Assistant or Associate Professor of Education Policy

Vanderbilt University:
Peabody College of Education and Human Development:
Leadership, Policy, and Organizations Open Date

Sep 18, 2026

The Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations (LPO) at Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate (with tenure) Professor specializing in higher education policy. This position will advance LPO’s multidisciplinary commitment to rigorous scholarship that is relevant to policy and practice given the changing landscape of higher education. The successful candidate will conduct rigorous quantitative research on pressing issues in higher education, including but not limited to policies and practices supporting student success in a broad range of postsecondary institutions, workforce preparation and transition, institutional governance, enrollment management, federal-institutional research partnership, or the application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

We seek a scholar trained in higher education, public policy, or a social science discipline. Candidates should possess demonstrated capacity to produce rigorous research and publish in leading peer-reviewed journals. We are seeking applicants with a track record (commensurate with experience level) of external funding, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with postsecondary institutions and policymakers.

In addition to research, LPO operates programs and degrees at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral level, including a professional master’s degree program in Higher Education Administration. We expect the candidate to teach a combination of in-person and online courses across levels and to develop new courses to prepare students to understand, evaluate, and shape higher education policy and practice. Demonstrated experience or capacity for effective teaching and mentoring is required.