Director, Ctr for Research on Eradication of Educ. Disparities

TITLE: Director, Center for Research on the Eradication of Educational Disparities (CREED)

DEPARTMENT: Center for Research on the Eradication of Educational Disparities

REPORTS TO: Provost and Vice President of Student Affairs 

CLASSIFICATION: Staff-12 months

EFFECTIVE DATE: TBD

STANDARD WORK HOURS: 37.5 hours per week

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time 

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

JOB SUMMARY: 

The Director of the Center for Research on the Eradication of Educational Disparities (CREED) will promote critical, collaborative research agenda which that will bring P-12, postsecondary educators, field-based educational leaders, educational policy makers, and community members together to assess, analyze and remove educational barriers and disparities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and Globally.

The CREED Center Director will develop and support a more vigorous and robust research agenda that addresses educational disparities in our schools and our universities. The director will have a scholarly focus that is aligned with Kentucky State University’s strategic goals and objectives. This role will engage multiple constituencies in a cycle of research, education, and conversation while strengthening networks of educators, field-based educational leaders, policy makers, and community members in the service of equity and social justice in urban schools. The position will create a mechanism for leveling the playing field and shed light on the inequities in public education by hosting regional and statewide workshops, professional development activities for schools and school districts, and share research in the academic and popular press.

This role will facilitate the redesign implementation of the School of Education providing preservice educators experiences and pedagogical practices prepare them to meet and exceed the challenges within P-12 educational systems. These practices will embrace innovations enhancing active and project-based learning practices designed to measure student learning outcomes and competencies. Further the director will engage P-12 and higher education professionals to support the comprehensive implementation of these professional learning practices to support the center’s purpose and mission to remove educational barriers and disparities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

• Increase collaborative/interdisciplinary educational research activities.
• Obtain increased external grant funding to address academic disparities
• Perform quality, cutting-edge research and scholarship that leverages the expertise of faculty and staff on the KSU campus
• Lead P12 partnership development to support the School of Education
• Facilitate external partnerships with business, industry, etc. to support deeper student learning experiences, faculty engagement, and School of Education presence in the field of teacher preparation.
• Solve problems recognized as having important societal impact.
• Provide an infrastructure to translate research and scholarship into applications with societal and educational impact
• Build a virtual and physical intellectual hub which acts as a both agent and conduit to generate and disseminate knowledge
• Collaborate with the director of the faculty engagement and teaching and learning center to provide professional learning experiences, building pedagogical practices with university faculty

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Knowledge

1. Educational Equity and Disparities: Comprehensive understanding of educational inequities and barriers affecting P-12 and postsecondary education systems.
2. Educational Policy: Familiarity with educational policies at the local, state, and global levels, particularly those related to equity and social justice.
3. Research Methodologies: Expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies relevant to education.
4. Grant Writing and Management: Knowledge of securing and managing external grant funding for academic research and initiatives.
5. Teacher Preparation and Pedagogical Innovation: In-depth knowledge of effective practices for preservice tea