Clemson University’s College of Education seeks an accomplished and visionary academic leader to fill the role of Interim Chair of the Department of Education and Human Development. This position is primarily responsible for providing leadership and support to ensure quality, growth, and innovation in the department’s teaching, scholarship, public service, and undergraduate and graduate programs. The nine-month appointment includes summer administration expectations. The anticipated start date for the position is November 16, 2026. The successful candidate’s record would merit tenure at the level of Full Professor in the College. The anticipated duration of the interim appointment is through August 14, 2027, with the possibility of a one-year extension.
Consistent with Clemson University’s public, land-grant mission, the College of Education is especially focused on serving rural and underserved schools and communities. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience leading and engaging an accomplished, multi-disciplinary faculty committed to fulfilling this mission through research, teaching, and public service. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Department chairs are formally evaluated through the process described in Clemson’s Faculty Manual.
Responsibilities include:
· Provide continuity of leadership during the interim appointment by nurturing and building consensus with faculty, staff, and external stakeholders
· Lead the implementation of the department’s strategic plan in alignment with the college’s strategic plan and Clemson Elevate
· Supervise the department’s portfolio, including course and program curriculum, scheduling, faculty workload, and research and public service
· Develop budgets in concert with the Dean and leadership team and allocate such funds for infrastructure and strategic purposes
· Recruit, mentor, retain, and annually evaluate departmental faculty and staff
· Oversee faculty hiring, reappointments, tenure and promotion, and termination
· Provide leadership in student recruitment, student advising, and student placement
· Support the professional growth and development of departmental faculty, staff, and doctoral students
· Ensure faculty participation in annual program reporting, internal and external program review, and unit-wide accreditation with CAEP
· Arrange meetings of the departmental faculty; meet with the departmental advisory committee and appropriate constituent and advisory groups for the disciplines
· Represent the department on the college’s leadership team and the university’s Organization of Academic Department Chairs (OADC)
· Collaborate with the department chairs of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development (EOLD) and Teaching & Learning (TL) and associate deans in the college
· Serve as the liaison between the department and the offices of Marketing and Communications, Undergraduate Studies, Graduate Studies, Assessment and Accreditation, and Field and Clinical Outreach and Partnerships
· Work closely with relevant organizations/agencies and cultivate partnerships to enhance programs, research, and public service
· Engage in teaching and advising graduate students
· Engage in research, publication, external funding, and other scholarly activities
· Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean
The Department of Education and Human Development is a state and national leader in addressing issues within schools and communities, offering programs in counseling, learning sciences, literacy, and special education. The Department prepares professionals to provide exemplary leadership and educational services to improve outcomes for all persons, with an emphasis on rural and underserved schools and communities. We are leaders in the state and the nation in addressing issues within schools and communities by delivering outstanding practitioner preparation programs, conducting high-quality research that informs policy and practice, and enhancing outreach and advocacy through collaborative partnerships. We endorse education as the foundation through which all persons are empowered to live healthy, fulfilling and productive lives.
Clemson University College of Education is a transformational leader in education across the life-and-career-span. With a particular focus on rural and underserved schools and communities, the college has award-winning programs that prepare teachers, educational specialists, school-and-community-based mental health counselors, human resource professionals and leaders in education and allied fields. We equip our students for lives and careers that make a difference. Through innovative educational programming, high-impact research and transformative outreach, we respond to critical societal and educational issues, such as workforce development; the role of technology in education and society; teacher recruitment and retention; mental health and well-being; and leadership development. We lead these vital initiatives as part of Clemson University’s land-grant mission to serve the state of South Carolina and beyond.
One of the most productive public research universities in the nation, Clemson University enrolls over 29,000 graduate and undergraduate students and has an endowment of over $1 billion. The University operates Extension offices in every county of the state and has five Innovation Campuses and six Research and Education Center locations. Classified as an R1 — Very High Research University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education — Clemson is dedicated to teaching, research, and service. Our main campus, located in Upstate South Carolina, sits on 1,400 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along the shores of Lake Hartwell. Through the research, outreach and entrepreneurial projects led by our faculty and students, Clemson University is driving economic development and improving quality of life in South Carolina and beyond.
· Earned doctorate in any of the academic disciplines of the College
· Record of scholarship supporting tenure eligibility at the rank of Full Professor in Clemson University’s College of Education
· Academic and professional experience among these skills/competencies
o in academic administration (e.g., academic program leader and/or department chair)
o with funded grants and publication
o with undergraduate and graduate programs
o with curriculum development, innovative teaching methods, instructional design for various settings (e.g., online and hybrid), and assessment
o with field and clinical placement
o in program assessment and accreditation
o in effective oral and written communication skills
o in collaboration with others in a team-oriented environment
o in a dynamic work environment incorporating multiple tasks and adjusting to issues as needed
· Experience increasing extramural funding and scholarly output
· Experience designing innovative undergraduate and/or graduate programs, including online and hybrid teaching/learning models
· A record of scholarship, outreach, and leadership in areas of strategic importance, including: Rural Education, Early Childhood Education, Reading/Literacy Education, Special Education, Learning Sciences, and/or STEM Education (including AI, VR, multimodal/digital literacies, computational thinking, or robotics)
· Demonstrated commitment and experience working with underserved communities and diverse populations
Applications must be submitted via Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/194463. Applicants should submit the following documents:
· Cover letter of application addressing leadership qualifications and priorities for the interim appointment
· Curriculum vitae
To receive full consideration, applications must be received by October 12, 2026. The review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Inquiries about the position should be made to the search committee chair, Dr. Liz Boyd, at beboyd@clemson.edu.
Clemson University is an EEO/AA employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law including disability and protected veteran status.
