Adjunct Faculty: Dissertation Chair for Organizational Leadership & I/O Psych PhD (remote)

Adler University is the leading academic institution advancing socially responsible practice, healthy communities, and a more just society. Adler University was founded on an important idea: Our health resides in our community life and connections. This is what drives our groundbreaking curricula and commitment to social responsibility, from our campuses in downtown Chicago and Vancouver and through Adler Online. We work with those courageous enough to want to change the world. Our doctoral and master's programs-many of them nationally recognized in fast-growing fields-prepare students to lead social change in the fields of psychology and mental health, criminal justice and public safety, business, public policy, and advocacy.

The Dissertation Chair is an academic position responsible for guiding and mentoring doctoral candidates through the dissertation process. This role involves overseeing the development, research, writing, and defense of doctoral dissertations to ensure academic rigor and the successful completion of the doctoral program. The Dissertation Chair works closely with doctoral candidates, faculty members, and academic committees to uphold the institution's academic standards and support students in achieving their research goals.

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• PhD. in Leadership, I/O Psych or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant field.
• Extensive experience in academic research, preferably with a record of published work.
• Proven experience mentoring and advising graduate students.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Knowledge of ethical standards and regulatory requirements for academic research.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive academic environment.
• Minimum of one (1) year of related graduate teaching experience.
• Strong command of academic writing and research presentation software and technology.
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrate a strong record and aptitude of graduate level teaching
• A commitment to building a diverse community
• Exemplify the scholar-practitioner training model in terms of curriculum design and/or delivery
• Demonstrated sensitivity, knowledge and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, gender identity, sexual orientation, cultural, disability, and ethnic background of groups historically underrepresented, and groups who may have experienced discrimination.
• Strong proficiency in community-engaged scholarship and other professional activities related to public policy and/or public administration
• Demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to collaborate effectively with students, faculty, and professional staff
• Demonstrated commitment to socially responsible practice, social justice issues and diversity are important
• Ability to consistently identify opportunities for improvement and make recommendations based on observations
• Strong demonstration of alignment with Adler’s social justice mission and vision
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving and visioning acumen
• Ability to proactively identify challenges and barriers to stated objective and employ assistance in addressing these
• Strong collaboration acumen and abilities
• Demonstration of Emotional Intelligence and professional maturity
• Proficient and functional knowledge of MS Office (Work, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook)
• Strong research acumen and abilities
• Strong communication acumen including written, oral, and listening
  
  

Principal Responsibilities

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide individualized mentorship and support to doctoral candidates throughout the dissertation process.
• Assist candidates in developing research proposals, identifying research questions, and selecting appropriate methodologies.
• Offer constructive feedback on dissertation drafts, ensuring academic quality and rigor.
• Serve as the chair of dissertation committees, coordinating the efforts of other committee members.
• Facilitate regular committee meetings to review progress, discuss challenges, and provide guidance.
• Ensure all committee members are informed and engaged in the dissertation process.
• Oversee the research activities of doctoral candidates to ensure ethical standards and compliance with institutional guidelines.
• Assist candidates in obtaining necessary approvals from Institutional Review Boards (IRB) or other regulatory bodies.
• Monitor the progress of research and address any issues or obstacles that arise.
• Guide candidates in developing strong academic writing skills, including clarity, coherence, and adherence to citation standards.
• Provide resources and support for candidates to improve their writing and presentation skills.
• Ensure that dissertations meet the institution’s formatting and submission requirements.
• Prepare candidates for their dissertation defense by conducting mock defenses and providing feedback.
• Assist candidates in preparing their defense presentations and addressing potential questions from the committee.
• Support candidates during the defense process, ensuring a fair and rigorous evaluation.
• Maintain accurate records of candidate progress, meetings, and communications.
• Ensure timely submission of required documents and reports to the academic department.
• Collaborate with academic advisors, program directors, and other faculty members to support the overall success of the doctoral program.
  
  

Application Process:

Please include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts. Further materials, such as official transcripts sent from the degree-granting institution, will be requested at a later date. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the University (or department).

Academic course schedules fluctuate each semester and selected individuals will work with Program Director or Chairs to determine a schedule. Courses are not guaranteed; however, the Adler University does its best to give ample notice about available courses and potential course cancellations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Adler University that all persons are entitled to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) protection. The University does not discriminate against any individual for employment because of age, religion, race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status (including unfavorable discharge from the military), or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. As part of the Adler's equal employment opportunity policy, Adler will also take affirmative action to ensure that minority group individuals, females, disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, other protected veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans, and qualified disabled persons are introduced into our workforce and considered for promotional opportunities.