Associate​/Full Professor and Department Chair; Exercise & Health Sciences

Overview

The Donna M. and Robert J. Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Boston invites applications for a tenure‑track Professor or Associate Professor to serve as Chair of the Exercise & Health Sciences Department, beginning September 1, 2026. Applicants who currently hold the position of full professor or advanced associate professor with evidence of qualifications for promotion to full professor are welcomed to apply.

The Department of Exercise and Health Sciences (EHS) is one of the largest undergraduate programs on campus, offering bachelor’s, accelerated master’s, traditional master’s, and doctoral degrees with options to focus on Applied Exercise Physiology or Physical Activity and Health Promotion. Faculty are actively engaged in research and have been funded by the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, Veteran’s Administration, among others.

Research expertise ranges from the cellular level to populations at risk for healthcare disparities.

The mission of the department is to engage faculty, students, and communities in scientific discovery and dissemination of knowledge for the advancement and promotion of physical activity and healthy lifestyles in diverse individuals and communities. The department aspires to be nationally recognized for excellence in advancing health equity, promoting physical activity, and preparing students through innovative research, teaching, and community engagement.

The Chair will guide and shape the department’s direction to achieve its mission and vision, including growing educational programs, research activity, and the department’s internal and external reputation. Responsibilities include maintaining a program of research, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, advising and mentoring students and faculty, working with a diverse faculty, staff, and student body, and fostering inclusive excellence in university and community settings.

• A transformational leadership approach that is inspirational, visionary, and advances a culture of collaboration, transparency, and excellence.
• Strong interest in engaging with the campus and outside community to advance our mission and vision.
• Excellence in mentoring faculty at all levels in their careers and students from diverse fields and backgrounds.
• Experience in supporting faculty development, including research activities for faculty at all levels.
• Experience with building strong relationships within and beyond the academy.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience with exercise and health sciences undergraduate and graduate programs, with the ability to develop, implement, and evaluate curricula.

Applicants must possess a doctorate in kinesiology, exercise sciences, rehabilitation sciences, behavioral sciences, or a related field. Preferred qualifications include evidence of prior academic and/or research leadership roles, a program of research consistent with a senior rank (including a strong record of external grant funding and peer‑reviewed scholarship), and experience in teaching and mentoring faculty and students.

UMass Boston is the third most diverse university in the country, with more than 60 % of undergraduate students coming from minoritized communities and groups and more than half of our students being first‑generation college attendees. The Chair is expected to engage with the diverse life experiences of students, reflect an appreciation for holistic student identities, and align personal experiences with teaching, advising, and mentoring practices.

• Salary commensurate with qualifications and prior experience, approximately ranging between $90,000 and $173,800 for the Associate/Full Professor ranks.
• Department chair stipend of $16,600.
• Salaries above the published range may be considered to ensure competitiveness within the academic market.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. Persons with disabilities will be provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process.