Greater Kentucky HERC

DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF INFORMATION SCIENCE

The College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky invites applications for the position of Director of the School of Information Science. This is a regular title position reporting directly to the Dean of the College of Communication and Information, with appointment expected at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor (depending on qualifications) with tenure. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2023.

Qualification and Responsibilities:
The new Director of the School of Information Science will continue to grow, support, and nurture the collegial culture of the interdisciplinary school while working collaboratively across programs and units within the school and across the college. This person will be a visionary who will lead with transparency and integrity, with a commitment to engaging with, and strengthening, college- and university-wide initiatives. While administrative experience and familiarity with accreditation are advantageous, a track record of international prominence as a scholar and experience working in a cross-disciplinary environment are expected.

The successful candidate must hold a doctoral degree and must be eligible to be a tenured faculty member in the School of Information Science at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. The successful candidate must also be a leader with demonstrated excellence in university teaching and scholarship/creative activity and exhibit excellent organizational and communication skills.

Members of under-represented groups are highly welcome and encouraged to apply, as are those who would bring dimensions of diversity, equity, and inclusion to the teaching, service, and research missions of the School of Information Science, the College of Communication and Information, and the University of Kentucky.

Our Commitment to Diversity:
Experiencing a record high enrollment growth in students classified as first-generation and underrepresented minorities, the University of Kentucky is committed to creating a diverse, multicultural community of scholars and learners. It strives to be a model for the Commonwealth of Kentucky of a truly diverse society that celebrates human differences, promotes fairness and equity in policies and practices, and upholds basic principles of social justice. It is within this framework that the School of Information Science has developed a dedicated on-going program to make diversity central to its curriculum, activities, and staffing. It is also committed to educating its students about the value of diversity to them, the university, and greater society; and through this plan, the school works toward these goals.

As such, we are committed to recruitment, retention, and representation strategies and practices to increase the presence of underrepresented individuals, including ongoing investment and responsive support to ensure that our employees are able to grow and succeed in their careers.

Our commitment applies to all candidates inclusive of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

About the School:
The University of Kentucky's School of Information Science, an interdisciplinary community of scholars and professionals, brings together communication, information, instruction, and technology. Students learn to leverage knowledge and skills to become critical and informed members of diverse communities. We model and foster equitable and human-centered approaches to problem solving, innovative research, information access and synthesis,
and responsible leadership.

The School of Information Science offers two online master's degrees (library science and information communication technology), an undergraduate major in information communication technology (including an online degree completion component), and an online minor in information studies. Additionally, the School of Information Science includes the Instructional Communication and Research program, which teaches university core courses in multi-modal communication to incoming students. The school boasts an impressive cadre of internationally
recognized faculty who are recipients of multiple prestigious awards and fellowships.

About the College:
The College of Communication and Information is composed of two schools (School of Information Science and School of Journalism and Media), two departments (Department of Communication and Department of Integrated Strategic Communication), and interdisciplinary master's and PhD programs. More than 80 full-time faculty lead nearly 2,000 undergraduate majors and 350 graduate students while also teaching in the university's core curriculum and serving students pursuing minors and certificates in the college. The college also houses University of Kentucky's independent student newspaper, The Kentucky Kernel, and the championship winning intercollegiate Debate Team.

About the University:
Located in the vibrant city of Lexington, the University of Kentucky is a public, land-grant institution that plays a critical leadership role in promoting diversity, inclusion, economic development, and human well-being. The campus is home to more than 31,000 students, more than 2,500 faculty members, and nearly 14,000 staff members.

The university is one of just eight in the country with a major academic health center and a full spectrum of academic colleges and professional schools on one contiguous campus. As such, the University of Kentucky is an incubator for interdisciplinary research. These collaborations allow researchers to address the rapidly changing needs of a global society.

According to Forbes magazine's 2022 America's Best-in-State Employers list, the University of Kentucky is the top ranked education employer in the state. In addition, for a fifth straight year, the University of Kentucky has appeared on ModernThink's list of Great Colleges to Work For. As a leader among employers, the University of Kentucky offers a comprehensive benefits package. For more details, please visit www.uky.edu/HR/benefits.

About Lexington:
Featured on the U.S. News & World Report's list of best places to live in 2022, the City of Lexington is a great place to not only live, but also work and study. With a population of roughly 320,000, Lexington offers both the warmth and lower cost of living of a small city and the amenities you would enjoy in a larger city, including the arts, cultural events, and a thriving dining scene.

Application materials should include: (1) a letter of application that briefly summarizes background, qualifications, and interest in the position (please upload under Cover Letter); (2) a curriculum vita; (3) a brief research statement reviewing focus, expertise, accomplishments, and goals (please upload as Specific Request 1); (4) a brief teaching statement including philosophy of teaching and evidence of teaching excellence (please upload as Specific Request 2); (5) a brief statement of philosophy on leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion (please upload as Specific Request 3); and (6) contact information for three references when prompted in the application.

Application review will begin December 15th, 2022, and continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the position may be directed to Search Committee Chair: Dr. Bobi Ivanov via email at bobi.ivanov@uky.edu.

The University of Kentucky considers the health, safety and well-being of our entire community to be a top priority. In alignment with this priority, all new hires must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption as a condition of employment. For areas that fall under the federal CMS mandate, start of employment cannot occur until two weeks after receiving the full COVID-19 vaccination series or upon obtaining an approved exemption. Only vaccines approved by the World Health Organization can be accepted.

The University of Kentucky is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, African Americans, and all minorities.

Doctoral degree and must be eligible to be a tenured faculty member in the
School of Information Science at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

The successful candidate must also be a leader with demonstrated excellence in university teaching and scholarship/creative activity and exhibit excellent organizational and communication skills.

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The University of Kentucky is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring all our students, faculty, and staff work in an environment of openness and acceptance. We strive to foster a community where people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives can feel secure and welcome. We also value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and all minorities to consider our employment opportunities.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.