Assistant Professor - Physical Activity and Mental Health - Utah State University

Overview:

The Department of Kinesiology and Health Science at Utah State University (USU) seeks an Assistant Professor to serve as an Extension Specialist. The position will be housed on the USU Logan Campus and includes statewide responsibilities. This 12-month, tenure-track, full-time benefited position begins July 1, 2025. We seek applicants with research and teaching expertise in physical activity and mental health. Scientists with an academic background in kinesiology, public health, psychology, human development, or other relevant fields are encouraged to apply. We are particularly interested in candidates who can support the state of Utah in addressing youth mental health and wellness, teen suicide prevention, and related public health needs tied to emotional and social health. Expectations for this position include a 65% role assignment in Extension to develop and extend statewide outreach education and applied research, and coordinate programs with Extension county faculty. There is also a 30% teaching role assignment and a 5% role assignment in service. Review of applicants will begin October 15, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. This position is eligible for H-1B sponsorship.

 

Inquiries may be directed to the search committee chair, Breanna Studenka (435-797-0109 or breanna.studenka@usu.edu).

Responsibilities:

Position Responsibilities for Extension:

• Provide high-quality leadership to Extension activities that enable people throughout the state to improve their lives and communities.
• Coordinate and collaborate with community-based Extension faculty, campus faculty, and others to build Extension programs that promote health and wellness. The HEART initiative is an example of a collaborative USU Extension program, and the Utah 4-H Extension program offers the potential to collaborate with the nation's largest youth development program.

• Disseminate information about physical activity, mental health, health promotion, and related topics to diverse audiences including public agencies, health professionals, Extension colleagues, researchers, public audiences, and others using diverse teaching techniques and delivery strategies.

• Publish scholarship in peer-reviewed scientific outlets, Extension publications, and curricular materials.

• Provide leadership for interagency partnerships, addressing state and federal public health priorities.

• Communicate documented impacts and public value of Extension programs to stakeholders.\

• Successfully secure funding to support outreach and research programs.

Position Responsibilities for Teaching:

• Provide undergraduate and/or graduate instruction within Kinesiology and Health Science, employing a range of instructional modalities.
• Serve as a mentor for students and advise graduate students.
• Participate in ongoing curriculum development and improvement of teaching skills.

Position Responsibilities for Service:

• Provide institutional, professional, and community service.
• Serve on department, college, and university committees.
• Serve on search committees for off-campus Extension faculty.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned doctorate by July 1, 2025, in an appropriate area of study.
• Evidence of the ability to develop and maintain a research program that can be supported by extramural funding.
• Evidence of the ability to conduct community-oriented scholarship and apply results to real-world situations.
• Evidence of the ability to be an effective teacher and mentor through positive evaluations and student achievement.
• Demonstrate a commitment to collaboration and collegiality among peers and constituents.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Post-doctoral research experience and a history of obtaining extramural funding.
• A consistent and impactful publication record.
• Previous university teaching experience with positive evaluations.
• Familiarity with the national and/or USU Cooperative Extension systems.
• Knowledge of or experience with community-based education, including Extension.

Required Documents:

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. A curriculum vitae to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
2. Up to three examples of scholarly work to be uploaded in the Candidate Profile under Documents 1-10
3. Contact information for three professional references to be entered in the Candidate Profile
4. A cover letter addressing the position qualifications to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary:Commensurate with education and experience, plus excellent benefits. ADA:

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

College/Department Highlights:

Department Highlights

The KHS Department provides a dynamic, high-quality, program of education and training in Kinesiology and Health Science. Our campus-based and off-campus graduate programs provide, MS, MEd, MPH,  MSM, and PhD degrees to students who teach, provide community leadership, work in industry, or conduct research. Our undergraduate programs in Kinesiology, Health Education/Promotion, and Recreation Administration (https://khs.usu.edu) include more than 1,000 matriculated students. In addition to academic degrees, there are numerous research laboratories that provide resources for conducting exceptional research (https://cehs.usu.edu/khs/labs/overview). 

 

Extension Highlights

Utah State University Extension provides research-based programs and resources with the goal of improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities throughout Utah. USU Extension operates through a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture, Utah State University, and county governments. Program areas include Health and Wellness, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gardening, Home, Family, and Food, and Utah 4-H and Youth (https://extension.usu.edu/).

 

College Highlights

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services is committed to inclusive excellence in research, teaching, and service activities across a wide array of education and human service fields.  The college is home to eight academic departments with approximately 200 faculty who are engaged in innovative research and high-quality graduate and undergraduate education. The college’s programs and outreach missions are strengthened by an on-campus elementary laboratory school and five stand-alone centers, including the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Research Center, Institute for Disability Research, Policy, & Practice, and the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence. Faculty, students, and staff within the college also engage with a broad range of community partners to both provide opportunities for community-engaged research and learning and enhance the quality of education and human service programs throughout the state of Utah.

University Highlights:

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

 

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

 

*updated 04/2024

Notice of Non-discrimination:

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov