is committed to empowering its campus community. At the heart of our mission we seek to provide holistic education and employment experiences that prepare students faculty and staff to become effective scholars contributors and leaders in our ever-evolving communities.

Located 65 miles north of Nashville TN and just over 100 miles south of Louisville KY WKUs main campus is in Bowling Green KY - a city with approximately 70000 residents. Our population is ethnically diverse with more than 85 languages spoken in and around Bowling Green and people from 35 nationalities call our community home.

Western Kentucky University seeks to attract talented faculty and staff who are inspired individually to contribute to WKUs strategic plans and ongoing success. We offer comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families including domestic partners and other qualified dependents and take pride in providing a workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life. Paid-time off for holidays vacation and sick leave and a tuition discount program for employees and dependents are also provided. Learn more about WKU and Bowling Green at Description:

Western Kentucky University is seeking to fill the position of Assistant or Associate Professor Organizational Leadership in the School of Leadership and Professional Studies College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
This is a full-time tenure-eligible nine-month appointment beginning in the Fall of 2027.

The Opportunity

The School of Leadership and Professional Studies invites applications for a full-time tenure-eligible faculty position in Organizational Leadership at the rank of assistant or associate professor. This is a chance to shape a growing program that prepares leaders across education business government and the nonprofit sector to use data and evidence to guide decisions in their organizations.

Candidates who bring both scholarly rigor and real-world leadership experience will find a program built to use both.

Salary: Commensurate with rank qualifications and experience.

What You Will Do

Teaching and Advising

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the program across multiple modalities including online hybrid face-to-face and on-demand formats
• Advise students and support their progress toward degree completion
• Teach sections of the universitys learning-strategies course in support of the schools student success priorities

Scholarship

• Conduct and publish peer-reviewed research in leadership or a closely related discipline
• Present at professional conferences in areas connected to the programs mission and to recruitment and retention efforts

Program and Faculty Support

• Support curriculum assessment development and design
• Mentor and support the professional development of part-time and adjunct faculty
• Serve on department college and university committees as assigned
• Maintain a consistent on-campus presence including office hours aligned with department expectations

Candidates applying at the associate rank must demonstrate research and academic activity consistent with the departments promotion and tenure policy. That policy is provided to finalists at the time on-campus interviews are scheduled.

About the School

SLPS is a growing academic unit focused on developing adaptive leaders who can collect analyze and apply data to make sound decisions in their organizations. WKU is a residential campus and faculty engage directly with students and colleagues as part of that community.

• A PhD from a regionally accredited university in Leadership Organizational Leadership Leadership Studies or a closely related field with at least 18 hours of graduate coursework in the discipline. An EdD will be considered.
• Senior or executive-level leadership experience in an organizational setting. This may include higher education business and industry nonprofit organizations public administration or comparable settings.
• Graduate-level teaching experience (associate professor candidates).
• A record of or clear capacity for peer-reviewed publication in the discipline.
• Experience with curriculum assessment development and design.

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Revised 1992 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race color ethnicity national origin creed religion political belief sex sexual orientation gender identity/expression marital status age uniformed services veteran status genetic information pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process may contact the Office of Institutional Equity at for assistance. To report concerns related to WKUs Discrimination and Harassment Policy No. 0.2040 and/or WKUs Sex and Gender-Based Discrimination Harassment and Retaliation Policy No. 0.2070 please complete the Discrimination Harassment and Retaliation Reporting Form. Additional information regarding Title IX including contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and reporting options is available on WKUs Title IX website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: information related to job postings application status or the hiring process please email.

The following items must be submitted through this electronic talent management system by October 2 2026 although expressions of interest may be considered until the position is filled:

• Letter of Intent
• Curriculum Vita
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy

Names and contact information of three reference providers will be collected during the application process. Reference letters will be requested by the Search Committee through an online process at a later date.

You will receive email confirmation once you have successfully completed the application process.