Description

The University of Wyoming seeks an Excellence Chair in Special Education/Full Professor
Click here to view position profile: https://summitsearchsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/UW_ExcellenceChair_SpecialEd_Profile.pdf
Location: Laramie, Wyoming 

The Position:
The University of Wyoming (UW) invites applications and nominations for candidates to serve as Wyoming Excellence Chair in Special Education. The University is seeking a dynamic, collaborative, creative, and established scholar with a background in and commitment to special education. The ideal candidate will possess a strong scholarship record, extensive professional accomplishments, a history of successful extramural funding, and solid leadership skills.  

The Wyoming Excellence Chair in Special Education is a 9-month, full-time, tenured position that reports to the Dean of the College of Education. This professorship supports the College of Education’s undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education, as well as the Master of Arts in Special Education, and collaborates with colleagues in the Early Childhood Special Education endorsement program. In addition to a salary commensurate with the status of a high-profile, established scholar, this position provides access to discretionary funds to promote a robust research, teaching, and service agenda in special education. 

The Wyoming Excellence Chair in Special Education is part of a vibrant, growing faculty that engages in developing high-quality special educators, supports local school districts in providing individualized and effective services to K-12 students with disabilities, collaborates across disciplines and with the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities, advances best practices in special education, and strives for national prominence in the field. To expand these efforts, this position requires a committed and advanced scholar, invested in forging multi-disciplinary partnerships, and available to work on campus and actively engage in outreach with local school districts throughout Wyoming. 

Responsibilities:
Research, Scholarship & State Impact

• Lead a nationally recognized and externally funded research agenda that addresses critical challenges in special education, with particular attention to the needs of Wyoming’s rural, remote, and underserved communities/districts.
• Produce high-impact scholarship that informs policy and practice, strengthens special education systems statewide, and advances the field at large.
• Disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications, national conferences, and practitioner-focused outlets.
• Establish and sustain research-practice partnerships with school districts, education agencies, and community stakeholders across Wyoming.
• Submit annual impact reports in alignment with the Wyoming Excellence in Higher Education Endowment’s statutory requirements, documenting progress in research, teaching, and service to the state. 

Instruction & Mentorship

• Unless otherwise arranged with the Dean of the College of Education, teach a 2-1 or 1-2 annual course load, with a reduced 1-1 load during the first year to support the successful launch of a research and outreach agenda.
• Deliver high-quality instruction in special education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, in formats responsive to Wyoming’s geographic and workforce needs.
• Recruit, mentor, and advise graduate students, supporting the preparation of the next generation of special education professionals and scholars. 

Outreach, Statewide Service, and Policy Engagement

• Actively engage in outreach aligned with UW’s land-grant mission, including:
  • Providing professional development for Wyoming educators,
  • Offering technical assistance to school districts,
  • Collaborating with state agencies to inform policy and practice,
  • Prioritizing service to rural and underrepresented communities across the state,
  • Serving as a public scholar representing UW in statewide forums, advisory groups, and educational collaboratives,
  • Representing the College of Education’s special education program when information, presentations, or engagement is requested by key external stakeholders. 

Leadership & College Engagement

• Contribute to academic leadership within the College of Education, supporting program development and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Serve as a mentor and resource for faculty and graduate students in special education in related areas.
• Help enhance the visibility and impact of the College’s special education programs, especially across the state.  

Grants, Funding & Innovation

• Secure competitive external funding from federal agencies, foundations, and other relevant sources to support research, program development, and outreach.
• Leverage endowed resources to launch innovative programming, develop technology-enhanced instruction, and build sustainable statewide partnerships. 

Qualifications:
Minimum Experience/Credentials/Commitments Required:

• An earned PhD/EdD in special education or a field closely related to special education.
• A strong interest in and commitment to special education, inclusive practices, and advocacy for students with disabilities.
• Earned rank of tenured full professor at an accredited university or advanced associate rank with accomplishments sufficient for promotion to the rank of professor upon hire at the University of Wyoming.
• Successful experience and interest in teaching across multiple instructional modalities and a demonstration of excellence in teaching and faculty and student mentorship.
• Experience with developing course materials and syllabi, effectively collaborating with faculty, conducting research, and engaging with professional organizations in the field.
• Evidence of an established line of empirical research and publishing in special education or closely related fields.
• An eagerness to support and develop strong and high-quality special educators in Wyoming.
• A commitment to travel across the state in the capacity of serving as a special education advocate and expert, connecting with local school districts throughout Wyoming, as well as state and local government entities.
• Valid driver's license with a motor vehicle record (MVR) that is compliant with the University Vehicle Use Policy.  

Successful Candidates Will Have the Following or Comparable Experience/Commitments: 

• Experience with evaluation and reporting on special education programs aligned to CEC accreditation standards.
• Experience working directly with districts to support local initiatives and unique needs relating to special education.
• Demonstrated experience engaging external constituents in collaborative efforts, professional development, and advocacy.
• Experience with external grant writing and management.
• Experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders (e.g., educators, district leaders, state education agency representatives, government officials, legislators, etc.).
• Experience teaching in K-12 special education settings and providing specialized instruction and services to students with disabilities.
• Experience related to low-incidence disabilities and/or autism.
• A strong commitment to innovative teaching approaches resulting in improved student learning.
• A demonstrated track record of engaging in academic scholarship, including grant writing/extramural funding.
• Experience in higher education administration, strong leadership skills, and fiscal acumen.  

UW offers a competitive salary and strong benefits including a retirement plan with a 14.19% University contribution (based on gross salary), excellent leave plans (vacations, sick days, and holidays), a tuition waiver program, a recreation center discounted membership opportunity, and a variety of on-campus dining and banking services. 

About the Special Education Program:
The University of Wyoming’s Special Education Program is housed in the College of Education’s School of Counseling, Leadership, Advocacy, and Design (CLAD). 

CLAD, which coordinates 6 program areas and more than 11 graduate programs, plus certificate and endorsement specialties, affords faculty and students the opportunity to positively influence a variety of societal and global challenges.

CLAD’s Special Education Program is committed to preparing highly qualified pre-service and in-service educators to serve K-12 students with disabilities through compliant and high-quality individualized programming. The UW Special Education Program values diverse and evidence-based pedagogical, instructional, curricular, and positive behavioral approaches as well as research methodologies designed to produce positive learning outcomes for all students. 

UW special education degrees may be completed from a distance, providing access to a variety of students around the state and beyond. The majority of courses are offered asynchronously online, with some courses requiring attendance via Zoom. 

CLAD’s special education degrees include: 

• A Bachelor’s in Elementary and Special Education, providing pre-service educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively teach and include all students within their future classrooms. Graduates of the program are eligible for licensure in elementary education (K-6) and special education (K-12).
• A Master of Arts in Special Education, where students learn best practices for providing services to students with disabilities while also acquiring an understanding of disability law, assistive technologies, and collaborating with general education classroom teachers to effectively support students. 

Undergraduate students work with advisors from the School of Teacher Education (STE). They also take all non-special education courses from STE, which offers a wide variety of undergraduate teacher education degrees and minors, graduate degrees in curriculum and instruction, as well as several endorsement and certificate programs to prepare students to be successful educators.  

The University of Wyoming’s special education program is nationally recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). 

About the College of Education:
The College of Education shares in the land grant mission of the University of Wyoming and maintains an abiding commitment to the ongoing growth and vitality of educators and counselors across Wyoming. In this context, the College provides outstanding research-based programs leading to initial licensure and certification for the teachers, counselors, and leaders in Wyoming’s schools and mental health counselors in Wyoming’s rural communities. As importantly, the College’s programs provide essential support for teachers and counselors across the arc of their careers. 

The College of Education develops and delivers cutting-edge instruction and professional support across Wyoming’s expansive geography, which presents unique opportunities for innovation in teaching and learning. The College’s work reflects this by incorporating globally innovative forms of competency-based learning, mentoring through communities of practice, and college and career readiness pathways that prepare educators for all settings and environments. 

The College’s role in the state presents a singular opportunity for scholars committed to the large-scale impact of their scholarship while also providing a significant responsibility to be knowledgeable, engaged actors through their work and programs. As the only four-year, public institution in the state, members of the College of Education community bear the substantial weight of connecting research to practice informing policy and action directly. No university in the country enjoys such immediate access to the state-level policy environment. 

The College has over 1,100 students studying across four baccalaureate program areas and eight graduate programs offering MS, PhD, and EdD degrees, along with a range of post-graduate certificates in Counseling and Education. More than 50 full-time faculty, 20 professional staff, and 15 graduate assistants bring these programs to life. The College is home to the Wellspring Counseling Clinic, the Science & Mathematics Teaching Center, the Literacy Research Center and Clinic, the UW Early Care and Education Center, the Trustees Education Initiative, the Wyoming Early Childhood Outreach Network, and the Wyoming School-University Partnership. The College has more than 24,000 living alumni. More than 3,300 alumni currently work in Wyoming’s public schools.

The College of Education is currently led by the John P. Ellbogen Dean, Jenna Shim. Shim, a professor in the School of Teacher Education, has served as the associate dean for academic affairs and graduate studies for the past three years. She joined the UW faculty in 2009 and has also served as associate director in the School of Education; program coordinator for the English as a Second Language (ESL) graduate program in the School of Teacher Education; and founder of the annual Wyoming ESL and DLI (dual language immersion) Conference. 

About the University of Wyoming:
Nestled amid the beauty of two mountain ranges in southeastern Wyoming, you will find the nationally recognized teaching and research institution, the University of Wyoming (UW). Established as a land-grant institution in 1886 when Wyoming was still a territory, UW has since grown to nearly 200 areas of study, drawing approximately 10,800 students from all 50 states and 83 countries. UW is known for its accomplished faculty and world-class facilities, its low student/faculty ratio, and quality undergraduate and graduate online and classroom-based programs within its 11 colleges and schools. To learn more, please visit http://www.uwyo.edu.  

Throughout its existence, UW has been the only four-year public university in the state of Wyoming, and it maintains close relationships with the state’s eight community colleges. UW’s global impact begins with innovative undergraduate and graduate research opportunities and extends through state and federal partnerships and recent initiatives such as the School of Computing, Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Governor Gordon’s Wyoming Innovation Partnership. UW has played an important role in the lives of students and Wyoming residents for 138 years. Outside Magazine identified Laramie as “the perfect affordable mountain town,” noting the cost of living; access to outdoor activities; food, art, and culture; and the influence of UW, including its academic and other offerings. Furthermore, Wyoming ranked #5 in the U.S. News and World Report’s “Best States for Higher Education”. In the area of tuition and fees, Wyoming ranks No. 2 in part because of its low cost for University of Wyoming students. UW’s tuition and fees for resident undergraduates are the lowest in the nation among doctoral degree-granting institutions. The University community is working collaboratively to help the University reinforce and strengthen its reputation as it adapts to changing economic factors in the state and beyond. The University’s strategic roadmap, “Forward for Wyoming 2023+: A Strategic Plan for the University of Wyoming,” demonstrates that it is an exciting time to be a part of UW as the institution embarks on ambitious and impactful initiatives.  

Location: Laramie, Wyoming, a town with approximately 31,000 people, has a unique blend of sophistication and Western hospitality. UW not only provides an environment for success but also offers varied academic and lifestyle opportunities. Named the “#1 Small College Town in America” by College Value Online, Laramie boasts a moderate cost of living with no state income tax, incredible outdoor recreational opportunities, an eclectic downtown, and a great public school system. 

To Apply:
The University of Wyoming, in consultation with Summit Search Solutions, Inc., will begin a confidential review of application materials immediately and continue until the position is filled; parties who apply by November 21, 2025 will be given first consideration. Please submit a CV/resume and a letter that describes your interest and related experience/qualifications upon application. All applications and nominations will be held in confidence.  

To apply online, go to: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su475  

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:
Tammarah Townes
Senior Consultant
Summit Search Solutions, Inc.
Direct: (302) 388-9480
ttownes@summitsearchsolutions.com 

The University of Wyoming is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer (UW Reg 4-1). The University does not discriminate in employment or personnel practices on the basis of race, gender, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, creed, ancestry, political belief, pregnancy, or any other protected category or participation in any protected activity. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please call 307-766-2377 or email jobapps@uwyo.edu. Review the Know Your Rights poster. 

Pursuant to Wyoming State law, W.S. 19-14-102, as amended, an honorably discharged veteran who has been a resident of the state of Wyoming for one (1) year or more at any time prior to the date when the veteran applies for employment, or any surviving spouse who was married to such veteran at the time of the veteran’s death, who is receiving federal survivor benefits based on the veteran’s military service and is applying for employment, shall receive an interview preference during the applicant screening process with the University of Wyoming. At the time of application, the applicant must possess the business capacity, competency, education or other qualifications required for the position. If disabilities do not materially interfere with performance of job duties, disabled veterans will be given preference over able-bodied veterans. Appropriate documentation of veteran status must be provided at time of application as outlined in the application process. No preference will be given to a veteran currently employed by a public department.

We conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of the background check. 

Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and selection process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need.