Clinical Assistant Professor, Child Life & Family-Centered Care

Position Description

Clinical Assistant Professor, Child Life & Family-Centered Care

Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development invites applications for a full-time Clinical Assistant Professor in Child Life and Family-Centered Care. The MS Child Life and Family-Centered Care program is the oldest, and most respected, academic Child Life program in the United States. It was the first graduate program in the country to be endorsed by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). We seek candidates with a background in child life, who are ready to assume a leadership role in the program, teach and supervise students in clinical child life internships, and expand an agenda for psychosocial and child life research. Candidates should have the knowledge and experience to teach child life courses and have the ability to teach one or more family-centered care courses, such as bereavement care, working with parents, and lifespan development.

The Counseling Psychology and Applied Human Development Department, where the Child Life and Family-Centered Care program is housed, believes that the cultural and social diversity of our faculty, staff, and students is vitally important to the distinction and excellence of our research and academic programs. We encourage applicants who support our institutional commitment to equity, diversity, and belonging and to being an inclusive university where all constituents can thrive. Competitive candidates will demonstrate a background of engaged and collaborative scholarship, practice, and teaching, as well as a commitment to curricula to reflect on the unique histories, experiences, and challenges faced by marginalized individuals.

Since its founding in 1839, Boston University has embraced a mission of openness and access, becoming one of the first universities in the nation to welcome all students of ability regardless of race, gender, or creed. That tradition shapes our enduring commitment to academic freedom, free inquiry, and the robust exchange of ideas. Please visit https://www.bu.edu/values/ to learn more about our shared values.

We seek scholars who will contribute to our community of teachers and researchers through excellence in innovative scholarship, engaged teaching, and participation in the intellectual life of the University. Boston University provides an environment where faculty and students work together across disciplines, perspectives, and experiences to advance knowledge and address society’s most pressing challenges.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses related to our master’s degree program in child life
• Maintain a strong program of grant-funded research
• Supervise graduate students in practicum placements and independent research
• Be an engaged citizen in providing service to the department, college, university, and the profession.

Required Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in child development, human development and family studies, or a related field
• Certification as a Child Life Specialist through the Association of Child Life Professionals
• Experience with supervision of Child Life students
• An active and coherent program of research
• Established record of teaching courses in child life or related fields
• Training in and experience providing child life internship placements

Preferred Qualifications

• Child Life program leadership experience
• Experience across multiple clinical settings or patient populations
• Membership and/or participation in professional child life organizations

Application Materials

• Brief cover letter explaining suitability for the position
• A statement describing research, teaching, and service interests/experiences
• Current curriculum vitae
• Name and contact information for three letters of reference
• Two samples of scholarly work

Salary Range

The expected base pay range for this position is $100,000 - $110,000. This base pay range is for a nine-month academic appointment. Additional compensation up to three months may be earned for activities including but not limited to funded research and summer teaching.

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, training and internal pay comparison. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

This position begins on July 1, 2027. Review of applications will begin on 12/10/2026 and continue until the position is filled.

Inquiries may be directed to the Chair of the Search Committee: Dr. Eleonora Villegas-Reimers, reimerse@bu.edu.

Boston University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Retaliation is also prohibited. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Under Massachusetts law, we may not require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.

Boston University, consistent with the AAU’s Principles on Preventing Sexual Harassment, conducts background checks for final candidates for certain faculty and staff positions. As part of this process, we ask current and past employers of the last seven years whether there has been a substantiated finding of sexual misconduct under their policies. To move forward, final candidates must complete and sign an “Authorization to Release Information” form after receiving an offer to enable this background check.