Asst/Assoc/Full Professor of the Practice – Professional Performance

Position Overview

The University of Kansas (KU) School of Professional Studies (SPS) invites applications for an Assistant/Association/ Full Professor of the Practice in Professional Performance. This is a non-tenure track, limited-term, 12-month faculty position with a renewable 3-year appointment. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping and delivering the Bachelor of Applied Science in Professional Performance, a dynamic and innovative program designed for students who want to build a personal brand and create a career around their talents, abilities, skills, passions, or interests.

The Professional Performance program equips students with workforce-ready skills in entrepreneurship, branding, media, finance, and communication, enabling them to transform their talents and interests into sustainable careers. The Professor of the Practice will bring real-world experience and academic insight to help students develop personal brands, launch businesses, and navigate the evolving landscape of digital influence and self-employment.

The successful candidate will have a professional record in content creation, marketing, or self-employment and will have exceptional communication skills, and a strong commitment to educating and developing future creators, influencers, and entrepreneurs. The ideal candidate will have a clear teaching philosophy as well as a demonstrated desire to inspire students and encourage lifelong learning and professional growth.

The candidate will be expected to teach at least eight undergraduate courses per academic year in the area of professional performance and professional studies. As a Professor of the Practice, the successful candidate is expected to demonstrate ongoing excellence through active engagement in professional activities within the department, in the community, and in their profession. This position reports to the Director of Professional Performance.

This faculty position is expected to teach undergraduate courses in the Bachelor of Applied Science in Professional Performance. This program is offered at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kansas, and the Lawrence Campus in Lawrence, Kansas. The candidate will be expected to teach in various formats such as in­ person, hybrid, and online, although the candidate will primarily teach in the in-person Lawrence-based program.

Learn more about the Professional Performance program at https://sps.ku.edu/programs/professional-performance

The appointment is a fiscal year (12-month) appointment with an initial term of 3 years and a course load of 3 classes each fall and spring semester and 2 courses each summer semester. Subsequent appointments may be offered, contingent upon a satisfactory comprehensive performance evaluation during the final year of this appointment and approval of the Dean of the School of Professional Studies.

Special consideration will be given to applicants committed to excellence who can contribute to the University's innovative, collaborative, and multidisciplinary initiatives to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that will change the world.

This position serves the education needs of a Johnson County Education Research Triangle JCERT) program. Specific percentages of effort for JCERT are determined each year.

KU Benefits: KU offers an array of benefits to assist employees with their health, life, retirement, and other needs. Details regarding benefits offered to employees can be found here:  Benefits Human Resource Management (ku.edu)

Job Description

Teaching (75%)
Teach three courses in fall and spring semesters and two courses in summer semesters in the Professional Performance program in the School of Professional Studies.
Teaching responsibilities include:

• course and curriculum development
• instructional design
• classroom management
• grading
• professional development workshops to improve teaching
• keeping courses and program curriculum up to date
• engaging with external organizations to ensure relevance to industry
• evaluating student performance with a variety of assessments including examinations and assignments (such as papers, projects, presentations, etc.)

Service will include, but is not limited to:

• providing academic and curricular leadership advice to the department
• academic advising and monitoring student progression
• participating in student recruitment by attending recruitment events and giving presentations to prospective students
• encouraging retention by developing student clubs and organizations
• helping plan student engagement events such as speakers, conferences, and field trips
• engaging with and conducting surveys of alumni
• contributing to decisions on marketing and program quality assurance
• supporting student mentorship by building a network of creators, entrepreneurs, and other performance professionals 
• engaging with professional societies and the Professional Performance advisory board

Required Qualifications

• Assistant Professor of the Practice: 3-5 years

• Associate Professor of the Practice: 6-15 years

• Professor of the Practice: 16+ years

Contact Information to Applicants

Rebecca Achen, Ph.D., beckyachen@ku.edu

Additional Candidate Instruction

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

Application review begins July 31, 2025, and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.

Application Review Begins

31-Jul-2025

Anticipated Start Date

01-Oct-2025

Conditions of Employment

Contingent on Funding

Primary Campus

Univ of Kansas Edwards Campus

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.