Location: Bowling Green, KY Category: Faculty Posted On: Tue Sep 16 2025 Job Description: The Ogden College of Science and Engineering (OCSE) at WKU seeks a dynamic and experienced individual to serve as Chair for its Department of Psychological Sciences (https://www.wku.edu/psychological-sciences/). The Chair, who reports to the Dean of the College, is expected to manage departmental operations (including departmental budget oversight), facilitate the direction of undergraduate and graduate programs, uphold and enhance the excellence of the department faculty's teaching, research and service, and represent the department within the college, across the university, and in the community. We have a science-focused program of study that emphasizes learning and knowledge discovery designed to serve students who wish to learn about all subfields of psychology. The Department offers both a BS in Psychological Science as well as an MS in Psychology. With 15 faculty and approximately 170 undergraduate majors, the BS in Psychological Science affords students an outstanding opportunity to engage with faculty via small class sizes as well as hands-on research experiences. The two-year, in-residence, MS in Psychology program has two tracks: Industrial/Organizational and Psychological Science. With approximately 20 students, the program offers students the opportunity to work closely with faculty in their graduate training and in developing a research thesis. The Department also partners with the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, and Computer Science on a BS in Neuroscience. The Department prides itself on the close mentoring provided to students via advising, in the classroom, and in faculty member's research labs. Many of our research-active faculty have a history of securing external grants from funding agencies such as NIH and NSF. Qualities Considered Essential for Success: + Demonstrated record of excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, research, and service. + Commitment to supporting a culture of academic excellence, including teaching, research, and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students. + Demonstrated administration and leadership skills, which includes, but is not limited to, budget management, personnel evaluation, and problem resolution. + An in-depth understanding of current trends in research and education. + Excellent written and oral communication skills. + Commitment to increasing student recruitment and enhancing retention. + Ability to effectively negotiate with administration and other academic units, mediate between faculty and administration, and communicate administrative changes and requests in a timely manner. + Willingness to strategically plan within a department that allows for flexible faculty workloads that leverage the strengths of each individual. + A collaborative decision-making approach that fosters a culture of mutual respect and accountability in which departmental goals are specified and strategies clearly articulated. + Commitment to uphold the Department's collegial atmosphere. + Dedication to transparency through open communication and leadership within the Department. + Commitment to supporting the inter-departmental BS in Neuroscience alongside the Psychological Sciences major. Job Requirements: + Earned doctorate in Psychology, or a closely related discipline, from an accredited institution. + Ability to meet departmental standards for tenure and hold the rank of Associate or Full Professor at the time of hire. + Experience in applying for, obtaining, and managing external funding. Additional Information: Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment. Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices. Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, should notify the office of Institutional Equity. To request an accommodation, report a complaint, or ask questions regarding WKU's Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040), please contact Ms. Ena Demir, Executive Director/Title IX Coordinator via email at ena.demir@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-6867. Ms. Demir is also responsible for coordinating the University's response to complaints related to sex and gender harassment. Additional information regarding Title IX is accessible via WKU's https://www.wku.edu/titleix/ website. Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: http://www.wku.edu/atwku/academics.php For information related to job postings, please email employment@wku.edu.