Assistant Professor - Educational Administration

Location: Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States

About the role

The School of Education at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) invites applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning in August 2026. This role requires physical presence on the Hattiesburg campus and emphasizes training students to become reflective practitioners who use action research and data-driven inquiry to solve real-world challenges in education. The position supports the Specialist and Doctoral programs in Educational Administration, with courses delivered in online formats (synchronous and asynchronous). The successful candidate will contribute to the mission of the School of Education at the graduate level, bringing practical experience and a proven record of transformational leadership in educational administration.

Responsibilities

• Collaborating with colleagues on program development and assessment
• Engaging with community partner districts and schools
• Teaching and mentoring students across programs
• Contributing to the program and profession through service activities
• Performing other duties as assigned

Requirements

• A doctoral degree in Educational Administration or closely related field (by August 2026)
• Five years of educational leadership experience at the school level, including principalship
• Experience setting clear student performance expectations and providing meaningful feedback on student work
• Experience and/or familiarity with technology use, particularly in the online learning environment
• Demonstrated expertise in school improvement, strategic planning, or data-driven decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to deliver accurate, concise, and quality communication (verbal and written) in a timely manner
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaborative skills with faculty and school partners

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching graduate courses in educational administration and research/statistics
• Experience supervising doctoral students in research, action research, capstone, or dissertation work
• Knowledge of P-12 improvement and methods to assess improvements
• Demonstrated knowledge of state and federal accountability systems
• Experience mentoring emerging leaders

About The University of Southern Mississippi

Founded in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is dedicated to preparing students for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 students in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and online. As a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, USM is one of the nation's leading research institutions, known for pioneering work in polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and language development for children with communication disorders.

USM is a national leader in disciplines such as cybersecurity, hydrography, nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development. We produce graduates ready for emerging technologies through programs in computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We also address critical workforce shortages by training professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of excellence in the arts, USM is one of only 36 public institutions nationally accredited in four major areas of the arts. Our student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports as the Golden Eagles.

For more information, visit www.usm.edu.