Assistant Professor - Early Literacy Education (CUIN)

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Houston seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Early Literacy Education to serve our teacher preparation, master and doctoral programs. The department offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate academic programs in multiple areas of specialization, including early childhood education and literacy education. Our programs have a special focus on student success, social justice, and community engagement. We welcome candidates whose experience in research, teaching, and service demonstrates our commitment to excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration. 

 As part of an ambitious Carnegie-designated Tier One research institution, the University of Houston College of Education works to improve health and educational outcomes for all people and communities through inspired teaching, innovative scholarship, and strong partnerships. Housed in the nation’s fourth-largest city, UH is a public research university, with more than 46,000 students and 6,200 faculty and staff. 

Together, at the University of Houston, we dare to dream big dreams and we collaborate to achieve them. Building on a trajectory of accelerated research activity and rising graduation rates, UH is pursuing a bold initiative to become a top 50 public university. New faculty will join a Big 12 institution with a growing number of nationally funded research centers and an aggressive agenda to leverage science to make a transformative impact locally, nationally, and across the globe. With a relentless focus on student success, we are committed to delivering a high-quality educational experience that empowers students to lead. 

The Houston metropolitan area offers scholars rich urban and suburban environments in which to work and live – as well as opportunities for international research and study. The region is home to world-class museums, cultural events, and restaurants, as well as the renowned Texas Medical Center and nearly 50 public school districts. 

In the College of Education, our faculty and staff are united around five key beliefs: Our responsibility is to improve lives; achieving success for everyone requires inspiring collective action; greater understanding depends on rigorous scientific inquiry; various perspectives and talents fuel excellence; and transformation requires challenging and valuing ourselves and others. These tenets drive us as we prepare future teachers, administrators, counselors, psychologists, health specialists, researchers and other leaders in their fields. In support of our pursuits, we seek experienced and ambitious colleagues whose research and teaching are strategically aligned with our ongoing work to address educational and health disparities. 

Responsibilities: Primary research responsibilities include an active research program in early literacy education, seeking and acquiring external funding, publishing scholarly work in high-impact venues, and disseminating work to national and international audiences. Primary teaching responsibilities include expert teaching through face-to-face, online, or hybrid delivery of courses in the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. A successful candidate will also participate in course and program development, supervision of graduate student research and teaching assistants, community outreach activities, and service to the Department, College, University, and profession. 

Appointment: This is a nine-month appointment. Review of candidates will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is Fall 2024. Salary will be commensurate with the applicant’s qualifications and experience and will include benefits. Please contact Dr. Vera Hutchison ([email protected] ; 713-743-4958), Search Committee Chair, should you have any follow-up questions.

To apply, the following materials should be uploaded online: 

• A cover letter describing your (a) qualifications and interest in the position, (b) evidence of scholarly impact, and (c) history of external peer-reviewed funding
• Curriculum Vitae
• Teaching Philosophy
• Research Statement
• Contact information of at least 3 references

The University of Houston is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

The University of Houston is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution and recognizes protected classes of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, religion, age (40 and above), national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or status, and gender expression as required by federal law. Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

Applicants must have a doctorate focused on early literacy education or a related field, as well as demonstrate an active record of scholarship and external funding commensurate with experience. Priority will be placed on applicants whose scholarship (a) explores early cognitive, reading and writing development; (b) informs evidence-based early literacy education practices, especially for multilingual learners; (c) advances early literacy initiatives across teacher education programs, school, family, and community networks; and (c) connects with other programmatic expertise in the College, particularly human development and family sciences, bilingual/ESL education, school psychology, and/or special populations.