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Director, School of Information Sciences, Fall 2021

Employer
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Location
Knoxville, TN

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Executive Administration Jobs
C-Level & Executive Directors
Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution

Job Details

Director, School of Information Sciences, Fall 2021

Location:
Knoxville, TN
Open Date:
Nov 20, 2020
Description:

The School of Information Sciences in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s (UTK) College of Communication and Information (CCI), is conducting an international search for the position of Director of the School. A Ph.D. in library and information sciences or closely related fields is required for this 12-month position.  The successful applicant will hold the rank of Full Professor or meet the University of Tennessee’s criteria for Full Professor upon hire and will be eligible for tenure upon hire.  The salary is competitive and based on experience and academic credentials. We especially welcome candidates with demonstrated success in working with diverse populations.

Candidates should have: strong intellectual, organizational, diplomatic, communication, and leadership skills; a national/international scholarly reputation; and a strong record of research, teaching and service. In addition, they should have the ability to: build strong, positive relationships with all members of the School, with other CCI and UTK schools/departments, and the administration of the College and University; effectively manage School resources, faculty and staff; represent and promote the program externally; support the new, innovative undergraduate program in information sciences; maintain scholarly activity; actively promote faculty research and scholarship and support externally funded faculty research; actively engage in development, fundraising and alumni cultivation; work effectively with the SIS Advisory Board and College’s Board of Visitors; support and create productive partnerships across disciplinary and organizational boundaries; and recruit and maintain a well-qualified diverse student body. The Director will provide leadership for the School with duties and responsibilities as described in the UTK Faculty Handbook (https://facultyhandbook.utk.edu). Applicants should have knowledge of and a commitment to equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The School and College.  The School of Information Sciences and the College of Communication and Information have a strong institutional commitment to diversity in all areas and strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented groups. We favor candidates who can contribute to the School’s and College’s distinctive educational objectives, which promote interdisciplinary perspectives, intercultural understanding, and concern with social responsibility and the ethical implications of information and information systems.  The School’s and College’s Diversity and Inclusion Statements can be viewed at https://www.sis.utk.edu/diversity-inclusion and https://cci.utk.edu/diversity.

The College of Communication and Information (CCI) consists of four schools: Advertising and Public Relations, Communication Studies, Information Sciences, and Journalism and Electronic Media. CCI has approximately 1,280 undergraduate majors (across five undergraduate majors in advertising, public relations, communication studies, information sciences, and journalism and electronic media), and approximately 420 graduate students (including College-wide M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in communication & information and an M.S. degree in information sciences). The College’s Center for Information and Communication Studies (CICS) provides a wide array of support services for CCI faculty interested in pursuing sponsored research. The Center involves dozens of researchers across various disciplines and agencies to focus the array of talent in CCI, the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and other research institutions in the pursuit and conduct of sponsored research. College-wide research facilities include: the Adam Brown Social Media Command Center, the Scripps Convergence Lab, a User Experience Lab, and a Message Effects/Focus Group Lab. The School of Information Sciences is a member of the iSchools Consortium and is the 17th ranked library and information science school by U.S. News and World Report.

The University: The University of Tennessee is the state of Tennessee’s flagship university and its only public Carnegie RU/VH (Research Universities/Very High Research Activity) institution. As a land-grant university and as Volunteers, serving our state and nation are key to our mission. UT enrolls approximately 30,000 students at its Knoxville campus.  Demographically, 24% of all students identify as non-white, 24% identify as first-generation students and 29% are Pell-eligible. The University culture is guided by adherence to core values that define the Volunteer spirit and include: seeking knowledge; leading with innovation and integrity; advancing diversity and inclusion; engaging locally and globally; and embracing responsible stewardship of resources.

The Community: Knoxville, nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, has a metropolitan statistical area population of over 850,000 people. This moderate-sized city has a vibrant nightlife that includes numerous theaters and museums, traditional bluegrass music, a symphony orchestra and an opera company, world-class restaurants, lots of cultural festivals and a downtown market square. Surrounded by lakes and the Tennessee River, the Knoxville area boasts wonderful year-round water activities, including boating, fishing, and swimming that make for scenic and breathtaking views of the area. Knoxville is also home to many leading corporations, including Pilot Flying J; Ruby Tuesday, Bush Brothers & Company, Discovery Inc.’s National Operating Center, Regal Cinemas, TVA, and Alcoa Inc. It also has a number of prominent advertising/public relations firms and is the fifth largest video production center in the United States.


Qualifications:

The successful applicant will hold the rank of Full Professor or meet the University of Tennessee’s criteria for Full Professor upon hire and will be eligible for tenure upon hire.   We especially welcome candidates with demonstrated success in working with diverse populations. Candidates should have: strong intellectual, organizational, diplomatic, communication, and leadership skills; a national/international scholarly reputation; and a strong record of research, teaching and service. In addition, they should have the ability to: build strong, positive relationships with all members of the School, with other CCI and UTK schools/departments, and the administration of the College and University; effectively manage School resources, faculty and staff; represent and promote the program externally; support the new, innovative undergraduate program in information sciences; maintain scholarly activity; actively promote faculty research and scholarship and support externally funded faculty research; actively engage in development, fundraising and alumni cultivation; work effectively with the SIS Advisory Board and College’s Board of Visitors; support and create productive partnerships across disciplinary and organizational boundaries; and recruit and maintain a well-qualified diverse student body. The Director will provide leadership for the School with duties and responsibilities as described in the UTK Faculty Handbook (https://facultyhandbook.utk.edu). Applicants should have knowledge of and a commitment to equal opportunity and affirmative action.


Application Instructions:

Individuals interested in applying for the position should submit, via Interfolio, (1) a letter of application, (2) a vision statement for the School, (3) a statement of leadership philosophy, (4) a diversity statement; (5) a current curriculum vitae, and (6) a list of five references.

Organization

Working at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Founded in 1794, the University of Tennessee is one of the nation’s oldest and most storied public universities. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee’s flagship land-grant institution includes the statewide Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute in Tullahoma. The university embodies excellence in teaching, discovery, scholarship, research, creative activity, outreach, and engagement. Known as the Volunteers, we lead with a spirit of selflessness, empathy, and courage, and strive to be champions for diversity, equity, and inclusion

UT Knoxville is a Research 1 university with 11 academic colleges and more than 900 programs of study. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, our academic programs are repeatedly ranked top in their class. The university co-manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the country’s most prominent national lab, driving innovation in advanced manufacturing and materials, national security, and more. We are closely connected with our communities through outreach and extension efforts across Tennessee and through partnerships with non-profits, corporations, and industries—regionally, nationally, and around the globe.

The city of Knoxville is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The modern, thriving community is surrounded by gorgeous lakes and hundreds of miles of walking, hiking, and biking trails. Situated along the banks of the Tennessee River, our beautiful features an eclectic music scene, internationally recognized festivals, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of diverse cultural activities. Knoxville is located within a day’s drive of Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis, Chicago, and Washington D.C.

Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a population of more than 850,000 people. The region houses many leading corporations and organizations, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pilot/Flying J, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Regal Cinemas, along with HGTV, Food Network, and other networks owned by Discovery Inc.

As a member of the UT family, you will be surrounded by top-notch faculty, staff, and students from around the world. You will be part of a diverse campus community that is passionate about changing the world and cheering for the Vols on game day.

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