What are the responsibilities and job description for the Teaching Assistant Professor, Public Health position at Inside Higher Ed?
Location:
Knoxville, TN
Open Date
Dec 19, 2025
Description
The Department of Public Health is hiring a twelve-month, non-tenure-track Teaching Assistant Professor to join a dynamic team of collaborative and supportive faculty. The primary responsibility is teaching courses for the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) programs, both on campus and distance education (DE). This position also includes online course development for the DE-BSPH as needed.
The position begins on June 1, 2026, and is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Relocation to Knoxville is necessary. This is up to a 5 year appoinment, renewed annually based upon sucessful annual perforamcne review on teaching and service. The Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee is seeking candidates who have the ability to promote an atmosphere where all members of the university community feel welcome and can thrive.
Responsibilities
Teaching (90% effort): Develop and teach fully online undergraduate public health courses (i.e., PUBH 340 – Data Management, PUBH 400 Comparative Healthcare Systems, and PUBH 440 Population Health). Additionally, teach in-person or online courses based on areas of expertise and departmental needs. Teaching load is 4 courses in the fall semester, 4 in the spring semester, and 2 in the summer semester.
Service (10% effort): Serve on relevant committees, including the Undergraduate Public Health (UG PH) committee. Assist with student recruitment and retention, and other duties assigned.
Research (0% effort): Research is not required; although, as an R1 institution, research is welcome and encouraged. In this particular role, research that enhances teaching and service is welcome. For example, scholarships of teaching and learning that advances pedagogy in public health or community-based research integrated into a course could enhance teaching efforts.
The University Of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)
We are the state’s flagship research institution, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates, and a premier graduate institution. As a land-grant university, UTK is committed to excellence in learning, scholarship, and engagement with society. In all its activities, the university aims to advance the frontiers of human knowledge and enrich and elevate society. The university welcomes and honors people of all races, genders, creeds, cultures, and sexual orientations, and values intellectual curiosity, pursuit of knowledge, and academic freedom and integrity. The university intends that its graduates will promote the values and institutions of representative democracy and be prepared to lead lives of personal integrity and civic responsibility. Forbes magazine again recognized The University of Tennessee as a dream employer based on growth opportunities, quality of work, salary, and company reputation. Visit http://www.utk.edu for detailed information.
Department Of Public Health
The Department of Public Health is one of eight departments within the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS). The department is home to 19 faculty members and 3 staff members. Ours is a growing department, providing public health training and education at the undergraduate, MPH, and PhD levels. Our MPH has over 50 years of CEPH accreditation, and our newer BSPH and PhD programs are also CEPH-accredited. The department offers CEPH-accredited programs, including one undergraduate major (BSPH) with a concentration in Population Health Sciences (Campus-based and Distance Education), an undergraduate public health minor, two Accelerated programs, a Master of Public Health (MPH) program (Distance Education and Campus-based) with five MPH concentrations, and a PhD program in Health Sciences.
We have long-standing strong and positive relationships with local public health organizations, especially the Knox County Health Department (KCHD) and Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) through our Academic Health Department partnerships.
For more information about the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, please visit http://cehhs.utk.edu. Visit https://publichealth.utk.edu/ for information about the Department of Public Health.
Knoxville, TN
Our city is situated in a valley between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cumberland Plateau, areas of great beauty and among the most bio-diverse in the U.S. Knoxville is a city of 200,000 offering many amenities of urban life. Knoxville has a beautiful and walkable downtown, active neighborhoods, and eclectic cultural activities, restaurants and shopping. In 2020 Livability ranked Knoxville among the 100 best places to live and Apartment Guide cited Knoxville as the #1 city for pet owners. Conde Nast Traveler selected Knoxville as one of the top five Trending US Destinations for 2020. Knoxville is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Atlanta, and Nashville.
Qualifications
Qualifications
The successful candidate for this position will have an earned doctoral degree, preferably in public health or a related field and teaching experience with different modalities (online and in-person).
Desired
Application Instructions
Please submit a letter expressing your interest and describing your qualifications, your current curriculum vitae (including teaching experience/modalities), and three references. Submit application materials via https://apply.interfolio.com/162619
Applications received outside of the Interfolio system via Indeed or other job application systems will not be considered. Applications will start being reviewed on February 9, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. Please direct questions to the search chair, Dr. Victoria Wagner-Greene at vwagnerg@utk.edu
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.
Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.
Knoxville, TN
Open Date
Dec 19, 2025
Description
The Department of Public Health is hiring a twelve-month, non-tenure-track Teaching Assistant Professor to join a dynamic team of collaborative and supportive faculty. The primary responsibility is teaching courses for the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) programs, both on campus and distance education (DE). This position also includes online course development for the DE-BSPH as needed.
The position begins on June 1, 2026, and is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Relocation to Knoxville is necessary. This is up to a 5 year appoinment, renewed annually based upon sucessful annual perforamcne review on teaching and service. The Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee is seeking candidates who have the ability to promote an atmosphere where all members of the university community feel welcome and can thrive.
Responsibilities
Teaching (90% effort): Develop and teach fully online undergraduate public health courses (i.e., PUBH 340 – Data Management, PUBH 400 Comparative Healthcare Systems, and PUBH 440 Population Health). Additionally, teach in-person or online courses based on areas of expertise and departmental needs. Teaching load is 4 courses in the fall semester, 4 in the spring semester, and 2 in the summer semester.
Service (10% effort): Serve on relevant committees, including the Undergraduate Public Health (UG PH) committee. Assist with student recruitment and retention, and other duties assigned.
Research (0% effort): Research is not required; although, as an R1 institution, research is welcome and encouraged. In this particular role, research that enhances teaching and service is welcome. For example, scholarships of teaching and learning that advances pedagogy in public health or community-based research integrated into a course could enhance teaching efforts.
The University Of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)
We are the state’s flagship research institution, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates, and a premier graduate institution. As a land-grant university, UTK is committed to excellence in learning, scholarship, and engagement with society. In all its activities, the university aims to advance the frontiers of human knowledge and enrich and elevate society. The university welcomes and honors people of all races, genders, creeds, cultures, and sexual orientations, and values intellectual curiosity, pursuit of knowledge, and academic freedom and integrity. The university intends that its graduates will promote the values and institutions of representative democracy and be prepared to lead lives of personal integrity and civic responsibility. Forbes magazine again recognized The University of Tennessee as a dream employer based on growth opportunities, quality of work, salary, and company reputation. Visit http://www.utk.edu for detailed information.
Department Of Public Health
The Department of Public Health is one of eight departments within the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS). The department is home to 19 faculty members and 3 staff members. Ours is a growing department, providing public health training and education at the undergraduate, MPH, and PhD levels. Our MPH has over 50 years of CEPH accreditation, and our newer BSPH and PhD programs are also CEPH-accredited. The department offers CEPH-accredited programs, including one undergraduate major (BSPH) with a concentration in Population Health Sciences (Campus-based and Distance Education), an undergraduate public health minor, two Accelerated programs, a Master of Public Health (MPH) program (Distance Education and Campus-based) with five MPH concentrations, and a PhD program in Health Sciences.
We have long-standing strong and positive relationships with local public health organizations, especially the Knox County Health Department (KCHD) and Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) through our Academic Health Department partnerships.
For more information about the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, please visit http://cehhs.utk.edu. Visit https://publichealth.utk.edu/ for information about the Department of Public Health.
Knoxville, TN
Our city is situated in a valley between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cumberland Plateau, areas of great beauty and among the most bio-diverse in the U.S. Knoxville is a city of 200,000 offering many amenities of urban life. Knoxville has a beautiful and walkable downtown, active neighborhoods, and eclectic cultural activities, restaurants and shopping. In 2020 Livability ranked Knoxville among the 100 best places to live and Apartment Guide cited Knoxville as the #1 city for pet owners. Conde Nast Traveler selected Knoxville as one of the top five Trending US Destinations for 2020. Knoxville is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Atlanta, and Nashville.
Qualifications
Qualifications
The successful candidate for this position will have an earned doctoral degree, preferably in public health or a related field and teaching experience with different modalities (online and in-person).
Desired
- Quality Matters or other Online Education certification
- Online course development
- Excellent communication skills
- Effective interpersonal skills
- Technology skills, including Zoom, LMS (e.g., Canvas), Qualtrics, and Microsoft Systems
Application Instructions
Please submit a letter expressing your interest and describing your qualifications, your current curriculum vitae (including teaching experience/modalities), and three references. Submit application materials via https://apply.interfolio.com/162619
Applications received outside of the Interfolio system via Indeed or other job application systems will not be considered. Applications will start being reviewed on February 9, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. Please direct questions to the search chair, Dr. Victoria Wagner-Greene at vwagnerg@utk.edu
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.
Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.