Description

The Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations (LPO) at Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Higher Education with a focus on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to key issues in postsecondary education. This position will advance LPO’s multidisciplinary commitment to rigorous scholarship that is relevant to policy and practice given the changing landscape of higher education. 

We are particularly interested in scholars who study how AI is reshaping postsecondary education in areas such as recruiting and admissions, governance and management, budgeting and finance, classroom innovations and teaching practices, student success, and connections to the labor market.

Requirements

We seek a scholar trained in higher education, public policy, data science, or a social science discipline and who is accomplished at applying AI methods such as machine learning or large language models to study issues in higher education. Candidates should possess demonstrated potential and capacity to produce rigorous research and publish in leading peer-reviewed journals. We are seeking applicants with potential for external funding, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with postsecondary institutions, policymakers, and technology partners. As appropriate, the candidate could have a secondary appointment in the College of Connected Computing. 

In addition to research, LPO operates programs and degrees at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral level, including a professional master’s degree program in Higher Education Administration. We expect the candidate to teach a combination of in-person and online courses across levels and to develop new courses to prepare students to understand, evaluate, and shape the role of AI in the future of postsecondary education. Demonstrated effectiveness of teaching and mentoring is required.

Applications
Review of formal applications will begin December 8, 2025. We expect the hire to start in August 2026. Applicants should submit the following materials through Interfolio via the link below: a letter addressing their research and teaching qualifications and interests, a full curriculum vitae, a writing sample demonstrating knowledge of AI's application to higher education, and the names and contact information of three references. References will only be contacted if the applicant is invited to an initial interview. Please apply at the following link: https://apply.interfolio.com/177753.

For questions about the position, please contact the chair of the search committee:

Brent Evans
Associate Professor of Public Policy & Higher Education
Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations 
b.evans@vanderbilt.edu