The University of Connecticut (UConn) is pleased to invite applications for a faculty position in the Neag School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership at the rank of tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor in Sport Management with an anticipated start date of August 2023.  

The successful candidate will be expected to develop or continue a sustainable line of research within sport management, advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, engage in collaborative research opportunities with faculty in sport management and interdisciplinary research within educational leadership and across the University, pursue extramural funding support for the program and/or research, establish working relationships with related programs and organizations both on and off campus, and teach sport management classes at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral level.  

A successful candidate must have the potential for or demonstrated success in conducting research, student advising, and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses within a sport management curriculum. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to mentor undergraduate and graduate students, develop collegial relationships, and possess strong interpersonal skills. In particular, the program seeks applicants who take a critical approach to their research and teaching with a focus on sport as a platform for social change. The candidate must also have a commitment to ongoing research productivity and demonstrated participation in the field (e.g., service in professional organizations, service to academic journals).  

The Sport Management Program is recognized at the undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. levels for centering social justice in our approaches to teaching and learning. Faculty also operates a graduate certificate program in Leadership and Diversity in Sport. Program faculty seek to engage students in critically examining sport policies and practices at the individual, organizational, and societal levels. Undergraduate and master’s students are prepared for careers in the sport industry through coursework, practica and internships, and service-based experiential learning. Ph.D. students gain valuable teaching and research experience while advancing toward faculty positions as well as roles in higher education administration and non-profit sport and health-focused organizations.  

The Department of Educational Leadership (EDLR) has 18 full-time faculty members and offers degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The Department offers certificates and/or degrees in adult learning; administrator preparation programs, educational leadership; education policy; executive leadership; higher education and student affairs; and sport management. EDLR values diversity, equity, and inclusion and is dedicated to hiring individuals who support our vision of inspiring and cultivating innovative leaders for positive change, individuals who empower others by building a nurturing educational environment, individuals who establish effective systems of support, and individuals who strive to enhance equity and quality of life for all. Our faculty are committed to engaging in high-quality teaching, advising/mentoring, scholarship, and developing leaders who connect theory, practice, policy, and assessment within all our academic programs. 

The Neag School of Education stands out as a major contributor to instructional and research excellence at the University of Connecticut. With academic departments dedicated to educational leadership, educational psychology, and curriculum and instruction, the Neag School also offers a five-year integrated bachelor’s/master’s program in teacher education and a one-year, post-baccalaureate teacher education program. According to the 2023 U.S. News & World Report rankings of Best Graduate Schools, the Neag School ranks among the top 20 public graduate schools of education in the nation, and its special education program is tied at No. 17 in the specialty program category rankings.  

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 14 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges.  Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.  

• Terminal degree in, or with an emphasis in sport management, or a closely related field (e.g., management, recreation, leisure studies, higher education, sociology). Doctoral candidates must complete their degree by August of 2023 to be considered.  
• Experience teaching in sport management at either the undergraduate or graduate level.  
• Evidence of scholarly productivity (e.g., publications, presentations) in sport management  

• Evidence of teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in one or more of the following areas – sport venue and event management, sport finance, sport communication, sport marketing, data analytics, or legal aspects of sport.  
• Evidence of or potential for, mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.  
• Evidence of or potential for, contributions at the program, department, school, or university level.  
• Evidence of a commitment to equity and social justice. 
• Evidence of or potential for, active involvement in academic associations in the field (e.g., NASSM, NASSS).  
• Ability to develop collegial relationships and work with diverse populations.  
• Strong interpersonal skills.  
• Strong reputations and records of both national and international presentations within sport management scholarly associations.  
• Publications in refereed journals (with an emphasis on sport and education related journals).  
• Evidence of or potential for pursuit of extramural funding.  
• Ability to use technology in the classroom, and/or experience in online instruction, are preferred.