Job Details

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is on the WCU instructional site at Biltmore Park in

Asheville, NC.

Western Carolina University (WCU) invites applications for the Bardo Distinguished Professor in Educational Leadership, a 9-month faculty member position at the rank of Professor with tenure within the Department of Human Services in the College of Education and Allied Professions. The Distinguished Professorship designation is considered in five-year renewable terms. Anticipated starting work date is August 1, 2026 with the possibility of starting on January 1, 2027 depending on candidate availability.

The successful candidate will teach, supervise, and advise students in the EdD degree program in Educational Leadership primarily located at the WCU instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville, NC. Courses are offered to students in a hybrid format with in-person meetings held one weekend per month during the semester. Additional courses may be taught solely online.

The individual who is chosen to be WCUs distinguished professor in educational leadership will provide visibility and leadership for Westerns Department of Human Services as s/he will lead the UNC-II goal for involvement in educational policy at the state, regional and national level. The focus of this work will be to positively influence policy for BK-12 education, community colleges, and the university. The individual will bring and exercise expertise in acquiring extramural funding and doctoral level policy with a preferred focus on rural education in the 21st century. The work of this distinguished professor will create a niche for Western Carolina University to become known for the articulation of policy through to practice as evidenced in our principal and superintendent preparation programs. There will also be a direct link through the Department of Human Services and the professorship in the work on the School University Teacher Education Partnerships (SUTEP) as policy issues are explored and connected with our local educational agencies (LEAs) on issues of teaching and learning.

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include the following: letter of application, current CV, list of three professional references with complete contact information, and unofficial transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the masters degree level and higher*.

For questions or additional information please contact:
Dr. Jess Weiler (jrweiler@wcu.edu), Search Committee Chair and/or

Dr. April Perry (alperry@wcu.edu), Department Head.

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your masters degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.