Department Head, Department of ...

About the Role

The Department Head of Kinesiology at New Mexico State University (NMSU) will lead a thriving academic department within the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation (HEST). This role offers the opportunity to guide a department with outstanding faculty, exceptional students, nationally recognized programs, and expanding research infrastructure, all while advancing the health and well-being of communities in the U.S.-Mexico Borderland. As New Mexico’s land-grant and Carnegie R1 university, NMSU is committed to research excellence, student success, and public engagement. The Department of Kinesiology has seen sustained growth in enrollment, academic programming, and research capacity, positioning it for continued national prominence.

The next Department Head will inherit a department with strong momentum, including the chance to recruit faculty, strengthen research programs, expand interdisciplinary collaborations, enhance graduate education, and elevate the department’s standing among leading kinesiology programs in the western U.S.

About the Department

The Department of Kinesiology explores human movement through biological, behavioral, psychological, pedagogical, clinical, and artistic perspectives. Faculty prepare future leaders in health, education, rehabilitation, athletics, human performance, and dance while conducting research that improves lives across New Mexico and beyond.

The department offers the following programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (concentrations in Exercise Science, Performance Psychology, Physical Education)
• Bachelor of Arts in Dance
• Master of Science in Athletic Training (CAATE-accredited)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology

Faculty expertise spans exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor behavior, sport and exercise psychology, athletic training, physical education, dance, pedagogy, health promotion, cellular physiology, and strength and conditioning. Faculty are deeply committed to mentoring students, community engagement, and research addressing topics from molecular mechanisms of exercise adaptation to movement learning, human performance, rehabilitation, and community wellness.

Departmental facilities include:

• Cellular and Molecular Exercise Physiology Laboratory
• Biomechanics Laboratory
• Motor Behavior Laboratory
• Sport Psychology and Motor Learning Laboratory
• Exercise Physiology Laboratory
• Professional dance studios supporting creative activity and movement research

These facilities are complemented by NMSU’s newly expanded O’Donnell Hall, which provides modern instructional spaces, collaborative environments, and research laboratories. As a Carnegie R1 university, NMSU also offers access to shared instrumentation and scientific expertise through its Research Cores Program, including advanced molecular biology, microscopy, imaging, analytical chemistry, high-performance computing, and the Biomedical Research Facility for preclinical and translational investigations.

Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the department serves the culturally rich and rapidly evolving U.S.-Mexico Borderland, providing unique opportunities for community-engaged teaching, research, and outreach. Faculty collaborate with schools, healthcare organizations, athletic programs, community agencies, military partners, and regional organizations to address real-world challenges.

Responsibilities

The Department Head serves as the chief academic and administrative officer, providing collaborative leadership to advance excellence in teaching, research, creative activity, clinical education, outreach, and service. Key responsibilities include:

• Articulating and implementing a strategic vision for the department
• Supporting faculty success in teaching, scholarship, creative activity, and service
• Recruiting, mentoring, and retaining outstanding faculty and staff
• Promoting interdisciplinary research and external funding
• Strengthening undergraduate and graduate education
• Overseeing budgeting, personnel, and departmental operations
• Maintaining accreditation and continuous program improvement
• Cultivating partnerships across campus and throughout the Borderland
• Fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, transparency, accountability, and shared governance

Requirements

• Earned doctorate in kinesiology, exercise science, athletic training, physical education, sport science, biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor behavior, sport and exercise psychology, dance science, or a closely related discipline
• Qualifications sufficient for appointment as a tenured Associate Professor or Professor at NMSU
• Demonstrated academic leadership experience at an accredited institution of higher education
• Evidence of excellence in research, teaching, and service appropriate for tenure
• Experience supporting faculty development and student success
• Demonstrated administrative experience, including budgeting, personnel management, accreditation, assessment, curriculum development, or strategic planning
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading multidisciplinary academic units
• Supporting doctoral education
• Mentoring faculty through promotion and tenure
• Securing external funding
• Leading accredited academic programs
• Fostering interdisciplinary research collaborations
• Supporting enrollment growth and academic innovation
• Experience at Research 1 universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, land-grant universities, or institutions serving diverse communities

Pay

The anticipated salary range for this position is $135,000 – $150,000, with an additional department head differential pay of $21,000.

Schedule

The anticipated start date is January 1, 2027, with a latest start date of July 1, 2027.