Director of the PhD Program in Urban Affairs and Public Policy (Associate or Full Professor)

The School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Memphis invites applications for the position of Director of the PhD Program in Urban Affairs and Public Policy beginning September 1, 2025. This is a full-time, nine-month, tenure track academic appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.

The PhD in Urban Affairs is an interdisciplinary program that started in 2021. The distinctiveness of the program is a focus on urban problem solving through interdisciplinary, collaborative engaged scholarship.

The Director is the administrative leader of the Urban Affairs PhD program. This position is an opportunity for an established scholar with the desire to continue to build a unique program that can become a national model. We are seeking an established scholar with interdisciplinary experience, a research agenda that addresses urban issues, and a demonstrated understanding and appreciation for community-engaged learning and research.

Candidates can come from a wide range of social science disciplines but must be eligible for the rank of Associate or Full Professor in one of the seven departments associated with the PhD in Urban Affairs (City and Regional Planning, Social Work, Public and Nonprofit Administration, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Political Science, Anthropology, or Sociology).

We are especially interested in applicants that are research active and who have a record of

The School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy (SUAPP) provides infrastructure and administrative support to the PhD Program Director. As home to 4 academic units, 8 degree programs, more than 95 full-time and part-time faculty and staff, and 4 research centers, SUAPP serves as a hub for collaboration and flagship for community-engaged scholarship.

The PhD in Urban Affairs focuses on urban problem-solving with a community-engaged approach and an interdisciplinary framework. It is designed to prepare graduates with the necessary skills in research, evaluation, and policy design to address the kinds of socioeconomic challenges that face Memphis and other cities like it. The combination of training in theory development, policy, and application will prepare graduates for careers in academia, as well as public, nonprofit, private sector positions as advanced policy analysts, researchers, administrators.

The PhD in Urban Affairs is supported by the four departments in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy (City and Regional Planning, Social Work, Public and Nonprofit Administration, and Criminology and Criminal Justice) and three other social science in the College of Arts and Sciences (Political Science, Anthropology, and Sociology). Joint faculty appointments and an interdisciplinary PhD Committee with faculty from these seven departments support the work of the Director. Likewise, there is tremendous enthusiasm and support for the program among the local public sector, nonprofit, and philanthropic community.

This position offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and full University benefits described at the University of Memphis Human Resources website at: http://www.memphis.edu/benefits/info/prospective.php.

Applicants must submit a cover letter describing their qualifications and interest in the position, a current CV, and a list of at least three references. Application material must be submitted electronically at https://workforum.memphis.edu. Screening of applicants will begin after the search closes on November 4, 2024. The position will begin in September 2025 and is contingent on funding.

To apply, please visit the University of Memphis’ WorkforUM page:

For additional information, contact:

Katherine Lambert-Pennington, PhD, Director

School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy

K.Lambert-Pennington@memphis.edu

Charles Santo, PhD, Associate Director

School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy

casanto@memphis.edu

Visit https://www.memphis.edu/suapp.

Minimum position qualifications: Applicants must have a full-time tenure track appointment at the rank of associate or full professor. They must have an established research program that aligns with the goals of the PhD program in Urban Affairs and Public Policy and the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy. The candidate must demonstrate a commitment to interdisciplinary academic excellence and community-university partnerships and evidence of strong interpersonal and administrative skills. The successful applicant will support the growth of the program, through student recruitment and external funding, and enhance the reputation of the program nationally.