North Carolina A&T State University - Chair of the Department of Psychology

Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) in its search for Chair of the Department of Psychology.

For full consideration, please apply by October 28, 2026.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join the nation’s largest historically Black university as Chair of the Department of Psychology within the John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a land-grant, doctoral research university classified as R2: High Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. A&T is actively pursuing the R1: Very High Research Activity designation and has already exceeded the current research expenditure and doctoral degree thresholds associated with R1 classification. That research momentum continues to accelerate, with faculty earning more than $113 million in research funding in fiscal year 2026 alone. Under the leadership of Chancellor James R. Martin II, A&T is advancing an ambitious agenda centered on innovation, research growth, external partnerships, and global impact. Significant philanthropic investment is helping advance this agenda, including a historic $63 million gift, the largest single gift in A&T’s history. 

The Department of Psychology offers a B.A. in Psychology, an M.S. in Health Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology, with doctoral concentrations in Cognitive-Behavioral Neuroscience and Social-Community Psychology. Faculty research spans neurocognition, aging and dementia, substance use, health psychology, behavioral science, and community-based research, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and externally funded scholarship. Building on these strengths and the University’s expanding research enterprise, the next Chair will lead the department through its next stage of growth, strengthening its research enterprise, expanding interdisciplinary and external partnerships, supporting faculty scholarship and graduate education, and advancing its strong foundation in teaching and student success.

This is a 12-month position reporting to the Dean of the Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Administration (60%):

• Serves as the chief administrative and academic leader of the department, with general oversight of the department
• Provide visionary leadership of innovative programs with strong educator-researcher emphasis
• Responsible for strategic planning; budget development, management and allocation
• Recruitment and retention of faculty and students; implement strategies to increase recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of students in all degree programs; Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities
• Faculty, staff, and student development
• Management and improvement of curricula
• Evaluating faculty performance for the allocation of awards
• Participation in the reappointment, promotion and tenure and post-tenure review process
• Oversight of accreditation and curricular and program development
• Secures external funding, and support faculty research, teaching and service
• Facilities management duties include coordination and oversight of classroom and laboratory usage
• Interacting with and networking with other department and university leaders to represent the goals of the department
• Collaborate with members of the healthcare and scientific communities to improve programs, to develop new programs, and to provide students with access to learning opportunities such as internships
• Serve on University, College of Health and Human Sciences, and Department of Psychology academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues
• Participate in campus and community events
• Service to professional organizations
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Instructional (25%):

• Evaluate and grade students’ classwork, assignments, and papers
• Prepare and deliver lectures to students
• Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions
• Prepare course materials such as syllabi, assignments, and handouts
• Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others
• Maintain student records, including attendance, grades, and other required records
• Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and other methods of instruction
• Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students
• Course and Curriculum Development
• Innovation in course pedagogy and teaching methods
• Development in teaching and pedagogy
• Measurement and assessment of student learning outcomes
• Other teaching and advising related tasks and assignments

Research (15%):

• Establish and maintain an active research program
• Seek and manage grant funding from external and internal sources to support their research
• Conduct research in their field of knowledge and publish findings as manuscripts and/or technical papers in professional journals, books and or book chapters, or electronic media
• Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, networking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and conferences
• Engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects
• Mentoring of PhD, MS, and undergraduate students
• Direct and supervise thesis and dissertation research for master’s and PhD students

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in psychology
• Experience that will support appointment at the rank of associate professor or full professor
• Minimum of three years of experience in an administrative or management position at an academic institution with comparable profile
• Minimum of three years teaching at the collegiate level at an institution that emphasized teaching, scholarly productivity, and engagement within their discipline
• Strong record of extramural funding
• Ability to work collaboratively, inclusively and communicate effectively with diverse students, faculty, staff, and external constituencies is required as well as familiarity with student recruitment and retention

 
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Outstanding record of scholarly and professional achievement in the field of psychology
• Experience that supports appointment at rank of full professor

About North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) is a top-flight doctoral research institution and the nation’s largest historically Black university. An 1890 land-grant university within the University of North Carolina System, N.C. A&T is nationally recognized for excellence in STEM education, research, and inclusive student success. With an enrollment of more than 15,000 students, the University offers a broad portfolio of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs and serves as one of North Carolina’s leading public research engines.

N.C. A&T is in an exciting period of growth and transformation, guided by its strategic plan, Preeminence 2030: North Carolina A&T Blueprint, and supported by a rapidly expanding research enterprise that generates $147 million annually in sponsored research funding and programs. The University’s impact is profound, contributing more than $2.4 billion annually to the North Carolina economy and advancing innovation and opportunity across the state and beyond.

About the Hairston College

The John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences (HCHHS) is the largest academic college at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and is comprised of six departments and the School of Nursing. The College offers seven undergraduate degree programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Health Services Management, Kinesiology, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology. At the graduate level, HCHHS offers six degree programs: the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Social Work, Master of Science in Health Psychology, Ph.D. in Social Work, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Ph.D. in Applied Psychology.

The College fosters interdisciplinary education, research, and community engagement across the health and human sciences, preparing students to address complex health and social challenges and contribute as leaders in their professions and communities. Faculty engage in research spanning basic and behavioral sciences, community-based interventions, and clinical and translational research, with many supported by external funding from agencies including the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.

HCHHS is also home to the Center of Excellence for Integrative Health Disparities and Equity Research (CIHDER), a multidisciplinary hub focused on advancing health and addressing health disparities through research and community engagement. Establishment of the NIH-funded Research Centers at Minority Institutions (RCMI) is also underway with an initial focus on brain-health and cardiometabolic diseases. The College's interdisciplinary environment creates opportunities for collaboration across disciplines, innovative academic programming, student mentoring, and impactful research addressing health and well-being.

About the Department

The Department of Psychology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University offers a B.A. in Psychology, an M.S. in Health Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology. With over 900 undergraduate and graduate students, the department is a growing academic community committed to excellence in teaching, student mentoring, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The B.A. in Psychology provides students with a strong foundation in psychological theory, research methods, data analysis, critical thinking, and communication. The M.S. in Health Psychology prepares students to apply psychological science to health promotion, disease prevention, behavioral interventions, and community health. The Ph.D. in Applied Psychology expands the department's research mission and offers concentrations in Cognitive-Behavioral Neuroscience and Social-Community Psychology, preparing students to conduct rigorous, applied research addressing complex challenges in health, behavior, and society.

Faculty engage in research spanning behavioral and basic sciences, community-based interventions, and clinical and translational research, with opportunities for externally funded scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration. The department also benefits from its connection to the Center of Excellence for Integrative Health Disparities and Equity Research (CIHDER). The department seeks a dynamic and visionary leader who will build upon the department’s strengths to provide exceptional educational experiences, recruit and develop outstanding faculty, promote faculty-driven scholarship, and support undergraduate and graduate education.

Living in the Area

N.C. A&T is located in Greensboro, North Carolina, the state’s third-largest city and a dynamic hub in the Piedmont Triad region. Centrally positioned between the mountains and the coast, Greensboro offers an outstanding quality of life with easy access to major interstate highways and a nearby international airport.

Greensboro is also a vibrant educational and cultural community, home to multiple colleges and universities, a growing economy, and a welcoming mix of arts, athletics, and outdoor amenities. With a strong sense of community and a cost of living that remains accessible, the region provides an exceptional setting for academic, professional, and family life.

To Apply 

For full consideration, please apply by October 28, 2026.

Please apply through the application link and do not email applications. 

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.

Inquiries and questions: Please send to [email protected].
Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominee’s name, title, and contact information if available to [email protected].

Institutional Information
North Carolina A&T State University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. No one who applies or seeks employment will be denied admission to or employment at North Carolina A&T State University on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disabling condition, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or sexual orientation and sexual identity.