Description
The Department of Leadership, Technology, & Workforce Development in the Dewar College of Education and Human Services seeks applicants for a tenure-track faculty position in Qualitative Research Methods beginning August 1, 2026. The selected candidate will be responsible for teaching courses in the candidate’s area of expertise, creating and publishing scholarly works, and providing service to the department, college, and university.
The department strives to develop practitioners and researchers who are knowledgeable and skilled in improving learning organizations in our region and beyond. We offer three different doctoral degrees, three education specialist degrees, five master’s degrees, two undergraduate degrees, and a variety of certificate and teaching endorsement programs for P-12 school, corporate, government, and higher education professionals.
Online application is required. Review of completed applications will begin February 23, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. For more information, please contact Dr. Steve Downey, Department Head, at sedowney@valdosta.edu or phone 229-333-5633. Application materials should include the following:
- CV
- Letter of interest
- List of at least three professional references with contact information
- Unofficial transcripts
RESPONSIBILITIES
Teaching graduate courses in research design and methods using a variety of modalities (face-to-face/hybrid/online); advising graduate students; leading graduate student research; serving on dissertation committees as a member, researcher and/or chair; contributing to program assessment and leadership as needed; maintaining scholarship productivity; and participating in service at the department, college, and university levels.
The Dewar College of Education and Human Services prepares professionals for multiple roles in educational, business, and community settings. The College is home to five departments (Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development, Teacher Education, Human Services, Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Library and Information Studies). The Dewar College of Education and Human Services is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and is an American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) award-winning institution. In addition, several of the college programs are accredited or nationally recognized by their specialized professional organization.
Valdosta State University, founded in 1906, is a comprehensive university with a student enrollment of approximately 10,200. The city of Valdosta is located just north of the Florida state line on Interstate 75, is served by a regional airport, and is within a two-hour drive of Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida. For more information visit https://www.valdosta.edu and for more information about the community visit https://www.valdostachamber.com.
Valdosta State University is an Equal Opportunity educational institution and has a strong institutional commitment to diversity. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including, but not limited to, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. Valdosta State University has a non-discrimination policy that includes sex, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, and veteran status.
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Requirements
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctorate in Research Methods, Evaluation & Measurement, or a related educational field by appointment date
- Experience teaching research design and qualitative research methods courses
- Experience teaching and developing online courses and infusing technology in the delivery of instruction
- Experience with and/or record of research productivity or other scholarly activity
- Experience teaching in a higher education setting
- Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, as well as scholarship
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience serving as chair or research methodologist on doctoral dissertations
- Ability to lead department/program initiatives and work effectively in a collaborative setting