Assistant Professor of Higher and Adult Education

Position Summary: The Department of Leadership at the University of Memphis seeks to hire a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track faculty member to teach in Adult Education within the Higher and Adult Education ( HIAD ) graduate program beginning August 17, 2026. The Department's mission is to educate students to become informed and inclusive leaders. The HIAD program offers a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in which students can specialize in either Adult Education or Higher Education, a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Instruction, and a Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration. This position will primarily focus on Adult Education. Therefore, we seek applications from candidates with an emphasis in Adult Education with the ability and expertise to teach online asynchronous courses such as Adult Learning and Leadership, Community Education, Global and Comparative Issues, Continuing Professional Education, and Research in Higher and Adult Education. Applicants who have a strong commitment to research and teaching that intentionally supports the growth and development of our student body are encouraged to apply. The Department is unable to support visa sponsorships for this position. Minimum Qualifications: REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Applicants must: Have an earned doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) by August 17, 2026, in Adult Education or a closely related field of study from an accredited university; Have an emerging research agenda focused on Adult Education or other related topics and demonstrated potential to publish in relevant peer reviewed journals; Show evidence of an understanding of the field of Adult Education; Have a sophisticated understanding of research and evaluation design, assessment, methods, and analytical procedures applied to educational and social research; Have experience teaching and engaging with graduate students in online environments; Demonstrate the potential to advise and mentor master's and doctoral students Have demonstrated potential to apply for and/or secure external contract and/or grant funding; Be involved in one or more relevant professional organizations such as American Association for Adult and Continuing Education ( AACE ), Adult Education Research Conference ( AERC ), Adult Higher Education Alliance ( AHEA ), American Educational Research Association ( AERA ), Coalition on Adult Basic Education ( COABE ), Council for the Study of Community Colleges ( CSCC ), and Association for Continuing Higher Education ( ACHE ); Have at least three years of experience working in an area related to Adult Education; and Have a commitment to develop relationships with campus, community, state, and regional constituencies. RESPONSIBILITIES The successful candidate will: Teach graduate courses online Maintain an active research/scholarly agenda in Adult Education Mentor/advise graduate students and chair and serve on dissertation committees Work collaboratively with the Department of Leadership faculty and staff to accomplish program/department goals Develop relationships with campus, community, state, and regional constituencies to promote collaborations and opportunities for students Serve on department, college, and university committees and attend general academic meetings/events, and commencement Help recruit students for the master's and doctoral programs Attend department and program area meetings Other duties as assigned by the department chairperson Special Conditions: SETTING The Department of Leadership is a multidisciplinary unit with programs in two divisions: Higher and Adult Education and Educational Policy and Leadership Studies (see: ). The College of Education, with over 80 full-time faculty, is accredited by CAEP , APA , and CACREP and is a leader in enhancing student affairs and higher education administration preparation, adult learning program initiatives, and teacher and school leader preparation. The College of Education is dedicated to creating a culture of belonging and seeks to prepare students for careers as administrators, counselors, educators, leaders, practitioners, researchers, scholars, and teachers. The Carnegie Foundation recognizes the University of Memphis as one of two public research universities and the only community-engaged public university in Tennessee. It has seven colleges and six professional schools serving a diverse population of over 21,917 students, including 5,209 graduate students. The University is strongly committed to its urban mission and outreach programs. It recognizes the integral role of faculty and administration in fulfilling a comprehensive mission of research, education, and community outreach.