Phanstiel Chair in Leadership | Advanced Associate Professor or Full Professor with tenure

The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University invites highly qualified candidates to apply for the Phanstiel Chair in Leadership. The nation's top-ranked school of public affairs, Maxwell seeks a candidate who will contribute to the school's identity as a home for collaborative, interdisciplinary problem solvers developing innovative solutions to the world's most pressing issues.

We welcome applicants who study leadership in any of its many forms and styles and across a wide range of contexts - in government and politics, in communities and organizations, in moments of crisis and change, and in the everyday work of bridging divides and building common ground.

The ideal applicant will have an active and impactful research agenda that speaks to broad academic and practitioner audiences, and a strong record of undergraduate and/or graduate (including doctoral) teaching and advising. The successful candidate will hold a PhD in a relevant field. We especially welcome scholars whose work crosses disciplinary boundaries, including those working in public affairs, political science, psychology, sociology, organizational behavior, management, education studies, nonprofit studies, and related fields.

The candidate will bring scholarly and pedagogical expertise to Maxwell's MPA program, contributing to its public and nonprofit management track, which trains future public service and other leaders in managing and leading within and across organizations, jurisdictions, and sectors. The successful candidate will teach an array of courses across our undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs.

We welcome applicants at the rank of Professor or senior Associate Professor who will qualify for promotion in the near future.

Syracuse University is a private international research university located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history. The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is home to the social science disciplines at Syracuse University and is ranked #1 in the nation for graduate education in public affairs, according to the 2026 edition of U.S. News & World Report's Best Graduate Schools. The Phanstiel Chair is housed in the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs, home to multiple undergraduate, masters, and doctoral degree programs.

Applicants should upload a cover letter detailing their research agenda and teaching philosophy, a CV, and a recent working paper or publication.

Full review of applications begins October 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. All questions about the search may be directed to the search committee: Saba Siddiki (ssiddiki@syr.edu), Tina Nabatchi (tnabatch@syr.edu), and David Popp (dcpopp@syr.edu).

Qualifications

The ideal applicant will have an active and impactful research agenda that speaks to broad academic and practitioner audiences, and a strong record of undergraduate and/or graduate (including doctoral) teaching and advising. The successful candidate will hold a PhD in a relevant field.

Job Specific Qualifications

None

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

Teaching

• Design and deliver high-quality instruction in leadership, public and nonprofit management, and related subjects across the School's undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs
• Develop and teach courses that serve students with a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds
• Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, including doctoral students, on coursework, research, and professional development
• Contribute to curriculum development

Research

• Maintain an active, high-impact research agenda addressing leadership across governmental, organizational, community, and cross-sector contexts
• Produce scholarship that engages both academic and practitioner audiences and advances understanding of contemporary public affairs challenges
• Pursue external funding and disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications, books, and other scholarly outlets

Service

• Participate actively in School, University, and disciplinary governance, including committee work and administrative responsibilities as assigned
• Support recruitment, mentoring, and professional development of colleagues and students
• Represent the School and its programs at professional conferences and other engagements as appropriate

Physical Requirements

Not Applicable

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a curriculum vitae, cover letter detailing their research agenda and teaching philosophy,and a recent working paper or publication.