Associate or Full Professor of Reading/Literacy

The University of Texas at Austin College of Education is seeking a faculty member in Reading/Literacy at the Associate or full Professor level. This is a college-wide search for an accomplished scholar who will have a primary appointment within Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership & Policy, or Special Education. A secondary appointment in at least one other of these departments is likely. We seek a scholar who sees connections and possibilities for an interdisciplinary approach to studying reading/literacy and working on collaborative projects across the College. The College of Education, as well as the departments involved in this search, are committed to an intellectually diverse, welcoming and engaging working and learning environment and are seeking candidates whose research, teaching and service have prepared them to contribute to serving students and communities across Texas, the country, and the world.

The ability to read and write contributes directly to school success, post-secondary education and career opportunities, and life satisfaction. Perhaps the importance of literacy and the central and fulfilling place it has in many individuals' lives contributed to it being one of the most persistently and passionately debated topics in the history of education. These debates have occurred over how reading and writing are best taught and how literacy development and teaching approaches should be studied. These debates, known as "the reading wars", have been associated with dramatic pendulum swings in education policy and legislation. Stark philosophical and ideological divides about literacy instruction and research permeate higher education, often within the same institution. These divisions have created silos among scholars, leaving educators caught between competing perspectives.

Fortunately, amid this climate, some scholars advocate for moderation; to reduce polarization and eliminate dogma that leads to dramatic pendulum swings. Much has been learned about how literacy skills develop and teaching approaches that tend to be more and less effective. However, like most areas of scientific inquiry, there exist as many unanswered questions as answered ones about how literacy skills develop and how they are best taught. We seek a scholar whose work bridges ideological perspectives and identifies areas of agreement in literacy instruction.

The successful candidate for this position will have a demonstrated track record of research excellence focused on Reading/Literacy from an interdisciplinary perspective and recognizes the areas of convergence among different perspectives on literacy instruction and research, that appreciates the value of both quantitative and qualitative research, and that advances research to inform educational policy in a linguistically rich society. The candidate understands and appreciates "the science of reading," not as a movement or term referring to specific pedagogy, program, or practice, but as a rich evidence base that is continually evolving.

We are particularly interested in scholars pursuing research impact in the following exemplar areas: critical questions about literacy and literacy instruction, such as investigating practices and programs and for whom and in what contexts are practices more or less effective; variables associated with successful program implementation and sustainability of effective practices; models of pre- or in-service teacher education; and/or reading policy related to public education. We expect the successful candidate will have a strong record of securing external grants to support their research program at the level necessary to ensure the impact of their work. In addition, the successful candidate will be an excellent mentor and will demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching in one or more of the following areas: reading assessment and instruction in general and special education classrooms; research methods in reading research; teacher preparation in reading/literacy; and current issues in research on reading. The candidate will also contribute service at the national, state, or local levels related to reading/literacy education.

The College of Education, ranked among the top public colleges of education in the country, has a longstanding commitment to the shared values of equitable opportunities, excellence, innovation, empowerment, community focus, and endeavors to bridge research and practice. We view creating a welcoming, engaged campus community as interconnected with academic excellence in the work of our faculty. The college has experienced a rapid expansion of interest in its academic programs over the past five years. About half of our admitted students identify as Latina/o, and more than 30% are first-generation college students. Our students are joined by a world-class faculty who are among the nation's leading experts in their respective fields.

As a leading college of education in Texas and beyond, we are agents of change committed to transforming education and health research, practice, and policy to ensure the thriving of children, families, schools, and communities. In our efforts to align our college to address the most pressing challenges in the fields of education and health, we launched a strategic vision known as Reimagine Education (see https://education.utexas.edu/about/college-leadership/deans-office/reimagine-education/). In advancing this effort, we have organized our academic and research aspirations around three Signature Impact Areas: Advancing Equity and Eliminating Disparities in Health and Education, Attending to Place and Context, and Thriving through Transitions.

As a venue for research, Texas is home to more than 10% of the nation's K-12 student population, more than half who identify as Hispanic. The University of Texas at Austin is the flagship state university of Texas and one of the few universities in the U.S. that is both a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution. UT Austin values and supports interdisciplinary research and, with the opening of the Dell Medical School, provides outstanding access to opportunities for collaboration with world-renowned medical faculty. Austin, Texas is an exciting, welcoming, and inclusive city with the reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World.

The position is supported by a competitive start-up package, compensation appropriate to rank and experience, laboratory space as needed, and access to state-of-the-art core facilities. Hiring is contingent upon funding.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• An earned doctoral degree in literacy education or related fields.
• Must be competitive for appointment with tenure at the associate or full professor at UT-Austin.
  Record of scholarly leadership (i.e., refereed publications, extramural funding) in reading/literacy.
• Demonstrated record of securing extramural research funding.
• Experience teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students from a wide range of backgrounds to advance the College's mission.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Record of teaching in EC-12 schools.
• Successful teaching of reading assessment and instruction courses and other literacy education courses for preservice teachers.
• Successful teaching of graduate students in reading/literacy courses.
• Record of chairing dissertation committees and guiding doctoral research projects.
• Record of leadership in national professional reading/literacy and education organizations.

Review of applications will begin on October 31, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please provide all requested materials by October 31, 2024. Applicants should upload the following items:

• Cover Letter with contact information
• Full C.V.
• Research Statement that includes research accomplishments and future research direction
• Teaching and Mentoring Statement that describes specific methods used to ensure effective student mentoring and a classroom environment that is welcoming, engaging, and supportive of student learning and success.
• Up to three representative publications
• A list of three references with contact information

For additional information about the departments leading this search, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership & Policy, or Special Education, visit our Departments website.

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Jim Maxwell. Questions about the positions can be directed to the co-chairs of the search committee: Melissa Wetzel and Nathan Clemens.

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.