The Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling at Utah State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position with a specialization in school-based academic interventions for students on the autism spectrum and with related disabilities. This hire is part of a college-wide effort within the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services to address educational and health disparities in society. As such, this faculty member will work collaboratively with other newly hired faculty members within the college to address these disparities through collaborative research, teaching, and service.

The department’s mission is to ensure the full inclusion of people with disabilities across educational, independent living, and employment domains by: 1) conducting research and outreach in collaboration with our community partners, 2) preparing high-quality professionals; and 3) identifying, implementing, and disseminating evidence-based practices. We seek candidates who are committed to fulfilling this mission and who wish to join an academic community that respects and supports the individual contributions of its members as we work toward our individual and collective goals.

The major emphasis area of the position will be research, and the successful candidate will be expected to establish an independent program of research that both sustains and elevates the department’s regional and national reputation. The new hire’s teaching assignments will be in the Special Education undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs.

This is a full-time, 9-month academic year position at the main USU campus in Logan, UT. The position is not eligible for telework. Review of applicants will begin October 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is August 2025.

Inquiries may be directed to the committee chair, Dr. Willa van Dijk (435 797-7320 or willa.vandijk@usu.edu).

Serve as a member of the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling faculty including:

• Carrying out an active line of research and publication aligned with addressing educational disparities for school-aged (broadly defined as students aged 5-22) students on the autism spectrum and with related disabilities,
• Seeking extramural funding to support graduate students and research,
• Engaging in collaborative scholarship with other faculty members from the college as part of the educational/health disparities initiative,
• Teaching on-campus and distance undergraduate and/or graduate classes in applied behavior analysis, special education, or quantitative methodology/statistical analysis,
• Supervising undergraduate and graduate student field experiences,
• Advising and mentoring graduate students,
• Collaborating in department and university program development, and
• Providing service to the department, university, community, state, and scholarly discipline as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctorate in special education, behavior analysis, or related field (e.g., psychology). ABD candidates will be considered.
• Expertise in interventions that support the acquisition of academic and/or independent living skills for school-aged (broadly defined as students ages 5-22) students on the autism spectrum and with related disabilities.
• Direct service experience with individuals with disabilities.
• A history of positive working relationships with teachers, clinicians, administrators, and faculty.
• Evidence of potential to be an excellent, productive scholar and researcher.
• Evidence of potential to be a effective college-level teacher.
• Evidence of potential to obtain extramural funding for research and/or training activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BCBA-D certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (or eligibility for certification by the end of the first semester of employment).
• Special education teaching experience.
• Expertise in the use of advanced quantitative methodologies. 

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. A curriculum vitae to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
2. Up to three representative research publications to be uploaded in the Candidate Profile under Documents 1-10
3. If available, copies of course evaluations to be uploaded in the Candidate Profile under Documents 1-10
4. Contact information for three professional references to be entered in the Candidate Profile
5. A letter of application addressing your qualifications for this position to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

The Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling is recognized nationally for both personnel preparation and research. The Department offers special education degree programs at the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels. The bachelor’s program prepares graduates to teach students with mild/moderate disabilities, severe disabilities, and/or young children with disabilities. The department offers three master’s programs: a Master of Science, that includes a Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) verified course sequence, a Master of Education in Special Education, and a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling.

The department also sponsors a unique interdisciplinary doctoral (Ph.D.) program in Disability Disciplines which includes specializations in (1) special education, (2) applied behavior analysis, (3) rehabilitation counseling, (4) speech and language pathology, (5) audiology, (6) pathokinesiology, and (7) disability studies. Department faculty, along with colleagues from the university-affiliated Institute for Disability Research, Policy, and Practice, have a well-established record of obtaining research and training grants, national and international consulting, editorial work on national journals, and leadership in professional organizations. More information on the Department can be found on our website at sperc.usu.edu.

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services is committed to inclusive excellence in research, teaching, and service activities across a wide array of education and human service fields.  The college is home to eight academic departments with approximately 200 faculty who are engaged in innovative research and high-quality graduate and undergraduate education. The college’s programs and outreach missions are strengthened by an on-campus elementary laboratory school and five stand-alone centers, including the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Research Center, Center for the School of the Future, Institute for Disability Research, Policy, and Practice, National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, and the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence. Faculty, students, and staff within the college also engage with a broad range of community partners to both provide opportunities for community-engaged research and learning and enhance the quality of education and human service programs throughout the state of Utah.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023