Department Chairperson of Speech Pathology and Audiology – Ball State University

Department Chairperson of Speech Pathology and Audiology

Position: Department Chairperson of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Organization: Ball State University

Position Description

Department Chairperson of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Ball State University

Ball State University, in partnership with the national search firm, Scott Healy & Associates, invites applications and nominations for the position of Department Chairperson of Speech Pathology and Audiology. Ball State University seeks a visionary and spirited leader who will mobilize and guide the department to greater heights and innovative pathways. The position of chairperson will be tenured on hire as Associate Professor or Professor; salary and benefits are commensurate with credentials and experience.

Applicants are invited to be part of the Ball State team and join a program embedded in a rich and successful history; one that thoroughly prepares its students for a successful career in the health services workforce.

Qualifications

• Research doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology, or other communication disorders-related discipline doctorate;
• Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP or CCC-AUD) credential;
• Eligibility for Indiana licensure;
• Excellent communication, leadership and interpersonal skills;
• Dynamic, collaborative, and collegial work ethic;
• Administrative experience in various aspects of management including course scheduling and faculty assignments, mentoring, budget oversight and stewardship of departmental resources, assessment capabilities and outcome reporting;
• Demonstrated record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service;
• Demonstrate experience with program and curriculum development and management, including online programs, lifelong learning opportunities, and interprofessional education;
• Prior knowledge of accreditation and credentialing processes;
• Ability to support faculty research, grant writing opportunities, and additional scholarly creative activities;
• Passion for exciting and motivating students from diverse and under-privileged backgrounds;
• Contribution to a campus climate that supports equity, diversity, and inclusion.

At Ball State University, inclusiveness is an enduring value and informs all efforts. Applicants should familiarize themselves with our Inclusive Excellence Plan to identify how you might contribute to these efforts.

About the Institution

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, on a beautiful campus 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The University serves approximately 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students across seven academic colleges with about 190 undergraduate programs. Ball State also offers more than 140 certificates and master’s, doctoral, and specialist degrees. A Carnegie Foundation classified Doctoral University with High Research Activity with the Community Engagement Classification, Ball State engages students and faculty in the community through immersive learning, research, and health services.
Ball State began as a teachers college more than a century ago, and is now a highly respected university with outstanding programs in education, architecture, business, communications, fine arts, sciences, humanities, and health. Symbolized by the statue Beneficence, our enduring values—excellence, integrity, inclusiveness, innovation, courage, social responsibility, and gratitude represent our historical commitments and guide our future.

Institutionally, Ball State has established ambitious goals for our second century through our strategic plan, Destination 2040: Our Flight Path:

• We pledge to provide a premier educational experience for every student.
• We pledge to partner with the community to improve the lives of our neighbors.
• We are dedicated to having a lifelong presence in the lives of our alumni.

When we complement these promises with our commitment to our enduring values, we define that which makes our university and its culture distinctive. Our mission is to engage students in educational, research, and creative endeavors that empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service, while we enhance the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our community, our state, and our world.

Community service is also paramount to fulfilling the mission of Ball State University. The University’s Interprofessional Community Clinics provide East Central Indiana and beyond with a variety of services featuring Audiology, Counseling Practicum, and Speech-Language clinics and the Healthy Lifestyle Center. In 2021, they partnered with the Delaware County Health Department to serve as a COVID-19 vaccine clinic. These offerings provide immersive and rewarding educational experiences for students to focus on interprofessional collaboration and benefit thousands of community residents. Innovative academic practice partnerships with healthcare professionals have resulted in more than 1,500 external agreements for students’ placements in internships and practicums. The College of Health is incredibly active in research, with over 50 active grant awards at present, much of which is focused on reducing health disparities and is community-engaged.

More information about working at Ball State, and relocating to East Central Indiana, can be found on the University’s website.

The College of Health, a vital health resource for Indiana in preparing health professionals, is moving boldly forward in making interprofessional education, practice and research its paradigm across its disciplines. The College offers 32 academic programs in 7 units: Departments of Counseling Psychology, Social Psychology, and Counseling; Military Science; Nutrition and Health Science; Speech Pathology and Audiology; and Social Work plus the Schools of Nursing and Kinesiology. Our 217 faculty and staff serve more than 2,800 students. We partner with regional communities for immersive learning and research. Our Health Professions Building was opened in 2019 with 165,000 square feet and is LEED Gold certified. Our Interprofessional Community Clinics offers a range of health and mental health services by students supervised by faculty as well as community health education and prevention services through the Healthy Lifestyle Center. Other facilities include the Health and Physical Activity (HP) complex, Ball Gymnasium, and Lewellen Aquatic Center. Our faculty and students contribute to the evidence base for their respective disciplines. Our research footprint features research institutes, including the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies and Human Performance Lab. We are committed to inclusive excellence in all we do and intend to contribute to an increasingly ¬¬diverse health professional workforce to help decrease health care disparities.

Higher education as well as health care education are currently in a time of transformation, adapting to a new normal. The COVID/post COVID pandemic, and the unfolding realities of health disparities and racial injustice have placed unique challenges on our health care systems and universities and these factors have contributed to the need for seeking out this new normal. The Ball State University College of Health is rising to this challenge and embracing this opportunity. It is essential to graduate health professionals who are clinically knowledgeable, committed to advancing inclusive excellence, and ready to collaborate on interprofessional teams.

In the past year, over 300 student clinicians, supervised by 40 licensed faculty practitioners, delivered care through in-person, telehealth, and outreach services to more than 4,100 community members accounting for about 12,000 visits to the Interprofessional Community Clinic. Students and staff in the clinics along with the Healthy Lifestyle Center also attended, hosted, or sponsored more than 100 community outreach events this past year, delivering health education and screenings throughout East Central Indiana to an estimated 2,000 people of all ages.
In recognition of our community impact, the Indiana State Department of Health awarded a $1.7 million grant in August 2023 to expand our health services to several rural counties with limited healthcare access. As our slogan indicates to the community, “Your Health Is Our Mission.”

The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology strives to provide a unique, immersive and progressive educational environment with faculty and staff devoted to fostering academic, clinical, and professional success to all its graduates. The Department is an evolving clinical resource for the people of east central Indiana and is charged with providing the highest level of healthcare within our respective professions. The department houses accredited undergraduate majors and minors in speech-language pathology and pre-audiology, a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, and a doctoral degree in audiology. The programs currently serve 266 degree-seeking students and are supported by 15 faculty, including full-time tenured, tenure track and non-tenure track positions, as well as part-time adjunct faculty and clinicians. Faculty and student mentees have access to new, state-of-the-art laboratories to support research. The Interprofessional Community Clinics include space devoted to assessment, sample collection, processing, storage, and analytics. Faculty facilitate interprofessional education throughout the program with speech language pathology and audiology students working together with students and faculty from across the institution.

About the Community

Muncie, Indiana offers a welcoming atmosphere, friendly community, and charming neighborhoods that create a warm and inviting environment for residents. Ball State enjoys a close relationship with the City of Muncie, and many employees extol the virtues of living in this Midwestern college town of 70,000 people.

Muncie’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene, and numerous community events provide endless opportunities for entertainment and enrichment. The city is also known for its beautiful parks and outdoor spaces, offering a perfect balance between urban amenities and natural beauty. The Minnetrista museum and gardens, the Ball State University Museum of Art, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and the Muncie Children’s Museum are just a few of the many exciting attractions in the Muncie area.

Indianapolis, known as the racing capital of the world, is located 1 hour and 15 minutes away from downtown Muncie. The city known for fast cars and blockbuster events has also gained acclaim for a flourishing culinary and brewing scene, thriving cultural institutions, cool neighborhoods, and so much more. Learn more about things to do in Indianapolis.

How to apply:

All correspondence relating to the position of Department Chairperson of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Ball State University should be directed in confidence to the University’s executive search consultant:

Erin House, Assistant Vice President
Scott Healy & Associates
erin@scotthealy.com

A complete application should include the following:

1. Detailed CV;
2. Cover letter explicating your qualifications, interests and experiences;
3. Separate statement about your vision for inclusive excellence;
4. 3-5 references; we will not contact them without notifying you.

Applications received by December 1, 2023 will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled. Position begins August 17th, 2024.

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.