FT Tenure-Track School Librarianship Faculty -Kent, OH

Kent State University’s nationally ranked School of Information (iSchool) invites applicants for a full-time, tenure track position in School Librarianship.

The iSchool is part of the College of Communication and Information (CCI), a unique collaboration that brings together five distinct but interrelated fields of study – media, design, communication, information, and digital technologies. CCI faculty are creative, dynamic, and interdisciplinary and the iSchool seeks candidates that fully embrace the opportunities that the College offers for transdisciplinary collaboration among our fields. The iSchool features the same interdisciplinarity and collaborative spirit in our approach to research and teaching. The school and the college are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

The School of Information offers a M.L.I.S. School Library Media K-12 degree program which also includes options for a Dual Degree M.L.I.S. SLM K-12 and Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Technology for those without initial teaching credentials and a non-degree School Library Media Licensure program. Other degrees offered by the iSchool include a M.L.I.S. in Library and Information Science and MS degrees in user experience design, health informatics, and knowledge management. Our M.L.I.S program is ranked in the top 20 according to US News and World Report. Further, our School Library Media Program is ranked #5 and our youth program is ranked #9 overall. 

Additional information about the iSchool and the School Library Media K-12 program is available at: https://www.kent.edu/iSchool/school-library-media-k-12 

Applications are encouraged from candidates with teaching competencies in the areas of school librarianship with expertise in educational technology and curriculum and instruction.The position will include curriculum development and direction relative to licensure and Ohio Department of Education guidelines, scholarship, teaching, advising, and practicum oversight responsibilities of students enrolled in the M.L.I.S School Library Media K-12, dual M.L.I.S. School Library Media K-12/M.Ed. degree, and non-degree school media licensure programs. Service to professional organizations, the school, and the university is expected. 

This position involves online and/or face-to-face teaching and advising. 

Minimum Requirements

Candidates must have licensure in school library media with an initial teaching certificate and a doctorate in library and information science, curriculum and instruction or a closely related field at the time of hire. Official notification of completion of the degree must be received by the start date of August 21, 2022. Candidates will demonstrate potential for developing a program of scholarship that will lead to an outstanding and sustained record of scholarly publications and grant writing. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion as well as a demonstrated commitment to student success.

Preference will be given to applicants with teaching experience in a K-12 public school environment and with collegiate teaching experience.

Kent State University: 

Kent State is a comprehensive graduate and undergraduate, residential, Carnegie Doctoral Research Extensive University. Founded in 1910, the university is the third largest in Ohio, with an enrollment of approximately 39,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The Chronicle of Higher Education identifies Kent State as one of the Great Colleges to Work For. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching ranks Kent State among the nation’s top 74 public high-research universities, and U.S. News & World Report ranks Kent State in the coveted top-tier of Best Colleges. Kent is a small but vibrant college-town with close proximity to the cultural, dining, and professional sports activities of Cleveland and other Northeast Ohio cities, along with the recreational opportunities of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the many lakes in the region.

Kent State University is committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of individuals through inclusive excellence. Diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and the inclusion of all members of the community. This is one of several core values we embrace as we strive for a culturally diverse student body, faculty and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of Ohio, the nation, and our world. 

Salary is competitive and benefits are excellent (KSU offers a full range of benefits: (https://www.kent.edu/sites/default/files/file/BENE%20BRIEF%20FT%202019.pdf

For priority consideration applications should be submitted by December 5, 2021, but the search will stay open until the position is filled.

Candidates must apply online at https://jobs.kent.edu and submit the following:

  • A statement of interest that includes information about teaching philosophy and current research objectives
  • Current curriculum vitae
  • Diversity statement
  • Names and contact information for at least three professional references

Candidates who progress through the first round of interviews will need to submit formal statements on:

  • Future direction of their research
  • Student-centered teaching experience

For additional information, questions, or nominations, interested parties should contact:

Mary Anne Nichols, MLS, Search Committee Chair

Senior Lecturer

School of Information

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 330-672-0029