The Position: The University of Wyoming (UW) invites applications and nominations for candidates to serve as the inaugural Ellbogen Family Associate/Full Professor, Early Childhood Education. The University is seeking a dynamic, collaborative, creative, and established scholar with a background in and commitment to early childhood education. The ideal candidate will possess a strong scholarship record, extensive professional accomplishments, a history of successful extramural funding, and solid leadership skills.
This position is a 9-month, full-time, endowed tenure-track position. This named professorship is part of a vibrant, growing faculty and newly established program that is moving toward national prominence in early childhood education. In addition to a salary commensurate with the status of a high-profile, established scholar, this position includes an annual budget to promote a robust research and teaching agenda in early childhood education.
The Ellbogen Family Professor supports the College of Education’s emergent Early Childhood Education BA program and its Birth to Five, Birth to Eight, and Early Childhood Special Education endorsements. Reporting to the Interim Dean of the College of Education and working closely with faculty colleagues, the Professor will design and launch an undergraduate degree in early childhood education.
The Ellbogen Family Professor will partner with the Wyoming Early Childhood Outreach Network (WYECON), which was established by the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees Education Initiative, in 2014. Through its delivery of professional development opportunities for early childhood education, WYECON focuses on elevating the early childhood education workforce and improving the quality of learning opportunities for young children in the state, facilitating collaboration and strengthening ties with school systems, Head Start centers, home-based childcare providers, and early childhood development centers.
This position provides vital support to campus customers and requires the successful candidate to be available to work on campus.
An earned Ph.D./Ed.D. in early childhood education or a field closely related to early childhood education.
A strong interest in and commitment to early childhood education.
Earned rank of tenured full or associate professor at an accredited university or at least five (5) years in rank as an assistant professor and accomplishments sufficient enough for promotion to the rank of associate professor at the University of Wyoming.
Successful experience and interest in teaching across multiple instructional modalities and a demonstration of excellence in teaching and student supervision.
Experience with developing course materials and syllabi, assisting with lecture training, conducting research, and attending conferences.
An ability to manage a teaching load of 9 credits per academic year.
Evidence of an established line of empirical research and publishing in early childhood education.
A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence in all aspects of teaching and learning.
Willingness to travel across the state in the capacity of serving as an early childhood education advocate connecting with early childhood programs throughout Wyoming, as well as state and local government entities.
A desire to maintain a strong relationship/partnership with the Ellbogen Foundation.
Strong leadership skills and fiscal acumen.
The University of Wyoming invites diverse applicants to consider its employment opportunities. UW is especially interested in candidates who have experience working with diverse populations and/or diversity initiatives.
UW offers a competitive salary and strong benefits including a retirement plan with a 14.19% University contribution (based on gross salary), excellent leave plans, (vacations, sick days, and holidays), a tuition waiver program, a recreation center discounted membership opportunity, and a variety of on-campus dining and banking services.
About the College of Education: The College of Education shares in the land grant mission of the University of Wyoming and maintains an abiding commitment to the ongoing growth and vitality of educators and counselors across Wyoming. In this context, the College provides outstanding research-based programs leading to initial licensure and certification for the teachers, counselors, and leaders in Wyoming’s schools and mental health counselors in the state’s rural communities. As importantly, the College’s programs provide essential support for teachers and counselors across the arc of their careers.
The College of Education develops and delivers cutting-edge instruction and professional support across Wyoming’s expansive geography, which presents unique opportunities for innovation in teaching and learning. The College’s work reflects this by incorporating globally innovative forms of competency-based learning, mentoring through communities of practice, and college and career readiness pathways which prepare educators for all settings and environments.
The College’s role in the state presents a singular opportunity for scholars committed to the large-scale impact of their scholarship while also providing a significant responsibility to be knowledgeable, engaged actors through their work and programs. As the only four-year, public institution in the state, members of the College of Education community bear the substantial weight of connecting research to practice informing policy and action directly. No university in the country enjoys such immediate access to the state-level policy environment.
The College of Education is currently led by the John P. Ellbogen Interim Dean, Jenna Shim. Shim, a professor in the School of Teacher Education, has served as the associate dean for academic affairs and graduate studies in the University of Wyoming’s College of Education for the past three years. She joined the UW faculty in 2009 and also has served as associate director in the School of Education; program coordinator for the English as a Second Language (ESL) graduate program in the School of Teacher Education; and founder of the annual Wyoming ESL and DLI (dual language immersion) Conference.
About the John P. Ellbogen Foundation: The John P. Ellbogen Foundation strives to strengthen UW’s expertise and capacity to prepare and support excellent early childhood educators. Knowing that educators have a lasting impact on young children’s growth and learning at a critical stage of their development, the Foundation seeks to improve the quality of early childhood programs in Wyoming.
The John P. Ellbogen Foundation is a longtime partner of the UW College of Education. The foundation has supported UW’s early literacy efforts, university faculty and students, and the University’s first-ever named academic deanship -- the highly regarded John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Deanship.
In keeping with Jack Ellbogen’s focus on the importance of high-quality education, The Ellbogen Foundation has established numerous programs at UW and throughout Wyoming to emphasize the importance of quality teaching. This supports the Foundation’s belief that a classroom teacher is the single most important factor in student learning.
The University has allocated the new tenured faculty position for the growing early childhood education program, the John P. Ellbogen Foundation Professorship in Early Childhood Education, as the first of many initiatives of the College of Education to advance early childhood education across Wyoming.
This opportunity has allowed the Ellbogen Foundation to connect its support with the College of Education’s foundation in early childhood education. Moreover, a named professorship will allow UW to attract top-tier talent in early childhood education.
About the Institution: Nestled amid the beauty of two mountain ranges in southeastern Wyoming, you will find the nationally recognized teaching and research institution, the University of Wyoming (UW). Established as a land-grant institution in 1886 when Wyoming was still a territory, UW has since grown to nearly 200 areas of study, drawing approximately 12,000 students from all 50 states and 83 countries. UW is known for its accomplished faculty and world-class facilities, its low student/faculty ratio, and quality undergraduate and graduate programs within its colleges of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering & Physical Sciences, Health Sciences, Law, and the Honors College, as well as the School of Energy Resources, School of Computing, and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. To learn more: http://www.uwyo.edu
Throughout its existence, UW has been the only four-year public university in the state of Wyoming, though it maintains close relationships with the state’s eight community colleges. UW’s global impact begins with innovative undergraduate and graduate research opportunities and extends through state and federal partnerships and recent initiatives such as the Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research, the School of Energy Resources, and the School of Computing. UW has played important roles in the lives of students, Wyoming residents, and communities for 137 years and has been:
Recognized by Forbes in 2019 as “One of America’s Best Value Colleges”.
Rated as a “Top 15 Outdoor Adventure College” by Outside magazine.
Furthermore, Wyoming ranked #4 in the U.S. News and World Report’s “Best States for Higher Education”.
The University community is working collaboratively to help the University reinforce and strengthen its reputation as it adapts to changing economic factors in the state and beyond. The University’s strategic roadmap, “Forward for Wyoming 2023+: A Strategic Plan for the University of Wyoming,” demonstrates that it is an exciting time to be a part of UW as the institution embarks on ambitious and impactful initiatives.
Location: Located in Laramie, Wyoming, a town of more than 31,000 with a unique blend of sophistication and Western hospitality, UW not only provides an environment for success but also offers varied academic and lifestyle opportunities. Named the “#1 Small College Town in America” by College Value Online, Laramie boasts a low cost of living with no state income tax, incredible outdoor recreational opportunities, an eclectic downtown area, and a great public school system.
To Apply: The University of Wyoming, in consultation with Summit Search Solutions, Inc., will begin a confidential review of application materials immediately and continue until the position is filled; parties who apply by October 20th will be given first consideration. Please submit a CV/resume and a letter that explains your interest and related experience/qualifications, upon application. All applications and nominations will be held in confidence.
For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations: Tammarah Townes Senior Consultant Summit Search Solutions, Inc. Direct: (302) 388-9480 ttownes@summitsearchsolutions.com
Members of under-represented groups are encouraged to apply. The University’s policy has been and will continue to be, one of nondiscrimination, offering equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, creed, ancestry, political belief, pregnancy, or other status protected by state and federal statutes or University regulations. The University’s nondiscrimination policy applies to all matters relating to its education programs and activities including recruiting, hiring, training, compensation, benefits, promotions, demotions, transfers, and all other terms and conditions of employment. To review the EEO is the Law Poster and its Supplement, please see The Diversity & Fairness page.
Pursuant to Wyoming State law, W.S. 19-14-102, as amended, an honorably discharged veteran who has been a resident of the state of Wyoming for one (1) year or more at any time prior to the date when the veteran applies for employment, or any surviving spouse who was married to such veteran at the time of the veteran’s death, who is receiving federal survivor benefits based on the veteran’s military service and is applying for employment, shall receive an interview preference during the applicant screening process with the University of Wyoming. At the time of application, the applicant must possess the business capacity, competency, education or other qualifications required for the position. If disabilities do not materially interfere with performance of job duties, disabled veterans will be given preference over able-bodied veterans. Appropriate documentation of veteran status must be provided at the time of application as outlined in the application process. No preference will be given to a veteran currently employed by a public department.
The University of Wyoming conducts background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of the background check.
Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and selection process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need.
