Tenure-line Faculty Position in Sociocultural Dimensions of Sport Management (Open Rank)

The School of
Kinesiology at the University of Michigan invites applications
for a tenure-line faculty position at the rank of assistant
professor, associate professor, or full professor in
sociocultural dimensions of sport management. We seek dynamic and
innovative scholars whose work is anchored in this area. Successful
candidates will join a vibrant and collaborative faculty dedicated
to excellence in research, teaching, and service.

The primary responsibilities for this position include
conducting high-quality, impactful research on the sociocultural
dimensions of sport management using qualitative, quantitative, or
mixed methods and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses. The
role entails advising and mentoring students across all academic
levels and securing funding to support research initiatives as
appropriate. Additionally, selected candidates will collaborate
with faculty across disciplines within the School of Kinesiology
and other units at the University of Michigan, contribute to the
development and implementation of the sport management curriculum,
and engage in service activities within the university,
professional organizations, and the broader community. Tenure-track
faculty typically carry a 45% (Research), 45% (Teaching), and 10%
(Service) load.

We seek candidates whose scholarship advances understanding of
the sociocultural dimensions of sport management. We are
particularly interested in scholars who bring humanistic social
science perspectives to the study of sport, expanding how we
conceptualize, investigate, and interpret organizational, cultural,
and societal phenomena. We value methodological pluralism and
innovation, and welcome scholars whose work applies these
perspectives to a wide range of substantive areas, sectors, and
levels of analysis. We are especially interested in candidates
whose scholarship can foster interdisciplinary collaboration and
broaden the theoretical and methodological approaches that inform
research across the sport management field.

Specific areas of research may include, but are not limited to,
race, gender, and identity in sport organizations and leadership;
sport, culture, and organizational strategy; global sport and
transnational dynamics; equity and inclusion in sport governance
and policy; participant rights, voice, and advocacy in
organizational environments; the sociocultural dimensions of NIL
and collegiate reform; culturally responsive management and
stakeholder engagement; and sport for development and social
change.

About the School and University:

The University of Michigan is a leading public
university and one of the world’s preeminent research
institutions. The School of Kinesiology at the University of
Michigan is one of 19 independent academic units and one of seven
health science schools and colleges within the University of
Michigan. In Fall 2023, the National Academy of Kinesiology ranked
the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan as
the #1 Kinesiology program in the US. The
school is led by Dean John Cairney and has 72 faculty members,
including tenure-line, clinical-line, part-time, and full-time
lecturers, as well as approximately 1,449 undergraduate students
and 166 graduate students. The school is home to some of the
country’s top academic programs focusing on movement science,
applied exercise science, athletic training, and sport
management.

In winter 2021, the school moved into a newly renovated,
state-of-the-art academic and research building (Kinesiology Building) in the heart of the University
of Michigan’s main campus. The $120M renovation project expands the
School of Kinesiology’s research, classroom, and office space to
approximately 189,000 gross sq. ft. The research space includes a
9,800 sq. ft. biomechanics research suite, a 9,000 sq. ft. wet lab
research suite, a 5,000 sq. ft. neuro research center, a 1,700 sq.
ft. vivarium, and a 3,500 sq. ft. clinical testing suite and
exercise research center. Additionally, new faculty members will
have access to the University of Michigan's state-of-the-art core
computing and laboratory facilities.

About Sport Management:

Sport Management at the University of Michigan is recognized as
a top program in the country. Niche rated the University of
Michigan as the number two university for sport management in the
U.S.

The Sport
Management program has 24 faculty, including 11 tenure-line
faculty, 7 clinical faculty, and 6 lecturers. The breadth of
faculty research is reflected in the following centers: the Center
for Race & Ethnicity in Sport, the Center for Sport Marketing
Research, the Center for Sports Venues & Real Estate
Development, the Michigan Center for Sport & Social
Responsibility, and the Center for Sport &
Sustainability.

Sport Management has 593 undergraduate and 52 graduate students.
The School offers the following degrees in Sport Management:
Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. The
program prepares students for careers in the global sport industry
with a curriculum that explores the management of the sport
enterprise (from organizational, marketing, financial, economic,
environmental sustainability, legal, urban planning, and
sociocultural perspectives).

Sport Management students at the University of Michigan have the
valuable opportunity to lead and participate in student-run campus
organizations, including the Michigan Sport Business Conference,
the premier undergraduate-run sport business conference in the
U.S.

Upon graduation, many of our students will begin careers at
sport organizations and corporate businesses, while others will
pursue postgraduate studies in business, law, accounting, and urban
planning. Our graduates work in the front offices of the NFL, NBA,
NHL, MLB, and MLS; with professional sports teams like the Detroit
Red Wings, New York Mets, and Milwaukee Bucks; within agencies like
Creative Artists Agency and Endeavor; and with industry-leading
organizations like ESPN, the NCAA, The New York Times, Nike, and
many more.

The Sport Management program has an administrative structure
that includes a program chair and an associate program chair. The
program maintains an external Advisory Board to develop and nurture
connections with leaders in the sport industry. The Advisory Board
contributes to our vision of achieving excellence in sport business
education.

Qualifications
A doctoral degree in Sport Management, Sociology, Organizational
Behavior, Cultural Studies, Sport Studies, or a related field is
required. Candidates should demonstrate their contributions to a
positive workplace culture aligned with our school’s core values.

Assistant professor candidates should exhibit promise,
trajectory, and/or achievements suitable for junior faculty at a
major research university. At the assistant professor rank,
candidates should have evidence of:

• scholarly prominence and academic independence, or high

potential, with respect to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed
research;

• experience and/or willingness to mentor undergraduate and

graduate students and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in
their area of expertise;

• reasonable engagement in service (to the industry and/or the

academy); and

• the ability to seek and secure external funding.

At the associate and full professor ranks, candidates
should exceed the expectations outlined at the assistant rank. In
addition to those requirements, candidates should have:

• a consistent record of securing research funding, to the extent

necessary to facilitate their research agenda and scholarly
goals;

• a demonstrated, elevated, and consistent profile of scholarly

and pedagogical excellence; and

• the experience and skills necessary to advance the

international reputation of the Sport Management program in the
School of Kinesiology.

Application Instructions
Interested candidates should submit the following materials
electronically through Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/194360. The search
committee will review applications as they are received. For best
consideration, please apply by Friday, November 20, 2026. If the
application deadline is extended, additional applications may be
accepted and reviewed until the position is filled.

The materials below should be consolidated into one (1)
PDF document before uploading to Interfolio.

• Cover letter

-
Curriculum vitae

-
Research statement (up to 2 pages)

-
Teaching statement (1 page)

-
Up to three research publications

-
At least three references: include full name, position,
relationship to applicant, e-mail address, and telephone number

Nominations, applications, and expressions of interest will be
held in confidence, and references will be contacted only with the
candidate’s permission.

Should you need support related to the Interfolio system, please
visit this link or contact Interfolio at help@interfolio.com or
(877) 997-8807, 9am-6pm Eastern Time,
Monday-Friday.

For questions about the position, please contact the Search
Committee Chair: Dr. Kathy Babiak at kbabiak@umich.edu‬.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We
are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where
equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants,
including protected veterans and individuals with
disabilities."