Head of the Department of Psychological Sciences

Nominations and applications are invited for the position of Head of the Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University. The Head will be an internationally recognized academic scholar providing strategic and visionary leadership, who will elevate departmental research, scholarship, and educational activities. This appointment is expected to be at the level of Professor (tenured). 

The Department of Psychological Sciences (hhs.purdue.edu/psy/ ) is consistently ranked among the top psychology programs in the world. The Department is collegial and diverse comprised of over 50 tenured/tenure-track, clinical, and research faculty, over 70 graduate students, and over 1200 undergraduate student majors. Research and doctoral training are conducted in the areas of Clinical Psychology (APA and PCSAS-accredited), Cognitive Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Mathematical and Computational Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior, and Social Psychology. Faculty in Psychological Sciences are also involved in a wide range of cross-campus initiatives, including Advanced Methods at Purdue (www.purdue.edu/amap/), the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Science Consortium (hhs.purdue.edu/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/dei-science-consortium/), Purdue Autism Research Center (hhs.purdue.edu/autism/), and Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience (www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/institute-for-integrative-neuroscience/). Faculty regularly lead and collaborate on funded grants across disciplines (e.g., Industrial Engineering, Computer Science) and multiple campuses (Purdue Northwest, Purdue Indianapolis). Opportunities also exist for partnering with the HHS Extension office which offers programs to enhance the well-being of individuals, families and communities in each of Indiana’s 92 counties. The Department awards Bachelors, Masters, and PhD degrees. 

The Department of Psychological Sciences is the largest Department in the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) (hhs.purdue.edu/), one of the largest colleges at Purdue. The College brings together scholars in the health sciences and human sciences to strategically address issues vital to enhancing people’s health and quality of life and to understanding human behavior. The College provides a multidisciplinary learning environment that uniquely prepares students to contribute to improved human health and behavior and to serve as leaders in their disciplines. The College also provides a rich environment for world-changing research and discovery and the translation of these discoveries from theory to application, benefiting not only those in Indiana but society as a whole. 

Established in 1869, Purdue is Indiana’s land-grant university, a comprehensive educational and research institution and member of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and the Equity in Graduate Education Consortium. Purdue is recognized as a Top 10 public university by QS world rankings and is the #10 most recognized university globally by American Caldwell. In addition to the College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University’s strengths in Agriculture, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Management, Pharmacy, Science, and Veterinary Medicine contribute to a robust research and educational environment. The West Lafayette campus, located one hour north of Indianapolis and two hours south of downtown Chicago, has ten academic colleges with an enrollment of 52,211 students from over 135 countries. Purdue also has cultural and resource centers dedicated to providing support to historically excluded or marginalized populations, including the Asian American and Asian Resource and Cultural Center, the Black Cultural Center, the Latino Cultural Center, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Center, the Native American Educational and Cultural Center, the Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence, and the Center for Faculty Success. The diverse greater Lafayette/West Lafayette community (www.homeofpurdue.com) has a population of approximately 225,000 and a low cost of living.

Applicants should have scholarly credentials commensurate with being appointed at the rank of Tenured Full Professor, including a PhD in Psychological Sciences or related field. A strong record of published research, external funding, and undergraduate and graduate education are required, and prior experience in academic administration is preferred. Desirable attributes include excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a demonstrated commitment to the development and advancement of individual faculty, staff, students, and the Department as a whole. With the support of two Associate Heads, the Department Head is responsible for fiscal management of the Department, oversight of undergraduate and graduate programs, personnel issues, faculty/staff development, alumni relations, and advocacy for the Department to the College, University, and larger community. This position is a full-time, 12-month, tenured position with a desired start date of July 1, 2024.  

The College of Health and Human Sciences and the Department of Psychological Sciences are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Our leadership, faculty, staff, and students are engaged in many efforts that are consistent with this commitment. 

A confidential review of applications will begin on December 1, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled. 

Interested candidates are asked to submit applications with the following:  

1) a letter of interest indicating leadership and mentoring philosophy and relevant research and administrative experience 

2) a full curriculum vitae 

3) names and contact information for at least four references (named references will not be contacted without permission from the candidate) 

Nominations and questions regarding the position or the application process may be directed to Stephanie Ferguson, Executive Recruiter, Purdue University Human Resources, at [email protected].

A background check will be required for employment in this position.  

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.