Chair, Department of Political Science

Howard University

Chair, Department of Political Science 

Howard University (HU) invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the Department of Political Science. 

The Department of Political Science seeks a dynamic, energetic leader with the ability to effectively engage faculty, staff, students, and external constituencies in a collegial and collaborative manner.  The Chair will have a demonstrated record of excellence in collegial academic leadership, faculty development, fundraising, executive administration, and financial management. This is an outstanding opportunity for a creative leader at an exciting time in the continued growth of the Department, College, and University. 

The Chair represents the Department as part of the College’s leadership team and is responsible for the Department’s faculty and staff recruiting, development, retention, resource attainment, financial management, and stakeholder relationship management. The Chair manages a diverse faculty, staff and student body, and is expected to lead the Department in publishing scholarship, teaching capacity, grantsmanship, service, and outreach.

The Chair must be an active intellectual leader, adept at building and supporting multi-disciplinary partnerships within a diverse community, knowledgeable in higher education issues, collaborative in developing team-focused, data-driven approaches to problem solving, and possess effective people-skills.

Working in partnership with the senior administration of the College of Arts & Sciences, the successful candidate is expected to embrace and contribute to the mission of the University. 

Desired Qualifications

• Earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution; PhD in Political Science preferred, but a PhD in an allied discipline will be considered;
• Record of professional accomplishments and published scholarship in the discipline that meet the qualifications for appointment to the rank of professor in the College and University. Applications from advanced associate professors will be considered.
• Established and sustained record of graduate and undergraduate teaching excellence and interdisciplinary initiatives;
• Recognized and reputable record of research, collaborative projects, and creative accomplishments;
•  Administrative, personnel, and budgetary experience at the department level;
• Evidence of and capacity to secure external funding and undertake successful fundraising campaigns;
• Documentation of a strong commitment to helping students obtain a broad-based education, student centeredness, and optimization of student learning;
• Record of successful curriculum development including a commitment to collaboration and use of innovative pedagogies;
• Successful record of effective interpersonal and communication skills with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members;
• Demonstrated ability to manage a complex academic unit and work effectively with colleagues across divisions;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively forge and build partnerships and productive relations on and off campus; engage with the community via outreach efforts; leadership abilities with both campus and external constituencies, including alumni;
• Evidence of successful recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty and staff, as well as teambuilding, supervision, and staff support for professional development;  

Established in 1867, Howard University is a federally chartered, private, doctoral/research extensive university located in Washington, D.C., and is widely recognized as one of the world's most prestigious institutions of higher learning. The only comprehensive American university with a predominantly African-American constituency, Howard University is committed to preparing its students to not only be respected leaders in the national and global communities, but to also promote social justice and democracy the world over. Howard has historically educated more African-American PhD’s than any other university. It has a track record, for more than a century as the home to the single, largest concentration of Black scholars in the world.

Procedure for Candidacy

Applications should include a cover letter and curriculum vitae.  Applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. Confidential review of materials and screening of candidates will begin immediately.

Contact Information:

POLSChairSearch@Howard.edu

The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital status, religion, disability or protected veterans status. Veterans and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Inquiries regarding provisions for persons with disabilities or veterans status, Equal Employment Opportunity and Title IX should be directed to the Office of Employee Relations and Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-806-1280.