Assistant Professor/Director of Music Education

Position Title: Assistant Professor/Director of Music Education

Department: Music

Campus Location: Washburn University

Application Deadline:  Application review will begin as applications are received and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants can be assured of full consideration if submitted by November 15, 2025.

Position Summary:

Washburn University’s Department of Music invites applications for the position of Director of Music Education. The position will begin August 1, 2026. This position is a nine-month, tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor. A completed doctorate is necessary for tenure-track appointment.

Each selected candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to pursuing teaching excellence at Washburn University, including a dedication to developing inclusive teaching practices that engage all learners.

About Washburn University: 

Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in the metropolitan setting of Topeka that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students. Washburn has a student body of over 5,500 undergraduate, graduate, and law students, a significant and growing number of whom are first-generation and Pell-Grant eligible. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a dynamic faculty, staff, and student body and cultivating a robust learning and working environment and curriculum. We employ more than one thousand faculty and staff on our campuses throughout Topeka and strive to offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, and a supportive culture and a healthy work/life balance. Washburn seeks to create an environment that reflects our core values for creating positive IMPACT: inclusion, modernization, partnership, achievement, community and transformation. In 2024, Washburn was recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to Great Colleges to Work For® program.

Essential Functions:
• Fulfill teaching expectations associated with tenure-track appointment. Teach 12-hours per semester (either in-person or online, according to departmental needs) or equivalent full workload as outlined in the faculty handbook.
• Teach and develop undergraduate music education majors, classes, and seminars as assigned and as dependent upon department needs, which may include WU 101 Washburn Experience, Introduction to Music Education, Foundations of Elementary Music, Secondary Choral Methods, Secondary Instrumental Methods, general education courses, or some combination of classes consistent with the candidate’s training and interests.
• Fulfill service expectations associated with tenure-track appointment by engaging in service activities in the department, university, and profession.
• Develop and maintain an active portfolio of scholarly research/creative activities and service including a national and international profile.
• Additional responsibilities may include the advising of undergraduate music education majors and participation on department committees.
• Serve as liaison to the Washburn University Department of Education.
• Liaise with area music educators and develop strong community connections.
• Organize and supervise music education teaching practicum and student teaching experiences.
• Serve as faculty advisor for Collegiate NAfME.
• Perform additional job-related duties as assigned or as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:
• Doctorate in Music or Doctorate in Musical Arts, ABD applicants will be considered with completion of doctorate by August 1, 2027.
• A minimum of three-years of PreK – 12 public school music teaching.
• A minimum of two-years teaching music education at the postsecondary level.
• Experience coordinating/supervising music teaching field experiences at the postsecondary level.
• Demonstrated dedication to developing inclusive teaching practices that engage all learners.
• Official educational transcripts required at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with state and national education accreditation entities.
• Experience with assessment of music education programs.
• A minimum of two-years teaching music education at the university level.
• Experience with current instructional technology approaches in music education.
• Evidence of an established record of research in music education.

Special Instructions to Applicants: Please upload the following materials to the “additional document” field via the electronic application: letter of application and statement of philosophy of music education.

Inquiries pertaining to this position may be directed to Dr. Joey DeSota joseph.desota@washburn.edu.

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