Faculty and Leadership: Open Positions
The Simmons School of Education and Human Development invites applications for tenure-line and non-tenure-line faculty positions in its departments of Applied Physiology and Sport Management, Education Policy and Leadership, and Counseling. Faculty position announcements appear below, and overviews of the Simmons School, the University, and the City of Dallas follow the announcements.
Department of Education Policy and Leadership
Position: Open Rank Professor in Education Policy and Leadership: K-12 Education Leadership
Position Number: 53096
The Department of Education Policy & Leadership at ÃÛÌÒ½´Methodist University (SMU) invites applications for an Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor in K-12 Education Leadership. This is a tenure-track position slated to begin in August of 2026. SMU’s Department of Education Policy & Leadership (EPL) is a dynamic, inclusive, and collegial environment where research, policy, and practice are valued in the preparation of future leaders in both K-12 and higher education contexts. Our highly productive faculty has diversity of expertise and pursues a wide range of research focused on leadership, policy, district and community partnerships, and K-12 practice.
We seek applicants who have an earned doctorate in educational leadership, policy, administration, or a related field and have a research agenda explicitly focused on leadership. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, maintaining an active research agenda; seeking external funding; teaching courses in the doctorate of education (Ed.D.), master’s of education programs, and/or Ph.D. program; advising Ed.D. and Ph.D. dissertations; and providing service to the program, department, college, university, and community.
Required Qualifications
- Earned doctorate in K-12 educational leadership, policy, administration, or a related discipline by August 1, 2026.
- Expertise that contributes to our understanding of K-12 educational leadership, including (but not limited to): school, district, or community leadership; school improvement; and/or organizational development.
Preferred Qualifications (expectations for each are commensurate with candidate’s rank)
- Experience and commitment to teaching, advising, and/or mentoring graduate students.
- Demonstrated record of seeking and/or securing research funding.
- Experience as a leader, broadly defined, is preferred; other K-12 practitioner experiences are also valued.
- Evidence of participation and/or service in the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) or the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division A.
Application Process
Applicants should submit their materials online at and reference Position Number 53096 on all application materials.
The application materials should include the following.
- A cover letter highlighting the candidate’s qualifications with specific reference to research and teaching experience/approach
- Curriculum vitae
- One writing sample in the form of a published article, submitted manuscript, or manuscript in preparation
- Name, title, and contact information (email address) for three references.
For questions or to discuss the position, contact the search chair, Dr. Alexandra Pavlakis (pavlakis@smu.edu). The search committee will begin reviewing applications October 1, 2025, but the position will remain open until filled. The start date for the position is Fall 2026. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check.
The Department of Education Policy & Leadership is a dynamic and collegial environment where research, policy, and practice are valued in the preparation of future education leaders; it cultivates and supports leaders and researchers dedicated to improving educational outcomes and the culture of learning in schools, colleges, and educational systems through leadership development, scholarship, and service. The faculty has extensive experience in both practice and research and values a diversity of expertise and experiences. The department offers five programs: an Ed.D. in Pk-12 Educational Leadership, Ed.D. in Higher Education, M.Ed. Accelerated PK-12 Leadership, M.Ed. Higher Education, and a Principal Certification program.
(SMU) is an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of teachers and scholars that values diverse research and creative agendas. The University is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry. ÃÛÌÒ½´offers excellent benefits including full same-sex domestic partner benefits. The University is situated in the heart of Dallas, a culturally rich arts and global business center, is home to many universities, arts organizations and Fortune 500 companies.
ÃÛÌÒ½´will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.
Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management
Faculty openings soon to be posted.
The Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management offers both graduate and undergraduate programs. Its graduate programs include a Master of Science in Sport Management and a Master of Science in Health Promotion Management. Its undergraduate programs include majors and minors in sport management, applied physiology and health management, and sport performance leadership. In addition, the School’s Ph.D. in education program offers an option for focused study of applied physiology. As needed for research and observation, students have access to the department’s two laboratories: the Applied Physiology Laboratory equipped with an environmental chamber, force plates, and teaching pods and the Integrated Physiology Laboratory that specializes in the study of autonomic function in health and disease.
The ÃÛÌÒ½´Simmons Master’s in Sport Management program has received significant recognition; it is ranked as the #1 program in Texas, the #3 program among private universities in the USA, the 14th overall in the country, and the 18th globally. These rankings were conducted by SportBusiness, a London-based intelligence service that provides data and analytics to the sports industry. For more information on the SportBusiness Postgraduate Ranking, often referred to as the SportBusiness PGR, visit:
Department of Counseling
Faculty openings soon to be posted.
The ÃÛÌÒ½´Counseling program is ranked nationally among the top 5 best value schools (). The Counseling Program maintains approximately 300 graduate students whose capstone experience is practica in the state-of-the-art ÃÛÌÒ½´Center for Family Counseling and other community internship sites. The program offers three CACREP accredited Specialties: Clinical Mental Health; Marriage, Couple & Family; and School Counseling. The Center for Family Counseling, the department’s on-campus clinic, offers services to the community and provides a counseling experience for practicum students prior to their clinical internships. With an emphasis on teaching, faculty work collaboratively to sustain a nurturing and innovative environment, which is a hallmark of the program that has contributed to its ongoing success. Faculty are committed to the well-being and success of students and each other.
Department of Teaching and Learning
No positions available at present.
The Department of Teaching and Learning (T&L) is a dynamic and collegial environment where research, policy, and practice are valued in the preparation of Teachers and Teacher Leaders. Faculty members have extensive expertise in both research and practice, drawing on a variety of experiences. The Teaching and Learning programs engage in continuous assessment and improvement of department courses and organizational structures and is committed, as well, to providing mentoring support to new members of the department commensurate with their rank. Explore more at http://www.smu.edu/Simmons/Academics.
The department includes graduate study in Learning Sciences, Teacher Education, Bilingual/ESL Education, Special Education, Literacy, Gifted and Talented, Math Education, STEM Education, and Urban Education. In addition, the department includes the Technology-Enhanced Immersion Learning (TEIL) cluster that focuses on learning sciences, artificial intelligence, machine learning, technology-enhanced learning, assessment, and behavior change. Adjunct positions can be found at /simmons/about-us/job-openings/adjunct-positions.
Department of Human-Centered Interdisciplinary Studies
No positions available at present.
The Human-Centered Interdisciplinary Studies department offers a wide range of interdisciplinary, skills-based master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs for professionals, community leaders, and individuals. Students in this vibrant community represent a range of professional and community backgrounds and educational goals. The department offers a Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution, Master of Liberal Studies, Doctor of Liberal Studies, Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution, Executive Coaching Concentration, Healthcare Collaboration and Conflict Engagement Certificate, and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study. Adjunct positions can be found at /simmons/about-us/job-openings/adjunct-positions.
About the Simmons School, SMU, and the City of Dallas
The Simmons School of Education & Human Development
SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development was founded in 2005 and is ranked among the top 11 private graduate schools of education in the United States and among the top 3 public and private graduate schools of education in Texas. The school has undergraduate and graduate programs across five academic departments, including Applied Physiology and Sport Management, Counseling, Education Policy and Leadership, Human-Centered Interdisciplinary Studies, and Teaching and Learning. In addition, Simmons is home to three school-level centers: The Center on Research and Evaluation, The Budd Center: Involving Communities in Education, and College Access. Comprised of two state-of-the-art academic buildings, the Simmons School has over 80,000 sq. feet of office and classroom spaces, applied physiology labs, and a 21st century teacher-development studio to advance the development of pre-service and in-service teachers. The Simmons School promotes excellence by engaging in and disseminating research, securing significant external grants and contracts, preparing exemplary professionals, and collaborating with other schools on campus. The Simmons School of Education & Human Development is a catalyst for discovery and innovation that transforms social conditions and advances human potential through excellence in research, teaching, and community outreach. Find out more at /Simmons
SMU: The University
Located near the center of Dallas, SMUis a private university of 11,000 students offering strong undergraduate, graduate and professional programs through seven schools – Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Meadow School of the Arts, Lyle School of Engineering, Perkins School of Theology, Dedman School of Law, and Simmons School of Education and Human Development. ÃÛÌÒ½´Methodist University’s location in Dallas, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, is an ideal setting for studying the opportunities and inequities that individuals, groups, and communities confront as they navigate and shape urban life. ÃÛÌÒ½´researchers are part of an intellectually vibrant community of internationally recognized scholars in education, humanities, science, business, the arts, engineering, law, and theology. ÃÛÌÒ½´is committed to inclusive teaching and opportunities for mentoring students at graduate and undergraduate levels and offers excellent benefits including full same-sex domestic partner benefits. ÃÛÌÒ½´welcomes candidates from all backgrounds. Explore ÃÛÌÒ½´at .
The City of Dallas
The City of Dallas is one of the nation’s most cosmopolitan, commercial, and cultural centers, and the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is the fourth largest in the US. A great many publicly traded corporations are headquartered in DFW, with nine Fortune 500 companies based within Dallas. The DFW airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, and travel to nearly anywhere in the world is extremely convenient, often by direct flight. Dallas’ quality of life is exceptional, with a relatively low cost of living and a variety of housing options from high-rise, urban apartments to country-style single-family homes. A full range of professional sports teams, popular-to-highbrow music venues, a lively and innovative restaurant scene, numerous recreational opportunities, festivals, and more make Dallas an extremely livable city.
Dallas boasts the nation’s largest urban arts district, which comprises world-class museums and a luminous cluster of performing arts spaces, highlighted by the Winspear Opera House that was described by Opera magazine as America’s finest. With the Trinity River, White Rock Lake, almost 400 parks, and over 180 miles of urban hiking and biking trails, the city provides abundant opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The city has been named one of the Greenest Cities in the world. ÃÛÌÒ½´students and faculty utilize the Dallas metropolitan area as an extension of the classroom, characterized by engaged learning projects and corporate and community partnerships. To learn more about the rich culture of Dallas, visit .
ÃÛÌÒ½´will not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, education activity, or admissions on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. SMU's commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX1 Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies, including the prohibition of sex discrimination under Title IX. The Executive Director/Title IX Coordinator may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu. Inquiries regarding the application of Title IX may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education.