Assistant Professor - Literacy Education

Job Description

The Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at the University of Massachusetts Boston seeks applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Literacy Education position to begin September 1, 2027. Of particular interest are candidates whose scholarly expertise advances equity in literacy education and whose teaching, research, and service will advance our college mission and the commitments outlined in our university strategic plan (page 11).

Candidates’ research agendas should focus on one or both of the following two areas: 1) early literacy including the processes of reading development, particularly for students with dis/abilities and multilingual learners; and/or 2) critical digital literacies and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on race, power, and social justice in P-12 educational contexts.

Preferred qualifications include one or more of the following: 1) scholarship that incorporates critical theoretical perspectives to examine literacy, educator preparation, teaching, learning, and educational opportunity in urban educational contexts, 2) experience with culturally sustaining and asset-based approaches to teaching and learning, 3) expertise in mixed methods research and interest in applied, participatory, and community engaged scholarship. The position also offers opportunities for collaboration with UMass Boston’s Collaborative of Asian American, Native American, Latino, and African American Institutes (CANALA - UMass Boston).

Responsibilities for this position include: 1) teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction; 2) conducting research that is relevant to the field of education; 3) advising graduate students, including master’s students and doctoral students and serving on doctoral dissertation committees; and 4) contributing service to university, college, departmental, and program committees, to professional associations, and to local, national, and/or international communities. The College recognizes that the scholarly work of faculty often includes the integration of teaching, research, and service.

CEHD is ranked the top public college of education in the state of Massachusetts (U.S. News and World Report, 2026) and is guided by our core values of social justice, community engagement and academic excellence. Its Department of Curriculum and Instruction is home to cohort-based degrees and certificates including MEd, CAGS, PMC, and PhD, programs that are highly regarded in the region and nation.

UMass Boston is an urban public research university with a teaching soul, whose impact is both local and global. We are the third most diverse university in the country - more than 60% of our undergraduate students come from minoritized communities and groups and more than half of our students are the first in their families to attend a college or university. Thus, our students come to us from richly diverse life experiences and backgrounds; they bring to our classrooms and research settings the robust range of perspectives growing out of the socio-cultural, economic, and historical contexts in which they have lived, along with the challenges they encounter, engage, and strive to overcome. We invite applications from candidates who reflect the diverse life experiences of our student body, who appreciate that students bring their holistic selves into the academic setting, and who recognize and articulate how their own life experiences and backgrounds have shaped their journeys, practices, and commitments as researchers, scholars, and educators.

Application review will begin on Nov 15 and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries about the position can be directed to Dr. Mona Abo-Zena and Dr. Kristin Murphy, Search Committee Co-Chairs.

Application instructions:

Applicants can apply online using the following link: https://hr.umb.edu/jobs.

Submit the following materials:

• A letter of interest that: 1) describes the applicant’s research agenda and how it supports our program mission; 2) explains how the applicant's research and scholarship contribute to theory, practice, and policy in the field of literacy education; and 3) indicates how the applicant’s teaching and advising philosophy fits with urban teacher education program.
• A current curriculum vitae
• Three samples of scholarship published in academic venues such as peer-reviewed journals, academic books, and conference proceedings, or scholarly artifacts in the form of reports, digital publications, blog posts, policy briefs, among other products.
• Names and contact information for three academic references.

Only finalists for the position will be asked to submit letters of recommendation.

UMass Boston expects to pay within an approximate range between $80,000 and $83,000 for this position.

The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on the consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HR@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.

Organization

Working at University of Massachusetts Boston

The University of Massachusetts Boston is nationally recognized as a model of excellence for urban public universities. The scenic waterfront campus is located next to the John F. Kennedy Library, with easy access to downtown Boston.

The second-largest campus in the UMass system, UMass Boston combines a small-college experience with the vast resources of a major research university. With a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students easily interact with professors because most teaching occurs in small class sizes. Ninety-three percent of full-time faculty hold the highest degree in their fields.

UMass Boston’s academic excellence is reflected by a growing student body of nearly 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The university’s eight colleges offer more than 100 undergraduate programs and 50 graduate programs. The University Honors Program serves 300 students who thrive on intellectual challenge. Enriched courses probe more deeply into theory or venture further into application.

UMass Boston’s diverse student body provides a global context for student learning, and its location in a major U.S. city provides connections to employers in industries such as finance, health care, technology, service, and education, offering students opportunities to gain valuable in-school experience via internships, clinicals, and other career-related placements.

More than 100 student organizations — including clubs, literary magazines, newspaper, radio station, art gallery, and 16 NCAA Division III sports teams — offer a rich campus life. Students live throughout Greater Boston and in apartment communities just steps from the campus, and enjoy the rich amenities, cultural attractions, and educational opportunities that make the city the biggest and best college town in the nation.