Job Description / Duties

The new exercise science faculty member will join the current faculty in the department as we seek accreditation for our program. The department is working to develop purposeful course material, projects, and experiences that fit the Ouachita standard of excellence. The new faculty member will instruct a combination of graduate & undergraduate courses as well as contribute to the current growth and recruitment strategies we have in place. Our focus is to find an applicant who is excited to work on our kinesiology team and contribute their unique perspectives and creative ideas, invest in the lives of students, provide a Christ-focused education, foster a positive and rewarding learning environment, and extend our department’s influence in our region for even greater impact in the future.

Qualifications / Required Skills

-Authentic Christian faith lived out through personal discipleship and active involvement in a local church.
-Exemplary character and personal integrity in accordance with biblical standards.
-Enthusiastic support for and ability to articulate the university’s vision, mission, values and learning goals to all constituents.
-Appreciation for Ouachita’s institutional history, culture, and traditions.
-Understanding of and commitment to the liberal arts tradition.
-Evidence of successful classroom teaching, scholarship, and professional activity.
-Earned Ph.D. in Kinesiology or Exercise Science.
-Engagement with the local community, including willingness to reside in or near Arkadelphia

Additional Information

After reading this Opportunity Profile, if you believe that you are a good initial match for Ouachita Baptist University, we invite you to begin the application process.

Please provide the following documents and responses for your initial application:
• A cover letter that makes the case for your candidacy (In your letter, describe how your strengths, gifts and experiences are a fit with the qualifications and opportunity in this profile.)
• A statement of research interests, including how you will mentor graduate and undergraduate students through research
• A statement of teaching philosophy highlighting diverse and inclusive pedagogy and evidence of
teaching effectiveness
• A current curriculum vitae
• Graduate transcripts
• A completed Faculty Application for Employment, found at obu.edu/jobs

If your application is accepted for further review, you will be contacted to provide the following documents:
• Responses to the two questions listed on the Faculty Application for Employment.
• Three letters of reference from those who know you and your career well enough to comment on your suitability for the role.

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Contact Information

Dr. Terry DeWitt
Chair, Department of Kinesiology
Ouachita Baptist University
dewittt@obu.edu
(there are 3-t's in my email address)

Employer Profile

Ouachita Baptist University, a private liberal arts university in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, is entering its 137th year as a Christ- centered learning community. Ouachita continues to experience considerable institutional momentum. During the past six years, Ouachita’s enrollment has increased by 17.6%. Fall 2022 enrollment is the highest in 56 years, with a headcount of 1,784 students. On-campus enrollment is the highest since 2011, while enrollment in all colleges and universities in the state combined decreased during that period. The first-time freshman student cohort is distinctive: half earned a high school grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 or higher, 23 graduated first in their high school class, 36 are Arkansas Governor’s Distinguished Scholars, more than 17% are students of color, and 23% are first- generation college students.
Ouachita is ranked among the best national liberal arts universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report and among the top 20 Christian colleges in the nation by Niche.com. Learn more about the university’s highly personal approach, reflected in a student/faculty ratio of 13:1, at www.obu.edu.
Ouachita has experienced growth not only in the number of enrolled students but also in the number of academic programs offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. At the undergraduate level, programs in criminal justice, engineering, pre-counseling, and psychiatric nursing have begun or are in the process of being added (subject to accreditation approval). In recent years, Ouachita’s strategic decision to serve non-traditional degree-seeking students at the undergraduate and graduate levels reflects a desire to serve society better. At the graduate level, Ouachita has added a Master of Science degree in applied behavior analysis, a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction, and a Master of Science in Nutrition/Dietetic Internship program; launching in Fall 2023 following accreditor approval are a Master of Science degree in exercise science and a Master of Business Administration degree.

During the past six years, the university has received a record number of philanthropic gifts, achieved a record high for its endowment and is stronger financially than any time in the past quarter century. During the 2020-21 academic year, during a pandemic, Ouachita was one of the few universities in the country to have a fully in-person experience. It reflected the collective efforts of students, faculty, and staff to care for one another and have a meaningful campus life.