Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship in Promoting Access to Inclusive Educator Education Programs through Faculty Diversification

Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship in Promoting Access to Inclusive Educator Education Programs through Faculty Diversification 

The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College (MLFTC) at Arizona State University (ASU) invites applications for up to two postdoctoral scholar positions in the area of educator preparation (teacher education) with a focus on inclusive excellence related to clinical experience, community engagement, school-university partnerships, technology in educator preparation, systemic equity in educator preparation, educator preparation policy and other related areas. 

ASU was founded as a normal school committed to preparing high quality educators locally and nationally. Since its inception, MLFTC has had a reputation as a top educator preparation preparer. Today, we are approximately 8000 students strong and over the past 8 years, have been innovating in the educator preparation space, creating programs that are flexible, accessible, and transformative. We have imagined a new kind of workforce for schools and are moving quickly to redefine the roles of educators, how they work together in teams with distributed expertise, and how these teams can create new and engaging learner experiences. We have embraced multilateral partnerships and found ways to break long standing barriers towards entry, specialization, and advancement for educators. We no longer talk about teacher shortages as a recruitment and retention issue but believe that this is a workforce design challenge that schools/colleges of education have a responsibility to help solve. 

The Division of Teacher Preparation, part of MLFTC, is hiring two Presidential Postdoctoral Scholars to address the critical need to examine inclusive excellence in educator preparation. Faculty Scholars will join MLFTC's nationally prominent tenured educator preparation faculty as researchers, educators, and leaders to identify and disrupt patterns of marginalization and exclusion and to actualize ASU's vision for inclusive excellence. Specifically, we are interested in scholars in educator preparation with a focus on inclusive excellence who bring scholarly and practical expertise in educator preparation to prepare future educators to work in new ways and effectively create learner-centered experiences for children and youth with varied needs, backgrounds and experiences. Accordingly, these Scholars may focus on addressing issues in educator preparation such as (1) increased access to educator preparation with an emphasis on inclusive practices within educator preparation, (2) equitable interventions and systemic reforms to support diverse teacher candidates in inclusive environments, and, (3) underrepresentation of Black, Latina/o/x, Native, and disabled educators in PK-12 settings and educator preparation programs and/or, (4) systemic reform within the current policy context. 

In addition to conducting full-time research and participating in national service activities with faculty who lead journals and large-scale funded projects, the Scholars will teach one course per year and contribute directly to the development of a more inclusive and culturally responsive, and sustaining educator preparation curriculum and will be provided concentrated time for integrated research and scholarly networking and mentorship activities. 

The postdoctoral scholars selected will join the 5th cohort of postdoctoral scholars at ASU as part of the Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship Program with a start date of July 2025. The goal of the program is to support the career development of outstanding Ph.D. recipients from underrepresented populations with great potential for advancing the ASU Charter. After successful completion of the program, scholars will have an opportunity to transition to a tenure track appointment at ASU. 

The program seeks applicants whose professional preparedness, experience, and accomplishments are informed by experiences working with and within groups historicallyunderrepresented or underserved in higher education in the United States. Where pools of qualified applicants are strong, priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate, through prior actions and achievements, intentional and actioned commitment to inclusive excellence. Examples of such contributions are research, teaching, mentorship, service, or creative activity focused on empowering underserved populations that increase equitable access and inclusion in fields where historically excluded populations are underrepresented. 

MLFTC has committed to providing individualized mentorship and career development to ensure each candidate is well prepared to succeed in a future tenure track appointment. Career development and community building will also occur through programmatic support through the Office of Inclusive Excellence in partnership with the ASU Graduate College's Postdoctoral Affairs Office. Scholars will have the opportunity to engage with previous cohort members and their own cohort for professional development opportunities but also social/networking events and activities to ensure scholars have the best experience at ASU and develop a strong sense of belonging and engagement. 

About Arizona State University

ASU is a large, comprehensive, research university and for nearly two decades, has transformed into the “New American University,” one dedicated to the simultaneous pursuit of excellence, broad access to quality education, and meaningful societal impact. By our Charter and Design Aspirations, we center inclusion and success as values that drive the enterprise; adopt inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning as ways to address society's greatest challenges; and develop innovative partnerships to produce master learners across the lifespan. To learn more about ASU, visit http://www.asu.edu. 

Qualifications and Characteristics

Successful candidates will engage in scholarly research and may be asked to perform duties common to academic personnel including grant writing and limited but focused teaching and service in order to devote as much time to developing scholarship and a strong research path. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Ph.D. or Ed.D. in education or a closely related field (completed within the last five years or by June 2025).

Demonstrated scholarship through peer-reviewed publications or a strong research portfolio. Active engagement in educator preparation as evidenced through scholarship, teaching, and/or service.

• Experience in educator preparation, including coursework, workshops, or other professional learning focused on inclusive education in an area of expertise.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills as evidenced by a record of varied dissemination approaches (as examples, social media engagement, public media, audiovisual media, strategic partnerships, publication, presentation, briefs) for both academic and non-academic audiences. 

Desired Qualifications 

• Evidence of engagement in community-based activities that advance the ASU Charter, Design Aspirations, and Inclusive Excellence, including advancing public value and social impact.

• Strong research portfolio or peer-reviewed publications focus on inclusive excellence related to clinical experience, community engagement, school-university partnerships, technology in educator preparation, systemic equity in educator preparation, educator preparation policy and other related areas.

• Demonstrated interdisciplinary research experience or collaboration across multiple scholarly disciplines and perspectives, and actively prepares educators to work with diverse student and community populations through scholarship, teaching, or service.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively with faculty, educators, and community stakeholders to promote inclusive excellence in educator preparation, especially in high-needs and diverse communities.

• A demonstrated ability to think critically and creatively about educator preparation that moves the field beyond traditional approaches. 

This position is located at Arizona State University on the Tempe campus. All postdoctoral fellowship positions are funded for two years on an annual contract basis and include relocation costs in addition to yearly professional development funds to support scholar research, conference attendance, and other professional development activities. Options for an additional one or two years of funding or a transition to a tenure track position may be offered, depending on the fellow's progress, training needs, and department funding capacity. The scholar will complete a document of expectations with their unit to help guide their work and monitor progress for both the scholar and their units. Transition to faculty tenure track appointments will require a process of review within the designated tenure home unit. 

Applications and Inquiries

Applications can be submitted online via apply.interfolio.com/158517. Application materials should include a curriculum vitae, a letter of interest describing how you meet the qualifications noted above, and contact information for three references, including email addresses. The application deadline is December 13, 2024. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. 

Inquiries can be directed to Kim Rowe at krowe3@asu.edu 

A background check is required for employment. 

ASU is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. For more information on ASU's policies, please see https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and its complete non-discrimination statement at: https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.
 

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