JOB OPPORTUNITY
Job title: Director and Professor of the Urban Studies Institute (Georgia State University)
Hiring institution: Georgia State University
Location: Atlanta, Georgia | United States
Application deadline: Open until filled
The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University invites applications for the next Director of the Urban Studies Institute (USI). Qualified candidates should have a record of publications and sponsored research appropriate for tenure and appointment at the rank of Full Professor at Georgia State University. The successful candidate will bring intellectual and administrative leadership experience to guide the future of an innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and research unit. The Director will be instrumental in supporting research and teaching from diverse disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives; expanding interdisciplinary degree programs and enrollment; fostering meaningful engagement with communities both locally in Atlanta and globally; and advancing strategic initiatives that align with Georgia State University’s dedication to student success, innovation, and engaged research.
The Director of the Urban Studies Institute will report to the Dean of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and lead the Institute’s academic programs, faculty, and staff. The Director’s key responsibilities will include:
- Fostering interdisciplinary research and collaboration on urban issues across the university;
- Representing USI, internally and externally, with the goal of advancing urban knowledge creation and change, enhancing the Institute’s reputation, and realizing impact, locally and globally.
- Enhancing and expanding academic programs, curricular development, and the expansion of interdisciplinary degree offerings;
- Cultivating partnerships to create a strong student experience that meets a range of workforce needs;
- Supporting faculty at a variety of career stages to advance their teaching, research, and community engagement efforts, with a focus on research infrastructure;
- Managing faculty and staff recruitment, retention, mentoring, and professional development;
- Collaborating across the college, university, and wider community on strategic initiatives that amplify USI’s influence and success.
The Director will join other new leaders at Georgia State University during a pivotal point in the institution’s history. In 2021, Georgia State welcomed Dr. M. Brian Blake as the university’s eighth president, and in 2023, Dr. Nicolle Parsons-Pollard was appointed Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs. In 2024, Dr. Thomas J. Vicino joined the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies as its eighth dean. The Director will have a unique opportunity to define and implement new initiatives informed by the strategic plan Blueprint to 2033: Our Place, Our Time.
The position offers extensive opportunities for collaboration in Atlanta and beyond, where alumni and partners are actively engaged in creating positive change in their communities. With access to world-class research centers, state-of-the-art facilities, and supportive leadership, the Director will be equipped with the resources necessary to drive innovation in urban research, education, policy, and action.
This position is located on the Atlanta campus of Georgia State University and requires in-person, on campus-based work. The Andrew Young School maintains a flexible work environment. This position is planned as a fiscal-year administrative appointment.
The Urban Studies Institute
The Urban Studies Institute (USI) is a university-wide interdisciplinary research and teaching unit recognized nationally and internationally for its high-quality and impactful scholarship in urban studies and related fields. Established in 2017, USI was founded to enhance Georgia State University’s identity as an urban-serving institution. The Institute has since built a reputation for excellence in areas including inclusive development, environmental sustainability, economic resilience, housing studies, and comparative urbanism, and strongly contributes to the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies’ #3 ranking for Urban Policy in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report. Its research and teaching focuses on developing urban theory, knowledge, and understanding, and generating actionable, policy-relevant outcomes at local, national, and global scales. The Institute teaches an innovative and specialized interdisciplinary curriculum at the master’s and doctoral level, including the only Ph.D. in Urban Studies in Georgia, along with an undergraduate minor in urban studies.
USI currently consists of eight tenure-track core faculty members as well as a broad network of affiliate faculty from across the university, including other units in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Law, School of Public Health, and the Robinson College of Business. The Institute’s faculty are highly research active, with records of publishing in top-tier journals, securing competitive external grants, and generating impact beyond the academy through meaningful engagement with stakeholders in metropolitan Atlanta and cities worldwide. The Institute’s mission is to prepare the next generation of urban leaders, advance debates at the forefront of urban studies, and promote more equitable urban futures, both in Atlanta and worldwide.
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies is one of the nation’s leading policy schools dedicated to addressing critical social and economic challenges through interdisciplinary research and policy. The school is composed of diverse academic units, including the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Department of Economics, Department of Public Management and Policy, School of Social Work, and Urban Studies Institute. With top-ranked programs and research centers and over $35 million in sponsored research funding, the school leverages its location in downtown Atlanta to engage in significant public policy issues on local, national, and global levels. Emphasizing innovation and student success, the school prepares students and professionals to meet the evolving demands of advancing the public good across all sectors.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University, classified as a doctoral university with very high research activity and located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, is one of the nation’s largest and most diverse urban research institutions, with over 52,000 students from 150 countries. The university is nationally recognized for its innovation in student success, ranking #1 in commitment to undergraduate teaching and #2 in innovation by U.S. News & World Report. Georgia State’s student body is noted for its diversity, with nearly two-thirds of students being Pell-eligible, 35% first-generation college students, and 70% from underrepresented groups. As a national model for student achievement, the university has significantly increased graduation rates and reduced achievement gaps. Its vibrant research community, with over $200 million in research expenditures, and its strategic location in one of the world’s leading global cities provide unparalleled opportunities for real-world impact, community engagement, and academic excellence.
Required Experience
- Ph.D. in urban studies or other related fields such as geography, sociology, political science, urban policy, urban and regional planning;
An academic record suitable for tenure at the rank of Full Professor in the Andrew Young School, including a strong track record of research, publications, and scholarly contributions that reflect interdisciplinary engagement;
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated record of academic leadership and administrative experience as a department chair, associate chair, center director, or academic program director;
- Teaching and mentoring experience, with a commitment to lead curriculum initiatives;
- Proven ability to work across disciplines and foster research collaborations with other departments and external partners.
- Experience with program development and enrollment management;
- Proven success in securing, managing, and supporting sponsored research programs;
- Experience with developing, maintaining, and expanding relationships with urban community partners;
- Familiarity with financial management in support of student success and faculty initiatives.
- Experience in policy school and urban university settings.
Documents Needed to Apply
- Cover Letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Name and contact information of three references
Application Link
https://facultycareers.gsu.edu/postings/5053
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at: https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at: https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Georgia State prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. This prohibition applies to faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia State community, including affiliates, invitees, and guests. Further, Georgia State prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.
Background Check
Successful candidate must be able to pass a comprehensive criminal background investigation and other background searches as applicable to the job such as credit check and Motor Vehicle Record.
Disclaimer
This job requisition provides a high-level job definition. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive or exclusive list of job duties. As such, job duties and/or responsibilities within the context of this job requisition may change at the discretion of the employee’s direct supervisor.
