Assistant Professor, Tenure Track - Special Education

Hiring Department

Department of Special Education

Job Description

The University of Missouri - Columbia (MU) Department of Special
Education seeks to recruit an energetic, highly motivated, and
innovative scholar in special education, specializing in academic
areas (e.g., literacy, mathematics, STEM) including a focus on
academic assessment, intervention, and/or data-based instruction.
The successful candidate must have an earned doctorate in special
education or a closely related field, direct teaching experience
with children or youth with disabilities, and qualities that will
lead to development of a strong record in research, teaching, and
service. This person will establish/maintain an active research
program focused on evidence-based academic intervention and/or
assessment. Teaching and advising will connect the faculty with
students across our undergraduate, masters, and PhD programs. In
addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate competence in
contributing to continuous program improvement, national
accreditation reporting, and service at the departmental, college,
campus, state and national levels.

Candidates for this position must display evidence of initial
scholarly productivity and ability to build/grow a competitive
research portfolio aimed at securing external funding. This
tenure-track position includes a start-up package containing
reduced initial teaching, service, and advising loads, moving
expenses, computer and technology resources, mentoring and support,
a graduate assistant, research funds, and grant support. Merit,
promotion, and tenure considerations are based primarily on
scholarly productivity, excellence in teaching, participation in
service to the college and the field, and procurement of external
funding.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain an active program of research and scholarship with the

potential for external funding.

• Teach courses related to academic interventions and assessment

in e ducation consistent with the program and departmental
needs.

• Advise and provide research supervision to doctoral students

and serve on dissertation committees for students in the department
or college.

• Provide leadership to the program, department, college, and

university.

Qualifications

An earned doctorate in special education or a closely related
field, direct teaching experience with children or youth with
disabilities, and qualities that will lead to development of a
strong record in research, teaching, and service.

Applicants will be evaluated based upon the following
criteria:

• Record of (or demonstrated potential for) scholarly

productivity

• Success as a collaborator on a scholarly or instructional

team

• Ability to teach and mentor prospective and in-service teachers

in special education

• Ability to work and engage collegially with individuals from

PK–12 settings as well as with department, university, and
community members

Anticipated Hiring Range

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience and
qualifications.

Application Materials

Apply on-line at http://hrs.missouri.edu/find-a-job/academic
. Upload a complete application including:

• Letter of application describing qualifications for the

position and research agenda;

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) that details scholarship, prior teaching

experiences, related work history, grants, advising, service, and
awards/honors. In addition, at the end of the CV, include a list of
names and contact information for three professional
references.

Search Committee Chair: Dr. Delinda van Garderen

Application Deadline

Review of a pplications will begin November 30, 2026, and continue
until filled.

Sponsorship Information

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this
position.

Other Information

The College of Education & Human Development and
SPED

The University of Missouri College of Education & Human
Development (CEHD) prepares and supports professionals in
education, information, lifespan, and intervention sciences that
improve the quality of life and economic development for the people
of Missouri, the nation and the world.

The College’s mission is fulfilled by taking a comprehensive,
collaborative approach across a wide range of disciplines and
professions, including educator preparation, leadership,
counseling, early childhood education, special education, higher
education, public policy, family and lifespan development,
information sciences and technology.

The CEHD serves more than 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students
across a broad portfolio of bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and
doctoral programs. Nationally recognized for the strength and
breadth of its academic programs, the College ranks among the
nation’s top 30 graduate schools of education and among the top 20
public institutions, according to U.S. News & World
Report . Several of its programs also hold strong national
rankings, including special education, online education,
educational administration, and library and information studies.
The College has a substantial research and outreach footprint, with
nearly $47 million in annual research expenditures supporting work
that advances education, human development, and information
sciences, as well as outreach activities extending throughout
Missouri and beyond.

The Department of Special Education (SPED), established in 1968, is
the oldest stand-alone department of Special Education west of the
Mississippi River, and one of six academic units within the MU
College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). SPED offers
programs for students seeking undergraduate, master’s and doctoral
degrees. The undergraduate program is focused on pre-service
teacher preparation in mild/moderate cross-categorical
disabilities. Master’s programs, both on-line and on-campus, focus
on advanced teacher professional development in areas including:
Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism, Behavioral Disorders, Early
Childhood Special Education, Gifted Education, Learning
Disabilities, and Special Education Administration. Department
Faculty actively seek and secure federal funding to support masters
and doctoral students through federal training and leadership
grants. The department offers Doctoral programs to establish
leaders in Special Education across research and teacher
preparation in the following areas: Learning Disabilities,
Behavioral Disorders, Assessment and Intervention, Multi-Tiered
Systems of Support, Autism, and Early Childhood Special Education.
Admitted doctoral students are encouraged to apply for tuition and
fiscal support through federally funded research programs, as well
as college and university funding.

SPED faculty members are consistently recognized – internationally
and across the U.S. – for their individual and collaborative
research excellence. SPED and CEHD are home to several state and
federally supported training, demonstration, and research projects,
including the Center for School-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports,
the Center for the Prevention of School Violence, the Center for
Social and Behavioral Competence, and the Thompson Center for
Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. The department has the
highest per faculty member external funding average in the College
of Education and Human Development.

Community Information

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and
a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests.
Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its
location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and
travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia
is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple
hours’ drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone
County’s largest population center offering big-city culture,
activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is
home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts
more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your
career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire,
Columbia is a good place to be!

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your
total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits
package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement,
and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For
additional information on University benefits, please visit the
Faculty & Staff Benefits website at
https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an
Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of
Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

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