What are the responsibilities and job description for the Teaching Assistant Professor, HDFS position at The University of Illinois?
Teaching Assistant Professor, HDFS
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Job Title: Teaching Assistant Professor & Director of the Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative (INI)
The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (https://hdfs.illinois.edu/) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (http://illinois.edu/) is searching for an outstanding candidate for a nine-month, benefits-eligible non-tenure track appointment at the rank of Teaching Assistant Professor. This non-tenure-track position is an annually renewable contract with a promotion pathway (see policies #25-26 at https://provost.illinois.edu/policies/provosts-communications/).
This position will hold a 0% appointment as the Director of INI. INI is a program for University of Illinois students who identify with having any neurodivergent condition. INI supports its students' success from orientation through graduation. Our goal is to ensure college success and employment by providing academic, social, mental health, and job-readiness support.
Key Responsibilities
Oversee all aspects of the INI program and provide supervision to INI staff (100%)
· Create and implement wrap-around support for INI students by overseeing programming related to academic support, mental health, social connection, and employment readiness (20%).
· Recruitment and retention of INI students. This includes marketing, application processes, admissions decisions, fee assessment/billing, program assessment, and program outcome dissemination (20%).
· Curriculum development and implementation: Course development, teaching, research, and development of novel interventions for neurodivergent college students, campus and community training on neurodiversity and universal design (20%).
· Budget management and external fundraising (15%)
· Developing and nurturing relationships with corporate partners and university stakeholders (15%)
· Educate and equip the student home support system (5%)
· Contribute to departmental service (5%)
Required Qualifications
· Doctoral degree in a field relevant to targeted intervention, counseling, and teaching for neurodivergent individuals (e.g., special education, social work, psychology, human development and family studies, speech-language pathology).
· Current certification and/or licensing in their respective field, as applicable.
· At least 5 years of experience with research, clinical practice, teaching, and direct support for neurodivergent youth or adults.
· Knowledge of local, state, and federal support resources and advocacy.
· Experience developing curriculum and teaching/implementing academic, mental health, employment, and social support for neurodivergent students.
Preferred Qualifications
· Knowledge/experience with post-secondary supports for neurodivergent adults, including academic, mental health, employment, and social connectedness.
· Well-versed in current challenges and barriers to success for neurodivergent college students and a social model of support.
· Experience with program development and recruitment for university-level neurodiversity supports.
· Current relationships with corporations that support neurodivergent hiring and employment.
· Experience identifying, building, and motivating campus stakeholders and partnerships.
· Knowledge/experience with funding avenues for educational/employment support for neurodivergent individuals.
· At least 5 years of experience with college-level curriculum development and teaching.
· At least 2 years of experience supervising student interns.
Work Environment:
- Job requires being on campus in academic environments (e.g., classrooms, offices).
- Occasional evening or weekend hours
- Occasional meetings with non-campus partners
Salary and Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time specialized faculty position, appointed on a 9-month basis. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position. The budgeted salary range for this 9-month position is $73,000 to $78,000. Any summer supervision responsibilities would be compensated as an additional summer salary (one summer month is calculated as 1/9 of the base salary)
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on March 30, 2026. Please submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three professional references using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact the Search Committee Chair, Adrienne Shockley at amorris@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career — along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.
Faculty Recruitment
Champaign-Urbana
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or accessibility@illinois.edu.
Requisition ID: 1035098
Job Category: Faculty
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu
Salary : $73,000 - $78,000