Academic Program Director Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) invites applications for the Teacher Education Program Director in the School of Education (SOE) within the College of Community Engagement & Professions (CCEP). This is a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.

UWM is a doctoral R1 university committed to student success, research excellence, and community engagement. The SOE vision is to be a premier urban school of education recognized for its diversity, and known for excellence in teaching, learning, and research.

The Program Director will provide strategic leadership for UWM's teacher education portfolio, including undergraduate and graduate licensure programs. This role advances a cohesive vision that strengthens program quality, aligns curriculum with workforce and student needs, and ensures a student-centered experience across all pathways.

The Director will lead curriculum innovation, implement high-impact practices across programs, and align systems and processes to improve efficiency and outcomes. Further, this position will ensure compliance with licensure requirements while supporting program growth and visibility of UWM's teacher education programs.

Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and PK-12 partners, the Program Director will strengthen recruitment, retention, and completion efforts and expand partnerships that support clinical experiences and educator pipelines.

This position will report to the Associate Dean & Head of the School of Education.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide and support strategic planning and continuous improvement for teacher education programs

• Guide and support curriculum innovation, including development of new and alternative licensure pathways

• Guide and support student-centered programs, curricula and systems aligned with workforce needs

• Guide and support the implementation of high-impact practices across courses and programs

• Streamline systems to improve efficiency and student experience in collaboration with programs and student services

• Work with faculty and staff to ensure compliance with DPI and institutional requirements

• Encourage and support PK-12 and community partnerships

• Support student recruitment, retention, and completion initiatives

• Supervise key support staff - Represent the work of teacher education programs in the university and at the state level to ensure innovation and initiatives move forward

Appointment
This is a 12-month limited appointment with a tenured faculty backup appointment and an administrative workload of 75-100%, depending on program needs. Teaching may be included as part of the remaining workload.

The work of this position will be performed primarily on-site, at UWM's main campus.

• Manages student academic program(s)

• Formulates program strategies and goals, directs long-term planning, develops policies and procedures, and establishes and maintains new and emerging program materials

• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

• Collaborates with faculty members to develop student academic programs and agendas, directs implementation, and creates curricular structure including operational and logistical arrangements

• Develops the unit budget and approves unit expenditures

• May provide guidance to faculty regarding funding, staffing, and space implications

• Serves as the principal liaison between the program, University leadership, and outside entities

• Evaluates operations and outcomes to ensure alignment with organizational goals

Division: College of Community Engagement & Professions

School: School of Education

Target Salary: Minimum salary will be $100,000 per year, actual hiring salary will be determined based on rank and qualifications related to the position

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in Education or closely related field

• Ability to meet rank of a tenured associate or full professor at UWM due todemonstrateddistinguished record of research, scholarship, teaching, and service accomplishments

• Minimum six years of higher education experience withexpertiseinteacher education

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing alternate licensure pathways

• Experience building PK-12 partnerships

• Experiencedeveloping andleading systems-level or process improvement efforts-Experience withstudent-centered practices andwith programs that improveeducationalequity

• Experience with data analysis and interpretation

• Demonstratedleadership in program development, curriculum innovation, or academic administration

• Experience overseeing multiple programs or complex academic portfolios

• Experience with accreditation, licensure, or program assessment

• Supervisory experience

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• Curriculum vitae.

• Letter of interest describing research interests, past accomplishments, qualifications, and must explicitly articulate how minimum and preferred qualifications are met.

• Referee List (names and contact information of at least three references).

PLEASE NOTE: curriculum vitae, letter of interest and referee list will need to be uploaded to the same area in the application. Note: Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application to ensure full consideration. Additional documents submitted aside from the requested materials will not be considered.

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates' application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

This is a continuous recruitment with an initial review date of June 12, 2026. To ensure consideration, applications must be submitted by June 12, 2026. Application materials received after this date may not receive consideration.

Contact Information:

Adam Garcia - HR Coordinator

garci289@uwm.edu

Reasonable Accommodations
Pursuant to university policy, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact uwm-jobs@uwm.edu or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.
Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWMis a State agency and subject to Wisconsin's Open Records Law.UWMwill not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin's Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of "final candidates" and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.
CBCand Reference Check Policy
Employment will require a criminal background check.UWMtakes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For theUWMAnnual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, seehttp://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, or call UWM's Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.
Employment Authorization
In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.