Special Education- Open-Area (Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor)

The University of Texas at Austin, College of Education, Department of Special Education, is conducting an open-rank, open-area faculty search for a tenured or tenure-track position. Our department has robust undergraduate and graduate programs and is ranked sixth nationwide by U.S. News and World Report. Faculty in the Department of Special Education have a significant international impact on issues relevant to individuals with or at risk for disabilities, and are highly productive in research, publishing, and securing external funding. We are committed to an intellectually diverse, welcoming. and engaging working and learning environment and are seeking candidates whose research, teaching, and service have prepared them to contribute to serving students and communities across Texas, the country, and the world.

We are seeking a highly productive scholar in special education or related fields, without restrictions on rank or specific research program. The goal of this search is to attract a scholar who is recognized as a leader (or emerging leader) in their area. We will prioritize applicants from any discipline of special education and related fields who have a demonstrated track record of research excellence and are conducting innovative, timely, and high-impact work aimed at improving outcomes for individuals with or at risk for disabilities. We expect the successful candidate to have a strong record of securing external grants to support their research. In addition, the successful candidate will be an excellent mentor and will demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching coursework in their areas of expertise within our department.

The College of Education, ranked among the top public colleges of education in the country, has a longstanding commitment to the shared values of equitable opportunities, excellence, innovation, empowerment, community-focus, and endeavors to bridge research and practice. We view creating an inviting, engaged campus community as interconnected with academic excellence in the work of our faculty. The college has experienced a rapid expansion of interest in its academic programs over the past five years. About 30% of our admitted students are first-generation college students and come from all corners of Texas and beyond. Our students are joined by a world-class faculty who are among the nation's leading experts in their respective fields.

As a leading college of education in Texas and beyond, we are agents of change committed to transforming education and health research, practice, and policy to ensure the thriving of children, families, schools and communities. In our efforts to align our college to address the most pressing challenges in the fields of education and health, we launched a strategic vision known as Reimagine Education (see education.utexas.edu/about/college-leadership/deans-office/reimagine-education). In advancing this effort, we have organized our academic and research aspirations around three Signature Impact Areas: Advancing Equity and Eliminating Disparities in Health and Education, Attending to Place and Context, and Thriving through Transitions.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in special education, educational psychology, school psychology, psychology, or related field earned by July 31, 2026.
• Record of scholarly leadership (i.e., refereed publications) and high-quality research.
• Demonstrated record of securing extramural research funding.
• Experience teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.

As a venue for research, Texas is home to more than 10% of the nation's K12 student population. More than 30% of students in Texas speak a home language other than English and this includes more than 100 languages. The University of Texas at Austin is the flagship state university of Texas, and one of the few universities in the U.S. that is both a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution. UT Austin values and supports interdisciplinary research and, with the opening of the Dell Medical School, provides outstanding access to opportunities for collaboration with world-renowned medical faculty. Austin, Texas is an exciting, welcoming, and inclusive city with the reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World.

Review of applications will begin in October 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please provide all requested materials by October 3, 2025. Applicants should upload the following items to the Interfolio system:

• Cover Letter that includes contact information and the following sections:
  
  
  
  • Research, describing your research accomplishments and future research directions; and
  • Teaching and Mentoring, describing specific methods you use to ensure effective student mentoring and a classroom environment that is welcoming, engaging, and supportive of student learning and success.
  
  
  
  
• Full C.V.
• Up to three representative publications
• A list of three references with contact information (letters of reference are not needed at this time)

For additional information about the department, see education.utexas.edu/departments/special-education.

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Martha Gonzalez, Administrative Manager of the Department of Special Education, at mggonzalez@austin.utexas.edu. Questions about the position can be directed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Terry Falcomata, at falcomata@austin.utexas.edu.

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.