Position Summary: 

The mission of the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) is to prepare competent and professional service-minded leaders in speech-language pathology (SLP) who apply Christian principles and values to communication and swallowing disorder prevention, assessment, and intervention across the lifespan. The OBU MS-SLP program invites applications for a Director of Research and Scholarship. This is a 12-month, full-time faculty appointment, which involves administration, teaching, advising, service, and scholarship. Additionally, the Director of Research and Scholarship is responsible for oversight of the program’s research and scholarly initiatives including the student clinical research project. In addition, the Director of Research and Scholarship will provide strategic leadership of extramural funding and scholarly research initiatives and will assist faculty with seeking out professional development opportunities related to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). Faculty rank and salary will be determined based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. The ideal candidate demonstrates a desire for innovation, teaching excellence, mentoring skills, a growth mindset, an independent scholarly agenda, and a collaborative attitude. 

This position is eligible for remote work. Remote employees will be required to travel to the OBU campus in Shawnee, OK as determined by the Program Director and Dean. 

Hiring Timeline: The desired start date for this position is January 1, 2026. The position will remain open until it is filled. 

OBU Mission Statement: 

OBU transforms lives by equipping students to pursue academic excellence, integrate faith with all areas of knowledge, engage a diverse world, and live worthy of the high calling of God in Christ. 

Expectations for all Employees Oklahoma Baptist University achieves its mission through a shared commitment to the following expectations. All employees must embrace these expectations and model them in their behavior. 

• Demonstrate commitment to the essentials of the Christian faith. 

• Commit to the mission and vision of Oklahoma Baptist University. 

• Maintain active membership in a local evangelical Christian church. 

• Treat people with dignity and respect. 

• Build relationships on honesty, integrity, and trust. 

• Strive for excellence through teamwork, leadership, and a strong work ethic. 

• Manage human and financial resources wisely and efficiently.  

Qualifications: 

1. Required: terminal academic doctorate (PhD or EdD) from a regionally accredited institution with a strong background in conducting and disseminating scholarly research. ABD candidates with a strong record of scholarship will be considered. 

2. A minimum of two years full-time experience as a core faculty member in a CAA accredited SLP program. 

3. Experience in higher education, specifically developing and teaching asynchronous and/or synchronous online graduate or undergraduate courses. 

4. Evidence of innovation, organization, leadership, and excellence in hybrid or online instruction at the university level. 

5. Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate professionally and collegially with colleagues within the program and across the institution. 

6. Knowledge of scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) research, funding, and professional development opportunities in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). 

7. Experience with holistic admissions and student recruitment and the ability to interact effectively with diverse applicants.

8. Strong interpersonal skills for mentoring and advising undergraduate and graduate students. 

9. Licensed, or eligible for licensure, as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Oklahoma. 

10. Current ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). 

11. Active in professional activities at local, state, and/or national levels. 

Responsibilities: 

• Administrative: 

o Provide leadership and oversight for student scholarly activities within the program, including the clinical research project. 

o Ensures that the student clinical research projects align with and support the mission, goals, and outcomes of the program. 

o Coordinate faculty mentors for the student clinical research projects and facilitate timely completion of student projects.

o Collaborate with the Director of Curriculum to ensure the scientific foundation of the profession is integrated throughout the curriculum. 

o Chair the Research and Scholarship Committee. 

o Provide oversight and guidance for all aspects of student research activities, including training students and faculty regarding university Institutional Review Board (IRB) application procedures and tracking completion of required Human Research Protection Training. 

o Plan and coordinate a clinical research symposium to showcase student scholarship. 

o Identify and pursue funding opportunities, resources, and collaborative partnerships to support student and faculty scholarship. 

o Serve as liaison to university offices and committees related to research, grants, and compliance. 

o Identify opportunities for faculty and students to disseminate scholarly research through state and national conference presentations and peer-reviewed journal publications. 

o Identify and mentor faculty to apply for competitive research programs such as the Grant Writing and Mentorship in Education Research (GAMER) Program, the Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders (TLCSD) SoTL Fellows Program, and ASHA grant awards and research funding opportunities. 

• Course Development and Teaching: 

o Develop and teach graduate courses.

o Collaborate with program faculty to develop the student clinical research project. 

• Research: 

o Conduct and disseminate scholarly research. 

• Service: 

o Participate in institutional and professional service opportunities. 

o Advise graduate and undergraduate students. 

• Professional Development: 

o Engage in professional development opportunities. 

Special Requirements: 

• Must be an active member of an evangelical* church in one's community of residence, willing to teach in accordance with the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, and in agreement with the university's policy on human sexuality (provided by HR upon request). *Evangelical is a broad term referring to a segment within Christianity which maintains the authority of the Bible and the belief in salvation by faith in Jesus alone. 

To apply: 

On the OBU employment website, https://www.okbu.edu/hr/jobs.html, click on “Faculty Applications” at the top of the webpage. This will open the application. From the dropdown menu, select the desired position. 

Required application documents: 

• online application 

• current curriculum vitae 

• cover letter 

• reference contact information  

• official transcripts 

• statement of faith (750 word maximum) that addresses the following: 

o personal faith journey o integration of faith and professional life 

o commitment to and value of Christian higher education 

o alignment with the OBU mission and vision 

o describe what it means to teach and model the relation between the Christian worldview and your academic discipline. 

• teaching statement (500 word maximum) that addresses the following: 

o approach to teaching and learning 

o summary of teaching experience 

o commitment to lifelong learning 

o specific examples of your effectiveness as an instructor o describe the core principles that guide your approach to teaching as it relates to the following three areas: student engagement, assessment of student learning, and your own continuous improvement 

• research statement (500 word maximum) that addresses the following: 

o current research interests 

o ideas for collaboration with faculty and students 

o short-term and long-term research goals 

o specific examples of effective collaboration 

For more information, please contact MS-SLP Program Director, Dr. AnnMarie Knight; annmarie.knight@okbu.edu.