Job Description / Duties

Head, Department of Kinesiology
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) College of Health and Human Development (HHD) seeks a visionary, collaborative, and inclusive leader to serve as the next Head of the Department of Kinesiology. Applications, inquiries, and nominations are invited.

Dedicated to enriching human well-being and strengthening intellectual, social, physical, economic, and emotional wellness, Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development provides a solid foundation for positively impacting people's lives. The Department of Kinesiology is one of eight departments in the college and boasts a multidisciplinary approach to the study of human movement and physical activity. This makes the department central to the College’s mission and positions it well to continue to play an important role in advancing human health. Kinesiology enrolls more undergraduates than any other major, provides general education courses to more than 8,000 students per year, and offers courses at 19 Commonwealth Campuses and on the World Campus. The department’s goal is to optimize its curriculum for this large number of students and, in doing so, respond to the growing pressures on higher education to increase accountability for success in learning and improve affordability. The department's more than 47 faculty, 16 professional staff, 715 undergraduate majors, and 45 graduate students take pride in leveraging basic clinical, social science and humanities methodologies to provide outstanding service and outreach to the field of kinesiology.

Under the leadership of Dean Craig Newschaffer, the college has outlined an https://hhd.psu.edu/about/strategic-plan that emphasizes creating an environment to support student success while in college and beyond and growing the impact of the college’s research scholarship. The Head of Kinesiology, as a member of the college’s leadership team, plays a critical role in the realization of the college’s strategic vision and goals and ensuring that the Kinesiology department’s efforts align with and support these goals.

Reporting to the Dean of the college, the Head of the Department of Kinesiology is responsible for visioning, strategic planning, overseeing academic and research programs, managing operations, finances, faculty and staff affairs, and sustaining and building external relations and fundraising in support of the department's aspirations. The next Head will execute and further shape the department's vision for the future; further integrate, shape and build a truly excellent and cohesive multidisciplinary department that leverages strengths across all programs; advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; nurture and develop interdisciplinary collaboration; recruit, develop and retain a faculty and staff of excellence; and advocate for the department and enhance its visibility and reputation. The new Head will support and nurture an environment where creativity and innovation thrive.

In achieving these objectives, the next Head must be a collaborative, transparent, and inclusive leader with strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, and an innovative spirit to advance the department's vision and goals. Additional essential qualifications include successful administrative experience in a university or similar setting, including curricular development and budgetary management; a strong record of advancing equity and inclusion; and the communication and interpersonal skills and deep intellectual curiosity to engage with and support a diverse set of programs and a strong record of forging collaborative partnerships. The new Head must possess the scholarly record required to merit a tenured appointment as a full professor in the college.

Penn State is a public, land grant, research-intensive university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service. Its instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, professional, and continuing education offered through resident instruction and online delivery. Annual enrollment at its 24 campuses totals more than 100,000 graduate and undergraduate students, making it one of the largest universities in the United States.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report, which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go to http://www.police.psu.edu/clery/, which will also provide you with detail on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Employment with the university will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with university policies.

Contact Information

Please direct all applications, nominations, and inquiries to the WittKieffer consultants assisting Penn State with this recruitment, preferably via e-mail, through the office of Cody Burke at cburke@wittkieffer.com.