Department Head of Health Promotion and Behavior

The College of Public Health at the University of Georgia, pursuant to its mission and values (https://publichealth.uga.edu/about/), invites applications for Department Head of Health Promotion and Behavior (HPB) (https://publichealth.uga.edu/departments/health-promotion-behavior/) to begin August 1, 2022. This tenure-track (or tenured) position is an academic 9-month appointment. The successful candidate will have credentials at the Associate or Full Professor level and will assume a leadership role in the development and growth of the department and expansion of research, instruction, and outreach in health promotion and behavior. Rank and tenure status on appointment will be based on the application and promotion and tenure guidelines.

 

The College of Public Health was established in 2005, is comprised of four academic departments and three research institutes, and is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).  The College has approximately 65 full-time faculty and 50 staff who serve an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students per year.

 

The Department’s instructional programs include a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Promotion and Behavior, Master of Public Health, and health promotion doctoral program. The Department has 12 full-time tenured or tenure track faculty, three clinical faculty, and two instructors committed to instruction, research and outreach with the goal of improving the health of all. HPB faculty members have leadership roles in, and close involvement with, three interdisciplinary units of the College: Institute for Gerontology, Global Health Institute and Institute for Disaster Management. Close ties also exist with other university units including the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Social Work, the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership and UGA’s Public Service and Outreach Units. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape future research directions; expand existing programs in the department; and act as a liaison with other faculty at UGA College of Public Health and UGA. Resources will be available to the new Department Head for hiring additional faculty with expertise in health promotion and behavior. The Department is located in new facilities on the UGA Health Sciences Campus.

 

Minimum Qualifications and Additional Requirements:

 

Applicants must have an advanced degree (PhD, DrPH, or other relevant doctoral degree) in health promotion and behavior or a related discipline. Requirements for each rank are outlined in the University’s Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Guidelines and the College of Public Health's Promotion and Tenure Guidelines. To be eligible for tenure upon appointment, candidates must be appointed as an Associate or Full Professor, have been tenured at a prior institution, and bring a demonstrably national reputation to the institution. Candidates must be approved for tenure upon appointment before hire.

 

Relevant/Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

 

We seek external applicants with an established track record of administrative and leadership skills, substantive external research funding, and an established record of accomplishment in public health research and instruction. We are especially interested in candidates who will advance the multidisciplinary research of the College and bring innovative perspectives to the instruction and research in health promotion and behavior. There are currently 12 Research Working Groups in the College of Public Health that represent the main research areas of interest, including health disparities, gerontology, telehealth, program and economic evaluation among others.

 

The University of Georgia is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report and is recognized as a research intensive and community engaged institution by the Carnegie Foundation.  UGA employs approximately 1,800 full-time instructional faculty and more than 7,000 full-time staff.  The University’s enrollment exceeds 39,000 students, including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 9,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens. For more information about the University of Georgia, please refer to https://www.uga.edu/. UGA is located in Athens, Georgia, 70 miles northeast of Atlanta. Athens offers a rich cultural and diverse environment connected with the university and is perennially identified as one of America’s most livable cities with a low cost of living. (http://www.visitathensga.com/).

 

Applications: Applicant screening will begin immediately. Candidates are encouraged to submit their materials by Sunday, October 17, 2021; however, screening will continue until the position is filled.  The application packet should include a cover letter detailing how the applicant’s credentials and experience meet the needs, responsibilities, and qualifications stated above; a current CV; and contact information for three references (who will not be contacted without further correspondence with the applicant).

 

All applicants must apply online at https://www.ugajobsearch.com. Please see the job posting at: https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/214945

 

To request a descriptive Opportunity Profile for this position, provide a nomination, or seek additional information, please contact Mary Ann Cottle, Primary Consultant with the UGA Search Group, 706-542-5769 or macottle@uga.edu. Letters of recommendation or a simple nomination should include the name and contact information for the nominee.

 

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. As such, the University of Georgia is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. We not only strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented communities to consider applying for this position, but we also maintain that all candidates should share our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (HRWeb@uga.edu). Please do not contact the department or search committee with such requests.