The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (http://illinois.edu/) and the Department of Health & Kinesiology (https://www.hk.illinois.edu/), located in the College of Applied Health Sciences, invite applications from outstanding scholars with expertise in physical education, physical education pedagogy, sport pedagogy, or physical education teacher education for a nine-month, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor.
The University of Illinois has a long and distinguished tradition of leadership in physical education, teacher preparation, and the scientific study of human movement, dating back more than a century. The Department of Health & Kinesiology builds on this legacy through its continued commitment to advancing research and education in physical education, pedagogy, physical activity, and health.
The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an active and productive program of research in physical education, physical education pedagogy, sport pedagogy, physical education teacher education, or a related area, resulting in high-quality scholarly publications and contributions to the field. The faculty member will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, mentor students, and contribute to the continued excellence of the Department’s academic programs. The position also includes service responsibilities within the department, college, university, and profession. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to provide leadership that advances the Department’s mission, fosters collaboration across disciplines, supports student success, and contributes to strategic initiatives within the department and the broader University community.
The successful candidate must hold a doctoral degree in physical education, physical education pedagogy, sport pedagogy, kinesiology, or a related field by the time of appointment, August 16, 2027. We seek an individual who can contribute significantly to our research, teaching, and service missions. The candidate should be someone who demonstrates the potential to secure external funding and a willingness to develop and submit grant proposals at the Assistant Professor level, or a demonstrated track record of securing external funding at the Associate Professor level. In addition, previous K-12 and university teaching experience and an ability to build community partnerships is desirable. Candidates must demonstrate a strong record of scholarly achievement appropriate to the rank of Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Candidates seeking appointments at the rank of Associate Professor must demonstrate a record of scholarship, teaching, and service commensurate with the University’s expectations for promotion to that rank.
Demonstrated excellence in university-level teaching is preferred, as is experience or interest in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. Candidates with strong leadership and collaborative skills and a demonstrated commitment to advancing physical education, physical education pedagogy, including adapted physical education and/or physical education teacher education are particularly encouraged to apply. The committee strongly encourages applications from women and persons from historically underrepresented groups.
This is a 100% full-time Academic position, with a 9-month service basis, paid over 12-months. The preferred starting date is August16, 2027. The budgeted salary range for the position is $80,000 to $95,000 at the Assistant Professor level, $95,000 to $115,000 at the Associate Professor level. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints.
This position is eligible for sponsorship for work authorization, except for sponsorship of a new H1B petition that would incur the $100,000 fee.
For full consideration, please submit all required materials by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on November 16, 2026. Review of applications will begin immediately afterwards. However, the position will remain open until filled. The preferred starting date is August16, 2027.
Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. To apply, create a candidate profile at http://jobs.illinois.edu and select the position for which you are applying (1038708); then upload all required documents, including:
For further information about this specific position, please contact Search Committee Chair, Dr. Amelia Mays Woods at amywoods@illinois.edu or ahs-hr@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
The Department of Health & Kinesiology (https://www.hk.illinois.edu/). The mission of the Department is to advance and disseminate knowledge related to health, rehabilitation, and human movement using an interdisciplinary approach. Through the integration of high-quality research, instruction, and outreach programs, faculty scholars within HK are leading initiatives that address pressing concerns of our diverse society such as prevention and management of chronic disease as well as maintenance of health and well-being across the lifespan. HK hosts a diverse group of faculty, students, and staff (https://www.hk.illinois.edu/directory-hk/?viewperpage=All+people) working and learning in a collegial and collaborative environment. HK offers BS degrees in Community Health, Public Health, Interdisciplinary Health, and Kinesiology; MS and PhD degrees in Community Health& Kinesiology; Master of Public Health (MPH), MS in Health Administration (MSHA), and a MS in Health Technology (MSHT). More than 1,500undergraduate and 160 graduate students are enrolled in the Department. Most undergraduate students continue their education in professional allied health or graduate degree programs, and most doctoral graduates attain positions in academia or industry.
The College of Applied Health Sciences (AHS, https://ahs.illinois.edu): The mission of AHS is to promote culturally relevant individual and community health and well-being across the lifespan, facilitate optimal living with disability, and foster the development of livable communities in a diverse society through learning, discovery, and engagement. The College enrolls2,147 undergraduates and 419 graduate students in its three academic departments: Health & Kinesiology (http://kch.illinois.edu/);Recreation, Sport &Tourism (http://rst.illinois.edu/);Speech & Hearing Science (http://shs.illinois.edu/).Each department is highly ranked in national surveys. Within AHS are also the Center on Health, Aging and Disability (CHAD); the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES); and the Chez Veterans Center. The College is actively involved in discovery and engagement with the Carle Foundation Hospital, OSF Health System, Mayo Clinics, the Champaign- Urbana Public Health District(CUPHD), the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Big Ten Academic Alliance, the University’s Engineering-based Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI),the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, the Cancer Center of Illinois, the Personalized Nutrition Initiative and the Division of Nutritional Sciences, the Discovery Partners Institute, the Family Resiliency Center, and many more.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, http://illinois.edu): Established in 1867, UIUC is a land-grant, Research1 institution that has established an international reputation as an educational community ideally suited for excellence in scholarship and research across the academic spectrum. In addition to being one of the highest- ranked public research universities in the country (#15 by US News and World Report), the University of Illinois is, simply, a great place to work. The University is home to internationally recognized facilities and interdisciplinary programs including: Institute for Genomic Biology (www.igb.illinois.edu/),Beckman Institute (www.beckman.illinois.edu/),W.M. Keck Center for Comparative and Functional Genomics(www.biotech.uiuc.edu/centers/Keck/), National Center for Supercomputing Applications (www.ncsa.illinois.edu/), Division of Nutritional Sciences (http://nutrsci.illinois.edu/),Neuroscience Program (http://neuroscience.illinois.edu/),to name a few. With an undergraduate enrollment of 34,559and a graduate enrollment of over 20,000students in more than 100 disciplines, Illinois is among the top five universities in the country in the number of earned doctorates awarded each year. The quality of our students is very high. We are leaders in technology, and our employee and alumni innovations have been extraordinary. YouTube, Netscape, medical MRI screening, the LED, and the plasma screen used in televisions and computers are just a few discoveries created by our faculty and alumni. In response to the COVID-19pandemic, UIUC led all universities with a novel and aggressive non-invasive saliva testing program which served as a model for the country. The University of Illinois offers generous employee benefits including health insurance and retirement programs. In addition, we also offer our employees tuition waivers and other development opportunities for personal and professional growth, including a Dual Career Academic Couples Hiring Program. We value our employees and seek to foster an inclusive workplace.
The Champaign-Urbana Community: Home of the University of Illinois flagship campus, Champaign-Urbana (http://ci.champaign.il.us/about-champaign/) is a ‘micro-urban’ community (http://www.micro-urbanist.com) with a population of ~226,000 in the metro area located in east central Illinois. It is conveniently located between Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis and has its own airport and train service. Combining natural Midwest beauty and cultural resources typically found in much larger metropolitan areas, Champaign-Urbana is friendly, livable, easy to navigate, affordable and has an excellent public-school system. There is a ‘work-life’ balance here that gives faculty ample time for both scholarship and family pursuits devoid of the hassles of large city life. The average commute time is less than 15 minutes. The Champaign-Urbana area offers a range of businesses, recreation, and culture unmatched by other communities its size, due in large part to the presence of the University of Illinois. Whether you’re looking to raise a family, enjoy the outdoors, partake in a variety of cultural activities, enjoy the excitement of Big 10 sports, or become part of the University of Illinois community, Champaign-Urbana has something to offer you.
Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career — along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or accessibility@illinois.edu.
Requisition ID: 1038708
Job Category: Faculty
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu
