Professor of the Practice (open-rank)/Program Director

Employer: The University of Kansas
Location: University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

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Employment Type: Full Time
Institution Type: Four-Year Institution

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Position OverviewThe University of Kansas (KU) seeks a Professor of the Practice (open rank) in the Department of Clinical Child Psychology (DCCP) to begin 9/1/2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The professor of the practice is a 12-month, non-tenure track faculty member who serves as Director of the KU Child & Family Services Clinic (KU CFSC) and as an integral, voting faculty member in the DCCP. We seek a leader who is committed to the clinical training of clinical child and adolescent psychologists, to innovation in clinical training and service delivery, and who is prepared to integrate cultural and individual considerations in their approach to teaching, clinical training, and clinic administration. Rank will be commensurate with the final candidate's credentials and experience. This position may be appointed for up to an initial three-year period with an opportunity for extension/renewal after a comprehensive review.

The DCCP is committed to training leaders in the research, dissemination, and practice of clinical psychological science that improves the lives of children, adolescents, and families. More information about the program is available at https://DCCP.ku.edu. The KU CFSC (https://kuclinic.ku.edu) is the in-house training clinic for the DCCP. The KU CFSC has the dual mission of (a) providing state-of-the-art training in clinical child and adolescent psychology and (b) providing affordable, quality mental health services to children, adolescents, and families. We are particularly committed to providing evidence-based and individually tailored services. In addition to administrative duties, the Professor of the Practice teaches courses in the DCCP curriculum, provides clinical supervision to trainees, and supports community engagement. Service on student thesis and dissertation committees and provision of direct clinical services in the KU CFSC are also possible, depending on candidate interest. Overall, the Clinic Director is empowered to establish and pursue short- and long-term goals for the KU CFSC and works with all DCCP faculty to support the highest level of clinical training for trainees.

KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

This position is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between The University of Kansas and United Academics, United Academics of KU, AAUP, or AFT. UAKU is the exclusive representative. As the State of Kansas is a right to work state, you have the right to be a member or not be a member of a union without fear of personal or professional repercussions.

About the University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is located in the city of Lawrence, Kansas. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the largest school within the campus and plays a central role within the University. Founded in 1865, KU is a designated Carnegie comprehensive doctoral and research university and is one of only 34 public members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). The University enrolls more than 28,000 students and offers students and faculty opportunities to collaborate in its graduate and professional programs, which include education, public health, medicine, law, and a number of allied social science and humanities disciplines.Job DescriptionAbout Lawrence
KU’s research residential campus is in the center of a vibrant and culturally-rich community — a quintessential college town. Visitors, students and new employees from outside the area enjoy discovering the many wonders of Lawrence, including a thriving downtown, diverse local and regional events, area lakes, vibrant arts and music scenes, and an indelible history. Home to nearly 95,000 people, Lawrence is located 45 minutes west of Kansas City and 30 minutes east of Topeka, the state capital. Along with the music, arts, culture and sports experiences offered at KU and in Lawrence, the short drive to Kansas City provides quick access to historic jazz clubs, museums, world-class music and theatre venues, and professional sports teams.

Position Duties
Administration (40%)

Provide oversight and leadership of the KU CFSC, including identifying and pursuing opportunities for innovation and growth.
Manage the KU CFSC budget, under the budgetary authority of the DCCP Chair. Position is responsible for all expenditures and maintenance of the budget including decisions about student hourly positions, purchase of materials, and payment for training opportunities. Oversees the Clinic’s fee structure and implements changes as needed.
Hire, train, and supervise clinic staff, including professional staff and student positions.
Oversight and final approval of whether clients can be served by the KU CFSC. Make all case assignments of new clinic clients to graduate student therapists.
Develop and maintain clinic policies and procedures to meet training objectives. Includes ensuring compliance with applicable rules and guidelines, HIPAA regulations, and clinic security procedures in coordination with DCCP faculty.
Oversee compliance of clinic policies and procedures across supervisors, students, and staff.
Assist students and faculty in monitoring and tracking student experience hours to balance training objectives and competitiveness for pre-doctoral internship in coordination with the DCT.
Coordinate external practicum placements, serving as a liaison between the DCCP and external training sites. Ensures that external clinical placements meet APA requirements and DCCP training needs in partnership with the DCT.
Oversee all clinic’s licensed supervisors, including review of student evaluations and outcome measures associated with supervision conducted in all practicum settings (including external practicum sites) associated with the DCCP.
Develop ways to serve the University and Lawrence communities in ways that are complementary to the DCCP training mission.
Lead cultural related efforts as they relate to the KU CFSC.
Help to coordinate ethics speakers for KU and the larger community to fulfill licensure requirements (once every 4 years).
Support community engagement by developing strong and mutually beneficial relationships with external training sites, community and campus services, and the broader local community
Actively connect and promote services throughout the University and Lawrence communities.

Teaching/Clinical Supervision (40-50%)

Teach 1-2 required courses per year in the DCCP curriculum (e.g., foundations of clinical practice with children, child assessment, child intervention, ethics, supervision and consultation).
Provide the equivalent of 1-2 courses of clinical supervision per semester (fall, spring, summer) to trainees in the KU CFSC. This includes individual and group clinical supervision to trainees delivering psychological assessment and intervention services to children, adolescents, and families.
Champion cultural responsiveness and individual needs across teaching and training activities.

Service/Other Responsibilities (10-20%)

The Professor of the Practice position will also be able to participate in the broader training and service activities of the DCCP. This includes serving as a member of student thesis and dissertation committees, organizing continuing education programming for professionals, and/or service on the various committees of the DCCP (e.g., admissions; hiring; student travel awards).
Although not expected, the KU CFSC Director can maintain a caseload of clients at the KU CFSC. Clinical services provided as part of the position will not be compensated separately. Instead, service delivery would be incorporated into the position and would be included as part of the responsibilities covered by the salary.

Faculty Code
Faculty members are expected to carry out their responsibilities in accordance with the Faculty Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, currently viewable at: Faculty Code of Rights

Required QualificationsFor rank at Assistant Professor of the Practice:

PhD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology from an APA-, CPA-, or PCSAS-accredited doctoral program by start date of appointment.
Completion of an APA- or CPA-accredited predoctoral internship by start date of appointment.
Licensed or eligible for licensure as a Psychologist (LP) in the State of Kansas within two years of appointment (see https://www.ksbsrb.ks.gov/professions/psychologists2). Postdoctoral supervision is available for those that are license-eligible, but not yet licensed.
Expertise in clinical child and adolescent and/or pediatric psychology, including assessment and intervention across a range of challenges experienced by children, adolescents, and families, and understanding of their empirical bases and supports.

For rank at Associate Professor of the Practice: In addition to the minimum requirements listed above, candidates appointed at the Associate level will evidence the following:

Independent licensure as a psychologist for 5 or more years.
Experience training and delivering clinical supervision to psychology trainees.
Prior experience in clinic administration.
Expertise in clinical training and supervision with demonstrable local or regional impact (e.g., conference presentations, publications, workshops, certifications).
Demonstrated excellence in teaching as evidenced by teaching statement, teaching evaluations, sample syllabi, letters of reference, etc.

For rank at Full Professor of the Practice: In addition to the requirements at the Assistant and Associate level, candidates appointed at the level of Professor will evidence the following:

Independent licensure as a psychologist for 10 years or more.
Prior experience and effectiveness leading a psychology training clinic or training program in clinical psychology.
Experience training and supervising a range of psychology trainees (e.g., predoctoral, internship, and postdoctoral trainees).
Evidence of expertise in clinical training, as evidenced by national or international impact (e.g., conference presentations, publications, workshops, certifications).

Preferred Qualifications

Board Certification in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
Expertise and/or certification in a range of evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches relevant to the position.
Familiarity with trends and developments in the training of clinical psychologists.
Familiarity with the legal, regulatory, and ethical guidelines that pertain to psychology training clinics.

Additional Candidate InstructionsA complete online application includes the following materials: (1) cover letter; (2) Curriculum vitae; (3) teaching philosophy statement; and (4) the names, email and contact information for three professional references.

Application review will begin August 20, 2026 and will continue until a pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

Desired Start Date: As soon as possible
Contact Information to ApplicantsPaula Fite
Chair & Professor
pfite@ku.eduAdvertised Salary RangeCommensurate with experienceApplication Review BeginsThursday August 20, 2026Apply to Job

Working at the University of Kansas

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