Job Title

Chair, Sport and Hospitality Management, Tenure-Track Faculty

Department

Sport and Hospitality Management

University Expectation

MTSU seeks candidates committed to innovative teaching, robust research/creative activity, and meaningful service. We also seek to attract culturally and academically diverse faculty who value working with diverse students.

Salary

The salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Job Summary/Basic Function

The College of Behavioral and Health Sciences at Middle Tennessee State University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position (Position #119005) at the rank of associate or full professor to serve as Chair of the Department of Sport and Hospitality Management. We seek an accomplished scholar and academic leader with expertise in Sport Management to provide strategic leadership for the department. Expedited tenure upon appointment is possible. The start date for this position is August 1, 2027.

Key Responsibilities

The department chair provides academic and administrative leadership for the department and will:

• Provide strategic vision and leadership for the department's academic programs, faculty, staff, and students.
• Foster a collaborative, collegial, and inclusive departmental culture that supports faculty excellence and professional growth.
• Lead efforts to strengthen and expand undergraduate and graduate programs in sport, leisure, tourism, and hospitality management.
• Support student recruitment, retention, progression, experiential learning, internships, and career development.
• Promote innovative curriculum development and interdisciplinary collaboration across the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences and the university.
• Support faculty research, scholarship, creative activity, and external funding efforts.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with sport organizations, hospitality and tourism businesses, professional associations, alumni, and other external partners.
• Provide effective departmental administration, including faculty workload, scheduling, budgeting, personnel processes, assessment, accreditation, and strategic planning.
• Mentor and support faculty at all career stages and facilitate faculty development.
• Represent the department within the college, university, and broader professional community.
• Teach courses appropriate to their expertise and departmental needs.
• Engage in scholarly activity consistent with the expectations of a tenured faculty appointment.

Required Education

A terminal degree in sport management, sport administration, or a closely related field is required by the appointment date.

Other Desirables

Applicants who demonstrate the following will receive special consideration:

• Sustained record of scholarly achievement appropriate to the rank sought.
• Successful university-level teaching and a commitment to student learning and success.
• Leadership, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills necessary to serve effectively as a department chair.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and external stakeholders.
• Administrative or academic leadership experience, such as department chair, program director, coordinator, associate chair, or other significant leadership responsibilities.
• Record of successful program development, curriculum innovation, accreditation, assessment, or strategic planning.
• Experience developing partnerships with professional organizations, industry, community organizations, or other external stakeholders.
• Record of securing external funding or supporting faculty efforts to obtain external funding.
• Experience with student recruitment, retention, experiential learning, internships, or career placement initiatives.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Professional engagement and leadership at the regional, national, or international level.

Documents Needed to Apply

To successfully apply, applicants must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy, and statement of research or creative activities (as appropriate to the discipline) as separate attachments when submitting the online application.

NOTE: The cover letter should specifically address the candidate’s leadership experience, vision for the department, commitment to student success, and qualifications in sport management, leisure, tourism, or hospitality management.

Special Instruction to Applicants 

When applying, applicants must provide complete contact information, including email addresses, for three professional references. References will be contacted to provide a reference letter if the applicant is selected for an interview. In addition, if the applicant is selected for the position, official transcripts of all degrees conferred, including translations and evaluations of international transcripts from an approved credentialing agency, will be required before a contract is issued. All submitted materials become the property of MTSU and will not be returned. Submission of materials is the applicant’s responsibility. Applications without all required materials are incomplete and will not be considered.

If you need help with the application, please contact Mitzi Dunkley, Faculty Recruitment Specialist, at (615) 898-5128. If you have position-specific questions, please contact Josh Harms at Josh.Harms@mtsu.edu.

MTSU offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to the following:  

• Sick Leave
• Vacation Leave for Administrative/Classified Staff/12-month Faculty
• 13 paid University holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Retirement plans
• Optional 401K and 403B Deferred Compensation Plans
• Educational benefits for the employee and their spouse and dependents

MTSU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligibility for U.S. employment is required before employment (Immigration Control Act of 1986). Clery Act crime statistics for MTSU are available at https://police.mtsu.edu/annual-security-report/ or by contacting MTSU Public Safety at (615) 898-2424.

MTSU is a Tobacco & Drug-Free campus.

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you will be required to provide information about your criminal history to be considered.

For individuals requiring reasonable accommodation to apply: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with MTSU, please call 615-898-2929 or email emp@mtsu.edu.

Application Review Date: 11/27/2026