Associate Professor/Professor - Early Childhood Inclusive Education

Posting Details

Position Information

Job Title

Associate Professor/Professor - Early Childhood Inclusive Education

Department

Teacher Education

Essential Functions

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) invites applications and nominations for a tenured Associate Professor or Professor of Early Childhood Inclusive Education who will also hold the distinguished title of John T. Langan Chair of Early Childhood Education in the College of Education Health and Human Sciences. Anticipated start date is August 16, 2027.

We seek an accomplished scholar, educator, and collaborative leader whose work advances the learning, development, inclusion, and well-being of young children and their families. The successful candidate will bring a nationally recognized or emerging nationally prominent program of scholarship in early childhood inclusive education and will contribute intellectual leadership to UNO, the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, and the broader early childhood community.

The Langan Chair provides an exceptional opportunity for a scholar committed to connecting research, teaching, professional preparation, and community engagement to improve opportunities and outcomes for young children, particularly children with disabilities and developmental differences and children and families who have historically experienced barriers to high-quality, inclusive early learning opportunities.

The Chair will be key UNO partner with the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary and system-level collaboration in early childhood research, practice, professional preparation, and community engagement. The endowment establishing the Langan Chair specifically provides for this affiliation and recognizes excellence in teaching and research as central criteria for appointment.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to preventing and eliminating discrimination against employees and prospective employees based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. The University of Nebraska at Omaha does not condone or tolerate discrimination. In support of this policy, the University has implemented employment programs to recruit, employ, and promote qualified individuals based solely on their knowledge, skills, abilities and talents. These factors, along with our commitment to recruit, assess and select all candidates/employees using job-related criteria, ensure fairness, equal evaluation, and treatment in our selection decisions and processes.

Work Schedule

Varies

Additional Duties

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an active and impactful program of research and scholarship in early childhood inclusive education and related areas. The faculty member will pursue external funding appropriate to their scholarly agenda; disseminate research through high-quality peer-reviewed publications and other influential scholarly and professional outlets; and contribute to the national visibility and impact of UNO's work in early childhood education and inclusion.

The Langan Chair Will Also

• Lead the early childhood inclusive team with particular attention to evidence-based approaches that support young children with a range of abilities, developmental characteristics, backgrounds, and learning needs.
• Develop and sustain an innovative and nationally visible program of research with potential to influence policy, professional practice, educator preparation, and/or early childhood systems.
• Teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses in early childhood inclusive education and related areas and contribute to the preparation of highly qualified early childhood professionals.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and, where appropriate, early-career faculty and emerging scholars.
• Seek and secure external funding to advance research, innovation, and collaborative initiatives.
• Build interdisciplinary collaborations across UNO, Buffett Early Childhood Institute and the University of Nebraska system.
• Establish and strengthen partnerships with early childhood programs, schools, community organizations, families, state agencies, and other partners to support inclusive opportunities for young children.
• Translate research into practice through partnerships with educators, practitioners, policymakers, families, and communities.
• Collaborate with the university, college, and units and NU Foundation to approach donors for ECI related initiatives.
• Contribute appropriate service and leadership to the department, college, university, profession, and broader early childhood community.
  
  

The Langan Chair will have an opportunity to help shape the future of early childhood inclusive education at UNO and across the University of Nebraska. Of particular interest is a scholar who sees inclusion not simply as a specialized area of early childhood education, but as a fundamental principle for designing high-quality environments, professional preparation, and systems in which all young children can participate, learn, develop, and belong.

The successful candidate will have opportunities to build collaborations spanning early childhood education, special education, child development, family engagement, behavioral and mental health, educational leadership, public policy, and related disciplines. Through the Chair's affiliation with the Buffett Early Childhood Institute and engagement with community and state partners, the faculty member will be positioned to connect rigorous scholarship with meaningful improvements in practice and systems.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska's only public metropolitan university, uniquely positioned at the heart of the state's largest city. As a proud member of the University of Nebraska system, UNO offers a distinctive blend of academic excellence, impactful research, and meaningful community engagement, all within a student-centered environment that fosters opportunity, access, and achievement. With more than 15,000 students and a campus known for its variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, UNO is committed to merit-based opportunity, inclusive excellence, and the transformative power of education. We emphasize experiential learning and innovation in all that we do, preparing our graduates to lead in a dynamic, global society.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• An earned doctorate in early childhood inclusive education, early childhood special education, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of two years of teaching experience in an early childhood setting (birth - grade 2)
• A record of scholarship, teaching, and service sufficient for appointment with tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
• An established program of research and scholarship relevant to early childhood inclusive education.
• A record of peer-reviewed scholarly publications.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching and/or professional preparation.
• Evidence of collaboration with colleagues, practitioners, communities, or other partners.
• Evidence of scholarly leadership.
• Experience leading interdisciplinary teams.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

Strong candidates may demonstrate one or more of the following:

• A record of obtaining external funding from federal agencies, foundations, state agencies, or other sources.
• Expertise in designing, implementing, and evaluating inclusive early childhood practices, programs, or systems.
• Experience developing sustained research-practice partnerships with schools, early childhood programs, community organizations, families, or public agencies.
• Experience translating research findings for practitioners, policymakers, families, and communities.
• A record of mentoring graduate students, junior faculty, or emerging scholars.
• Evidence of leadership in professional organizations, editorial activities, national initiatives, or other scholarly and professional venues.
• Contributions to the national visibility of early childhood inclusive education.
  
  

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Regularly sits; may stand, walk. See, hear, speak and use of hands

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Regularly works indoors. Noise level is low to moderate.

Salary

Commensurate with experience

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number

2026F-00149

Open Date

Close Date

Open Until Filled

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

To learn more and apply online, please visit.

https://unomaha.peopleadmin.com/postings/26545and submit the following application materials:

• Cover letter
• CV
• Statements of research and teaching interests.
• Contact information for three references (references will only be contacted for finalists)
  
  

Applications must be submitted directly through the UNO website to be considered for this position. Any applications submitted via email or this website will not be reviewed or considered.

Review of applications will begin on November 19, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please apply by the review date. For questions about the position, please contact Chris Wilcoxen at 402-554-3666.