Eastern Connecticut State University, the state’s public liberal arts university serving approximately 5000 students, offers a wide range of undergraduate majors in the arts and sciences and professional studies, as well as selected graduate programs. Located in historic Windham County in the heart of eastern Connecticut, the University is midway between New York City and Boston and only a short drive from Hartford, the state capital.

We invite applications from candidates who have a strong commitment to teaching excellence, creative activity and scholarship, student advisement, university and community service. ECSU is especially interested in faculty with demonstrated innovation and excellence in teaching in a liberal arts curriculum, and sensitivity to diverse populations and perspectives.

Department: Education
Position: Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education (Full Professor)

Position Description: The Education department and the Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut State University seek a dynamic early childhood researcher and teacher educator to serve as the next Phyllis Waite Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education. The Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) was established in 2006 as a “Connecticut higher education center of excellence” and serves as an interdisciplinary institute of research and professional development (see www.easternct.edu/cece). With a record of external grants totaling nearly $7 million, CECE faculty, staff, and students conduct multiple studies every year. Many of these studies are conducted in the adjoining lab school, which serves children from 18 months to 5 years from ethnically and socio-economically diverse backgrounds (over 50% of the families served have significant financial need). CECE researchers use remote video technology to record children’s play and teacher-child interactions for a variety of studies.

The Phyllis Waite Endowed Chair will conduct active research focused on early childhood teaching strategies and/or children’s development, and will disseminate research findings through publications, conference presentations, and professional development videos (produced by CECE staff). Resources available to support this work include a dedicated annual budget for research supplies, travel, and stipends for research assistants, as well as possibilities for supplemental funding during summer and winter breaks. In addition, the Endowed Chair will receive support from the CECE director and staff on grant proposals, budget development and management, and oversight of research assistants.

The Endowed Chair will also have the opportunity to collaborate with CECE staff in producing educational videos for practicing teachers (videos developed to date have been viewed over 1.5 million times by teachers all over the world), and in providing professional development for teachers in Eastern’s lab school.

The Endowed Chair will be a member of the Education Department, responsible for teaching early childhood education course(s) each semester and assisting with accreditation efforts.

Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in Early Childhood Education or related fields is required.
• Experience teaching in early childhood classrooms and higher education is required.
• A demonstrated, established research agenda on topics related to child development or early childhood teaching strategies is required. Previous research experience in social-emotional development, play, or diverse families and communities is preferred.
• A successful record of scholarly publications and research presentations is required.
• A successful record of pursuing external grants and funding sources is strongly preferred.
• Experience mentoring and supervising undergraduate and graduate student researchers is required.
• A demonstrated commitment to post-secondary teaching, advising students, and departmental and institutional service is required.

To apply, please complete the online application, including a letter of interest, curriculum vitae and contact information for three references. For additional information about this position, please contact the search co-chairs, Ms. Julia Delapp, delappj@easternct.edu or Dr. Sudha Swaminathan, swaminathans@easternct.edu.

Online application: http://34.selectsurvey.net/easternct/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=l4LIl8m6

Eastern Connecticut State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or criminal record. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Stacey Close, Associate Vice President for Equity and Diversity, 860-465-5791, closes@easternct.edu.