Director of the Center for Leadership and Disability, Open Rank - Senior Level Log# 24-096

The Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University (GSU) is searching for a dynamic and visionary Director to lead the center in its mission to translate research into sustainable community practices that contribute to independent, self-determined, inclusive, and productive lives for people with disabilities and their families. This is a senior level position that will be filled at the rank of Associate/Full Research Professor or Associate/Full Professor (Tenured) in GSU’s School of Public Health (SPH).

About the Position

This position will provide day-to-day management and oversight of operations within the CLD, one of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Responsibilities will include developing programs that are responsive to state needs and national priorities, securing and sustaining external funds for research and outreach initiatives, supervising project staff and faculty, conducting research, teaching at the graduate level, producing scholarly peer-reviewed publications and presentations, mentoring junior faculty, and ensuring compliance with all university policies and procedures. The candidate will collaborate with faculty colleagues in the MCCHD and across the university, as well as partner with higher education institutions, state agencies, national organizations, and community-based service providers to implement programs and conduct research in fulfilling its mission.

The CLD Director will be appointed in the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development (MCCHD) and in the relevant academic department in the School of Public Health. At the rank of Associate/Full Research Professor or Associate/Full Professor (Tenured), the candidate will have an established national or international reputation for excellence in the field of developmental disabilities, hold a terminal degree in an appropriate discipline related to the support of individuals with developmental disabilities (e.g., psychology, education, special education, communication disorders, public health, etc.). The candidate will bring expertise commensurate with the assumption of a leadership role a large interdisciplinary research and training program including substantial experience with obtaining and directing externally funded projects, managing large multi- year budgets, influencing policy and programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, and working in partnership with state agencies and advocacy organizations.

Center for Leadership in Disability

CLD is a nationally recognized UCEDD that provides interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education, implements community services, conducts research, influences policy and practices, and disseminates evidence-based information. CLD is home to the prominent and highly respected Georgia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (GaLEND) Program with its focus on preparing a pool of competent and diverse future leaders to advance Maternal and Child Health (MCH) science, research, practice, and policy related to autism spectrum disorders and related neurodevelopmental disabilities (ASD/DD). CLD is also home to the Association of University Centers on Disabilities Leadership Academy, which annually engages a diverse group of practicing and emerging professionals from across the nation in enhancing skills and values that contribute to the missions of their home organizations. The CLD portfolio of training, technical assistance, and research includes work in the areas of health and wellness addressing persistent disparities, positive behavior support, infant and children’s mental health, school-based screening, inclusive postsecondary education, and advocacy, among others.

Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development

The CLD is a unit within MCCHD, a university-level research center, that promotes health and well-being across the lifespan in addressing vexing social concerns such as preventing child maltreatment, reducing sexual and other forms of violence, optimizing social-emotional competencies, and promoting inclusion and quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. With a consistent record of extramural funding, exceeding $79 million cumulatively and $8.83 million in the past fiscal year, the MCCHD is engaged in research and outreach that fosters social ecologies across multiple community-based systems of care (e.g., homes, schools, child welfare, early care and learning, therapeutic providers).

School of Public Health

Located in the heart of Atlanta at one of the America’s most innovative and diverse research universities, the Georgia State University School of Public Health educates practitioners and thought leaders while engaging in research and outreach that addresses urgent health challenges and promotes health equity. The Georgia State SPH offers a range of CEPH-accredited degree programs, from a bachelor's degree in public health to an MPH in six concentrations, a PhD in four concentrations and a DrPH program for professionals in the field. Its research and community engagement has been funded with $17.8 million in external funding over the past year alone, with areas of emphasis that include applied biostatistics and epidemiologic methodology; cancer, chronic disease epidemiology, and social determinants; infectious diseases; and tobacco, alcohol and other substance use, among others. With 50 faculty members, the school is composed of two departments—Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences and Population Health Sciences—and houses seven interdisciplinary centers. Among public institutions, the Georgia State School of Public Health is ranked in the top 25 in the latest U.S. News and World Report ranking of Best Public Health Colleges. The Georgia State SPH is one of the most diverse schools of public health in America, with 70% of students self-identifying as members of a minority group. In the 2022 – 2023 academic year, the Georgia State SPH enrolled more than 840 students, 5% of whom are international students. Since 2006, 100 international graduate students have chosen to study at the Georgia State SPH through the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. The school's Vision 2027 Strategic Plan is guiding its continued growth and work to advance health equity and solve contemporary and emerging health issues through education, research and community engagement. To learn more about the Georgia State SPH, visit publichealth.gsu.edu/about.

Georgia State University

With more than 50,000 students from 150 countries and all U.S. states, Georgia State University is one of America’s largest and most diverse research universities. Georgia State is recognized as the national model for how novel, data-informed initiatives drive student achievement. U.S. News and World Report ranks the institution as America’s top Public University for Undergraduate Teaching and No. 2 for Innovation. Over the past decade, Georgia State University has been distinguished by the tremendous expansion of its research activity. The institution is one of the nation's top 146 public and private research universities in the Carnegie Foundation’s elite category of Highest Research Activity. In the past fiscal year, GSU faculty garnered nearly

$225 million in sponsored funding, setting a new record for the third consecutive year. According to the 2023 Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Georgia State University is the nation’s No. 5 fastest- growing research institution. Georgia State's 100-acre-plus campus in the heart of Atlanta overlaps with some of the country’s most influential businesses and organizations. Through proximity and key university relationships, students, staff and faculty enjoy unparalleled access to major attractions, industries and city opportunities. Five GSU Perimeter campus locations connect with the cities and communities of Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody, Newton and Alpharetta, expanding Georgia State's reach. To learn more about Georgia State University, visit gsu.edu/about.

Application Process

Please email submissions to Kbaggett@gsu.edu and publichealthjobs@gsu.edu. In the subject line, include Log# 24-096 MCCHD Search Committee and address to: Dr. Kathleen Baggett, Search Committee Chair. Include a cover letter discussing interest and qualifications,

curriculum vitae, two examples of published material, three letters of reference.

Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with experience. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Employment will be conditional on background investigation/verification.

Georgia State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or protected veteran status in its programs, services, activities, employment, and/or admissions. Additionally, the University promotes equal employment opportunity for women, minorities, persons with disabilities and veterans through its affirmative action program.