Assistant Professor in Elementary Reading and Early Literacy Development, Department of Education
Position overview
See Table 1 for the salary range. A reasonable estimate for this position is $78,700 - $114,100. “Offscale salaries”, i.e. a salary that is higher than the published system-wide minimum salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.
Application Window
Open date: November 1, 2023
Most recent review date: Monday, Dec 4, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Friday, Jun 28, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Department of Education in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education (GGSE) at the University of California, Santa Barbara seeks a ladder faculty member at the Assistant Professor level who engages both in research and practice in elementary reading education and literacy development from a meaning-centered perspective that supports students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The successful candidate will have a research specialization and an emerging or demonstrated research program in any area that advances new directions in the science of reading and literacy, such as, but not limited to the following: critical literacies, sociocultural theories of human development, cognitive/metacognitive approaches, multimodal and digital literacies, family literacies, bridging home and school literacies, dyslexia research, multilingual reading development, and/or literacy teacher education.
We welcome candidates immersed in the work of understanding literacy engagement and development among students in elementary schools, especially in grades K-3. Such work may include empirical, professional or service-related activities. Awareness of the challenges and opportunities that face California education is a quality of particular interest, including the capacity to speak to designing and implementing assessments that better serve students’ instruction and educational outcomes.
The candidate will have opportunities to teach graduate courses for Ph.D. and M.A. students as well as M.Ed. preservice teacher candidates. A current undergraduate minor and a potential major provide other teaching opportunities. Successful, long-standing partnerships with local schools, community-based literacy programs, subject area projects, and a literacy research clinic that serves local students all provide further opportunities for outreach, engagement, and research. Colleagues within the GGSE, the University Writing Program, Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Emphases (such as Applied Linguistics; Language, Interaction, and Social Organization (LISO); and Writing Studies), and research centers offer a rich environment for intellectual growth and research support on a campus that values interdisciplinary work. We seek candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service as appropriate to the position.
About The Gevirtz School and UC Santa Barbara
The Gevirtz School of Education is part of UC Santa Barbara, a public university and member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), and located on the Pacific coast 90 miles north of Los Angeles.
The Gevirtz School is a diverse institution in a diverse community in a richly diverse state. UCSB is a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and the first member of the AAU to attain Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) status. Despite focused efforts over the years, educational equity in California remains an elusive goal. We seek faculty candidates who bring scholarly expertise in the areas that are described below, and who also demonstrate how their scholarship, teaching, and service will help us achieve our mission to serve diverse populations in our region, state, and nation in ways that support our efforts to achieve educational equity.
The Gevirtz School offers an M.A. and Ph.D. from the Department of Education, and an M.Ed. from the Teacher Education Program as well as an M.Ed. and two Ph.D.s from the Department of Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology. Students in the School Psychology M.Ed. and Ph.D. are also prepared as credentialed school psychologists and students in the Teacher Education program are prepared for teaching credentials. The School also offers three undergraduate minors in Education, Applied Psychology, and Science and Mathematics Education.
Qualifications
Have a Ph.D. (or equivalent international degree) in Education or related field OR must have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. (or equivalent), except the dissertation, at the time of application.
The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in Education or related field by the anticipated start date (July 1st, 2024).
An emerging or demonstrated research program with potential for grants and collaborations in any area that advances new directions in the science of reading and literacy development, such as, but not limited to the following: critical literacies, cognitive/metacognitive approaches, multimodal and digital literacies, family literacies, bridging home and school literacies, dyslexia research, multilingual reading development, and/or literacy teacher education.
More specifically, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to at least one of the following lines of inquiry: (1) the diverse ways that elementary school children who represent a range of cultural, linguistic, and sociocultural ways of being learn to read and engage in reading; (2) the creation of sustained instructional and research programs on the teaching and acquisition of reading skills, especially for students with disabilities and students whose first language is not English; (3) the processes by which teachers are best prepared to teach emergent and/or multilingual readers in early grades; and (4) community-based literacy outreach and partnerships, and/or professional development programs for local educators. All such possible lines should reflect commitment to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion within and across learning communities.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Statement of Research
Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Practice
Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through scholarship, teaching, and service that will help us achieve our mission of serving diverse populations in our region, state, and nation in ways that move us forward as we strive to achieve educational equity.
Writing Sample - A single writing sample demonstrating scholarly activities.
- 3-5 required (contact information only)
Applicants who advance to the long-shortlist will have their references contacted by the department. Solicitations will be triggered at the time that applicants accept an invitation for an initial interview. Applicants should provide 3 names with contact information.
Help contact: aaron.ballett@ucsb.edu
About UC Santa Barbara
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20. For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.
As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.