Assistant or Associate Professor in K-12 Leadership - Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, School of Education

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Job Category:

Faculty

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Associate Professor

Job Summary:

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA) in the School of Education (SoE) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks an individual for a tenure-track position in K-12 Leadership to begin in August 2027 or earlier, depending on department need and funding.

The scholar must have an established interest and record of research, teaching, and service, with a commitment that aligns with our departmental mission. The mission of the ELPA Department is to create, evaluate, exchange, and apply knowledge about leadership, learning, and organizational performance to prepare scholars and scholar practitioners who cultivate equity and educational opportunity in a diverse and changing world (Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis – School of Education – UW–Madison).

Preference will be given to candidates with a teaching focus on K-12 public school/district leadership with current and emerging applications of artificial intelligence, including related areas such as special education, data-informed continuous improvement, and systems change.

Preference will be given to candidates with a research focus on K-12 public school leadership and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in school and district leadership. We seek candidates with a successful external funding portfolio focused on K-12 public school leadership, particularly in data-driven continuous improvement, AI-enhanced leadership practice, and/or special education.

Experience working as a school or district leader, or in a community leadership role, is desirable but not required.

We seek an individual who is committed to excellence not only in their research and teaching, but also in graduate student advising and in contributing to the growth and quality of our K-12 Leadership programs. We seek a wide range of candidates, including current assistant and associate professors, postdoctoral fellows, recent doctoral degree recipients, and individuals with distinguished educational leadership experience. Associate Professor candidates must possess experience and scholarly credentials suitable for appointment with tenure at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Tenure – Office of the Secretary of the Faculty – UW–Madison).

This position is part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student and  educational opportunities, RISE addresses complex societal challenges of importance to the state, nation and world. Building on UW–Madison’s strengths, RISE expands the University’s successful track record of connecting with communities and industry on collaborative solutions.

Over the next three academic years, UW–Madison will substantially increase current hiring levels, bringing 150 new RISE faculty to campus. Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration. 

Further information regarding RISE can be found at:https://rise.wisc.edu/.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Teach core courses - including graduate-level courses in the K-12 leadership programs that meet in various modalities and typically in evenings and weekends - for educational leadership scholars, leaders, practitioners, and policymakers.
• Advise and mentor doctoral, master's, and certification students, and serve on committees of doctoral students.
• Conduct exemplary research that leads to the cultivation of promising ideas and publications in major scholarly outlets, and pursue and secure external grant funding.
• Inform and enrich state policy development in alignment with the Wisconsin Idea.
• Create and maintain networks with students, staff, and faculty in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.
• Embrace the responsibilities associated with departmental and university membership, which include service (departmental, university, and professional).

Department:

School of Education / Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA)

Compensation:

Negotiable. Commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax- advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

Required Qualifications:

Established interest and record of research, teaching, and service, with a commitment that aligns with our departmental mission.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Teaching focus on K-12 public school/district leadership with current and emerging applications of artificial intelligence, including related areas such as special education, data-informed continuous improvement, and systems change

• Research focus on K-12 public school leadership and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in school and district leadership, with scholarly emphasis on data-informed continuous improvement

• A successful external funding portfolio with a focus on K-12 public school leadership, particularly in the areas of data-driven continuous improvement, AI-enhanced leadership practice, and/or special education

• Commitment to excellence in graduate student advising

• Experience working as a school or district leader, or in a community leadership role, is desirable but not required

Education:

PhD or terminal degree, must be conferred by start date

How to Apply:

Please go to the “Apply Now” area and select your current UW Employment Status.

Upload the following materials:

• A letter of interest that describes the candidate’s interest in the position and addresses the qualifications and preferences outlined in the job summary

• A curriculum vitae.

• One document containing three statements (1-2 pages each):

• A research statement describing the candidate’s research program, major accomplishments to date, and goals for the future.

• A teaching/advising statement describing personal teaching philosophy, strategies, and objectives, as well as your experiences and approaches to advising.

• A service statement documenting individual efforts and significant impacts

• One document containing two (2) samples of scholarly writing.

• The names and contact information of three (3) professional references (reference letters may be requested for finalists).

The application system will accept up to five (5) documents. It is recommended you combine the statements and sample writing to stay within this limit, or you may choose to submit all application materials within one document.

To ensure consideration, application materials must be received by Sunday October 18, 2026, at 11:55 pm; however, this position will remain open, and applications may be considered until this position is filled.

Note: Incomplete application packages that do not include all of the requested documentation will not be considered.

Contact Information:

Jessica Carew

ELPA Department Administrator
[email protected]

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. 
 
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 
 
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