Posting Details
- Posting Information: FAC909P
- Quick Link for Internal Postings:https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/33391
- Classification Title: Distinguished Professor F1
- Working Title: Bardo Distinguished Professor in Educational Leadership - 001703
- Department: Human Services
About WCU
Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year.
- 2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
- 2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5 on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list. WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
- 2023 - Ranked in the top 20 on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list. WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
- 2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Benefits and Resources
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies, and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work-life balance.
- Health Insurance: Benefit-eligible employees have access to dental, vision, and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following the date of hire.
- Retirement: Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
- Tuition Waivers: Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employees may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses.
- Recreation & Wellness: Free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, and free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus.
- Financial Benefits: Pre-tax flexible spending accounts.
- Leave: 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year.
- Vacation & Sick Leave: Leave-earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave is available after 12 months of continuous service.
- Professional Development: WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops, and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.
Position Summary
The primary location of this position is on the WCU instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville, NC.
Western Carolina University (WCU) invites applications for the Bardo Distinguished Professor in Educational Leadership, a 9-month faculty member position at the rank of Professor with tenure within the Department of Human Services in the College of Education and Allied Professions. The Distinguished Professorship designation is considered in five-year renewable terms.
- Anticipated Starting Work Date: August 1, 2026, with the possibility of starting on January 1, 2027, depending on candidate availability.
- Teaching & Supervision: The successful candidate will teach, supervise, and advise students in the EdD degree program in Educational Leadership, primarily located at the WCU instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville, NC. Courses are offered to students in a hybrid format with in-person meetings held one weekend per month during the semester. Additional courses may be taught solely online.
- Leadership & Policy: The individual chosen to be WCUs distinguished professor in educational leadership will provide visibility and leadership for Westerns Department of Human Services. She will lead the UNC-II goal for involvement in educational policy at the state, regional, and national level.
- Focus Areas: The focus of this work will be to positively influence policy for BK-12 education, community colleges, and the university. The individual will bring and exercise expertise in acquiring extramural funding and doctoral-level policy with a preferred focus on rural education in the 21st century.
- Strategic Impact: The work of this distinguished professor will create a niche for Western Carolina University to become known for the articulation of policy through to practice, as evidenced in principal and superintendent preparation programs.
- Partnerships: There will also be a direct link through the Department of Human Services and the professorship in the work on the School-University Teacher Education Partnerships (SUTEP) as policy issues are explored and connected with local educational agencies (LEAs) on issues of teaching and learning.
Duties
In addition to the above description:
- Teach a variety of instructional courses plus chair doctoral disquisitions. Specific load will be determined annually based on program need and other responsibilities of the Distinguished Professor role.
- Conduct scholarship and research activities according to the department guidelines and the specific role description.
- Provide program, department, college, university, and external professional service according to the department guidelines and the specific role description, with particular focus on faculty collaboration and mentorship across teacher and professional education.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required for this Position
Minimum Qualifications
- Earned doctorate in Education Leadership or a related field.
- Earned tenure and promotion to Full Professor from an institution with equivalent criteria to or higher than WCUs Department of Human Services.
- Established as a scholar and leader in the field.
- Established research agenda and pipeline.
- Experience working in BK-12 education and higher education settings.
- Experience teaching and mentoring at the masters and doctoral levels.
- Demonstrated ability to lead involvement in educational policy at the state, regional, and national level.
- Demonstrated ability to positively influence policy for BK-12 education, community colleges, and the university.
- Demonstrated ability to bring and exercise expertise in acquiring extramural funding and doctoral-level policy with a preferred focus on rural education in the 21st century.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with the disquisition style of doctoral research.
- Understanding of and experience with Improvement Science as a research methodology.
- Leadership experience within BK-12 and/or higher education institutions.
- Experience with positively influencing policy for BK-12 education, community colleges, and the university.
- Experience in leading involvement in educational policy at the state, regional, and national level.
- Experience in acquiring extramural funding and doctoral-level policy with a preferred focus on rural education in the 21st century.
Position Type: Permanent Full-Time
Number of Hours Per Week: Not specified
Number of Months Per Year: 9
Posting Text
- Open Date: 03/19/2026
- Close Date: Open Until Filled
- Yes: Special Instructions to Applicants
Special Instructions to Applicants
Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.
Please include the following:
- Letter of Application
- Current CV
- List of three professional references with complete contact information
- Unofficial transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the masters degree level and higher.
For questions or additional information, please contact:
- Dr. Aarti Bellara (Search Committee Chair): abellar@wcu.edu
- Dr. April Perry (Department Head): alperry@wcu.edu
Transcript Requirements
All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state "Degree Awarded," "Degree Conferred," or a similar phrase.
- For candidates who are ABD (All But Dissertation), please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your masters degree transcript if you hold such a degree.
- The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as "Degree Awarded," "Degree Conferred," or similar phrase to verify it as your highest completed degree.
Background & Verification
- E-Verify: Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.
- Credential Verification: All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential qualification requirements.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, National Guard, or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina.
Accommodations
Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process, please call 828-227-7218 or email at jobsemail@wcu.edu.
University Safety
The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at [University Annual Safety Report] or in hard-copy by request at:
- The office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723, 828-227-7147
- The Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723, 828-227-7301
The report required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence, and fire safety.
Applicant Documents
- Required Documents:
- Cover Letter / Letter of Application
- Curriculum Vitae
- Unofficial Transcripts
- List of references
- Optional Documents:
- Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk.