The Opportunity

Applications are invited for the position of Chair of the Department of Psychology, at the rank of Professor, in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oklahoma.

The Department of Psychology is among the university’s largest departments by enrollment, with 30+ faculty and affiliates serving more than 1,600 diverse and engaged undergraduate majors and minors, and 50+ fully funded Ph.D. students.  The Department offers graduate degrees in cognitive, industrial/organizational, social, quantitative psychology, and organizational dynamics (MA program on the Tulsa campus). In addition to these program areas, some faculty members also work in one or more of three integrative, crosscutting specialties: developmental, neuroscience, and personality/individual differences.  The Department also participates in a multidisciplinary degree program in cellular and behavioral neurobiology.  We are excited about this Chair search, which complements strategic faculty hires made in the last four years.

The ideal candidate will lead and enrich the department’s mission to conduct research that informs a wide range of real-world problems while remaining dedicated to maintaining a high-quality education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  The candidate will also lead the department in accordance with the OU Strategic Plan (https://www.ou.edu/leadon) and the OU Vice President for Research Partnerships Strategic Verticals (https://www.ou.edu/research-norman).  Candidates must have prior administrative experience as well as an established reputation for high-quality scholarship in an area that contributes to the department’s strength in applied psychological science, as evidenced by (a) published and/or funded collaborative research, (b) effective graduate and undergraduate teaching and program development, (c) inclusive excellence and professional outreach. The assigned teaching load will be one course per semester.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

Established in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is the flagship public research university in the state of Oklahoma (Carnegie Classification R1: highest research activity), with over 30,000 students and more than 2,700 full-time faculty members offering nearly 500 different graduate and undergraduate degree programs on three campuses (Norman, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa).  OU has one of the oldest comprehensive colleges of fine arts in the Great Plains states, with highly regarded schools of Music, Musical Theatre, Drama, Art and Dance, and programs in opera and sculpture.  The OU College of Law is Oklahoma’s premier law school and the Michael F. Price College is ranked as one of the nation’s top business schools.  The OU Health Sciences Center is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional schools, including more than 660 doctors practicing in nearly every adult and child specialty.

OU Research and innovation

In 2013, the Norman Research campus was named the No.1 research campus in the nation by the Association of Research Parks.  Adjacent to the beautiful and historic main campus in Norman, with 277 acres and over 1 million square feet of high-tech facilities located along the Oklahoma Technology Corridor, the research campus hosts the National Weather Center and affiliated organizations.  Some of these include the Data Institute for Societal Challenges, the Institute for Community and Society Transformation, the Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, the Institute for Resilient Environmental and Energy Systems, the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, the Center for Applied Social Research, the FAA Center of Excellence for Technical Training & Human Performance and numerous others.  By synergistically co-locating State and Federal agency research and operational organizations, along with more than a dozen private companies and several University centers and academic programs, the Norman research campus creates a uniquely rich environment for collaboration, innovation, and commercialization.  Over the last seven years, OU’s Office of Technology Commercialization has evaluated over 500 innovations, filed for 350 patents, and returned $23 million in royalty/license income and reimbursement back to OU.

Norman, Oklahoma

The city of Norman is a perennial contender on “best places to live” rankings, with outstanding schools, amenities, a low cost of living, college town charm, a variety of recreational opportunities, four distinct seasons, and more than 225 days of sunshine each year.  Norman is located 20 miles south of Oklahoma City, the capital and economic hub of the state.  The Oklahoma City Metroplex, including Norman and several other suburban cities, is home to about 1.5 million residents, offering all the amenities of a major modern metropolitan community, including rich cultural diversity and heritage, an abundance of the arts, superb dining and nightlife, major sporting and concert events, family entertainment, recreational adventure activities, and much more.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities of the Chair include:

• Provide visionary leadership and to encourage excellence and innovation in research, teaching, and service
• Advance professional development of faculty, staff, and students
• Promote productive relationships with all constituents including students, alumni, and relevant professional associations
• Foster productive interdisciplinary relationships with a variety of entities within the University of Oklahoma community

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must have some type of prior administrative experience at the department, college, or university level, an established reputation for high-quality scholarship in an area that contributes to the department’s strength in applied psychological science, and the potential for excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring.  Candidates must also have a Ph.D. in Psychology or a closely related discipline and qualify for appointment at the rank of Professor.

The University of Oklahoma is committed to investing in the success of its faculty at all stages of their careers.  The Department and College offer unique and essential research and professional development resources characteristic of a flagship public research university (e.g., well-equipped dedicated and shared laboratory space; shared supercomputer access; considerable graduate student funding and recruiting support; large and diverse research participant pools; flexible and innovative instructional, service, and leadership opportunities).  By mutual agreement, the successful candidate may also affiliate with university-wide strategic research organizations and centers (e.g., Vice-President for Research and Partnership Institutes, the Center for Applied Social Research, the K20 Center, the Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment, and multiple centers on the OU Health Sciences Campus).

Competitive candidates will also have demonstrated the following traits:

• Demonstrated excellence in research
• Visibility in the psychology community
• A proven record of exceptional leadership
• The ability to mentor junior faculty as they establish research and education programs
• An entrepreneurial, creative, and collegial outlook that inspires and realizes the ambitions of the faculty and staff to foster the department’s national prominence
• Enthusiasm to engage in fundraising and development activities with foundations, corporations, and individual supporters
• Evidence of sound judgment, creative strategic thinking, and integrity.

COMPENSATION

The University of Oklahoma offers an attractive compensation, start-up, and benefits package, commensurate with the successful candidate’s background and experience.

Nominations and Applications

The University of Oklahoma has retained the services of Dr. Josh Ward at the executive search firm Korn Ferry to conduct this important search.  All inquiries and nominations should be submitted to Dr. Josh Ward at [email protected].  

All application materials should be uploaded to the following Interfolio link: https://apply.interfolio.com/117400.

For priority consideration, please submit all application materials by Monday, January 30, 2023.

Applicants should submit the following four documents as PDFs:

• C.V. or Resume
• Scholarly articles/portfolio/writing sample
• Information regarding funded research, if applicable
• Cover letter that includes a summary of teaching, research, administrative responsibilities, and service activities

At this time, please do not submit letters of reference.  We will request a minimum of three and up to five letters of reference for applicants who make it through the initial application evaluation phase.  Confidential application review will begin immediately, although the position will remain open until filled.

KORN FERRY CONTACT

Josh Ward, PhD

Senior Client Partner

Education and Academic Medicine

Korn Ferry

(405) 640-3994

[email protected]