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Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (EDLE) and Workforce and Adult Education (WAED)

School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Aviation

Fall 2026

POSITION: The School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Aviation (SEFLA) in the College of Education and Human Sciences at Oklahoma State University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies/Workforce and Adult Education (EDLE/WAED) program in to begin Fall 2026. This position is a one-year appointment with the possibility of renewal for a second year, contingent upon satisfactory performance and continued funding. Review of applications will begin in mid-April 2026 and continue until the position is filled. This position is designed to support the continued growth and strategic expansion of OSU's Master of Educational Leadership, which has a concentration in both School Administration and Workforce and Adult Education, along with corresponding graduate certificates. The successful candidate will play a key leadership role in strengthening partnerships with Oklahoma's K-12 Schools, CareerTech centers, industry leaders, workforce development agencies, and adult education providers across the state, while supporting recruitment efforts aligned with Oklahoma's need for skilled educational leaders in the rapidly expanding career and technical education sector. This position will further support the research agenda of the Brock Chair of Innovative Educational Leadership. We expect the individual filling this position to focus on project management, data collection and analysis, and research development toward peer-reviewed publication, particularly in areas related to innovative educational leadership, leadership development, AI in education, workforce education, and education and workforce policy. Additional responsibilities include supporting student recruitment and engagement efforts and contributing to teaching within the EDLE/WAED program. The Post Doc Fellow will receive structured mentorship in research, publication, and grant development aligned with the Brock Chair's research agenda.

This position is centrally aligned with the mission of the Brock Chair of Innovative Educational Leadership, which seeks to promote innovative and collaborative approaches in teaching, research, and service. In particular, this postdoctoral role will support the ongoing integration and redesign of the Educational Leadership (EDLE) and Workforce and Adult Education (WAED) program, contributing to a re-envisioned model of leadership preparation that reflects the evolving demands of K-12 systems, CareerTech centers, and workforce ecosystems. The Fellow will play a key role in advancing curriculum innovation that integrates emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to support educational leaders in navigating complex, rapidly changing environments.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The main responsibilities of this position will be to develop and strengthen partnerships with Oklahoma K-12 Schools, CareerTech centers, industry leaders, workforce development agencies, and adult education organizations, while supporting recruitment efforts for the EDLE/WAED Graduate Certificate and Master's programs. This will include designing and delivering outreach presentations, facilitating informational sessions, and contributing to strategic recruitment initiatives statewide. This role will contribute to measurable growth in EDLE/WAED enrollment and external partnership engagement. The individual will also support and manage research projects aligned with the Brock Chair of Innovative Educational Leadership, including project management, data collection and analysis, and research development toward peer-reviewed publication in areas related to innovative educational leadership, workforce development, career and technical education, adult learning, leadership development, and policy. Additional responsibilities may include contributing to conference proposals, grant development, and collaborative research initiatives within the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies program. The position may include limited graduate teaching responsibilities in the Workforce and Adult Education or School Administration leadership areas, depending on program needs and candidate expertise. Some in-state travel to partner sites will be expected.

A central responsibility of this role will be to support curriculum development and alignment across the merged EDLE/WAED program. This includes contributing to the design of innovative coursework, integrating AI and emerging technologies into leadership preparation, and ensuring alignment with contemporary leadership demands across K-12 education and workforce development systems. The Fellow will collaborate with faculty to advance a cohesive, future-oriented curriculum that prepares leaders to operate across educational, organizational, and workforce contexts.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: The required qualifications for this Postdoctoral Research Fellow position include the following: an earned PhD or EdD in School Administration, Workforce Education, Educational Leadership, Higher Education, Adult Education, Career and Technical Education, or a closely related field by August 2026; a demonstrated record of scholarship or strong potential for peer-reviewed publication; knowledge of leadership theory, workforce development systems, adult learning theory, or career and technical education policy; strong written and verbal communication skills; and the demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with educational and community partners.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Preferred qualifications include experience working in leadership positions in K-12 schools, CareerTech centers, community colleges, industry leaders, workforce boards, or state agencies; evidence of applied research in workforce education, adult learning, career pathways, or leadership development; experience in program development, recruitment strategy, or community partnership building; knowledge of Oklahoma's K-12 and CareerTech system or similar statewide education structures; experience securing or contributing to grant-funded initiatives; and a demonstrated commitment to research-to-practice impact in K-12 leadership and workforce and adult education. Evidence of the ability to work both collaboratively and independently, along with strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, will be viewed favorably.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include a comprehensive medical plan. Information on benefits can be found at https://hr.okstate.edu/benefits/index.html.

GENERAL INFORMATION: The Educational Leadership and Policy Studies/Workforce and Adult Education program (EDLE/WAED) offers three Graduate Certificates, two master's degrees, a Doctor of Education, and a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy/School Administration. The Workforce and Adult Education (WAED) focus is a growing area within the department, designed to meet the evolving leadership needs of Oklahoma's workforce development and CareerTech sectors. We emphasize the application of psychological theories of human motivation, learning, and cognition to applied educational and organizational contexts. Applicants who apply these theories within diverse sociocultural realities will be looked upon favorably. Our faculty work closely together and have opportunities to serve in various leadership roles across the program and college. This position will be based at the OSU-Tulsa campus, with engagement across the Tulsa metropolitan area and periodic travel to partner sites throughout the state.

The integration of EDLE and WAED reflects a strategic commitment to innovative and collaborative leadership development aligned with the Brock Chair of Innovative Educational Leadership. This includes advancing cutting-edge approaches to curriculum, research, and practice that position OSU as a leader in preparing educational and workforce leaders for dynamic and evolving systems.

The College of Education and Human Sciences comprises seven academic units, more than 170 faculty members, and nearly 200 full-time staff. More information is available at: http://education.okstate.edu/

Oklahoma State University, an R1 comprehensive land-grant institution with an enrollment of more than 25,000 students. The university offers 87 undergraduate majors, 84 Master's programs and 48 programs at the doctoral levels at campuses in Stillwater and Tulsa. Stillwater is a micropolitan community of approximately 49,000 people with high-quality amenities and a comparably low cost of living. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are within a 1-hour drive and cities such as Fayetteville, AR, Joplin, MO and Wichita, KS are within a comfortable 2-3-hour drive time of Stillwater. In addition to excellent healthcare, education (public and private primary and secondary schools), and recreational services, the community affords a rich variety of cultural activities typical of a major university environment, including museums, music, art, and theater. Providing a combination of larger city amenities with an airport and cultural life, while maintaining the charm of a smaller community with affordable housing and excellent schools, Stillwater is ranked one of America's safest cities. See http://VisitStillwater.org for more information.

APPLICATION INFORMATION: ON: Review of applications will begin April 15, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. To apply, applicants should submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts, a writing sample (publication or draft manuscript), and contact information for three references to http://jobs.okstate.edu. For more information about the Educational Leadership and Policy program, please visit our website at https://education.okstate.edu/departments-programs/educational-foundations-leadership-aviation/educational-leadership/ or direct specific inquiries to the EDLE program coordinator: Dr. Katherine Curry at katherine.curry@okstate.edu. You may contact the Search Committee chair, Dr. Jentre Olsen, at jentre.olsen@okstate.edu.