LLC News

Adult Literacy Position - Penn State

The Pennsylvania State University College of Education
Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy and Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy

Position Available: Senior Research Assistant or Associate
Beginning: July 1, 2013

Appointment conditions:
This is a fixed-term, multi-year appointment. Full University benefits apply. Penn State has a strong commitment to the diversity of its workforce. We encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities:
Serving as Co-Director for Institute Administration, this position directs the Institutes’ externally funded projects, builds and maintains professional relationships with various state and national literacy groups, manages administrative tasks related to the Institutes including the management of personnel, and provides relevant service to the field of adult and family literacy and adult basic education (ABE).

Required qualifications:
· Earned masters or doctorate in education, program administration, or a closely related field;
· Practical experience working in adult literacy, family literacy, or ABE;
· Knowledge of adult literacy, family literacy, and/or ABE research, legislation, and other relevant issues; Experience working with state or national adult literacy, family literacy, and/or ABE governmental offices and organizations;
· Experience writing and submitting external funded proposals;
· Experience managing and directing externally funded projects;
· Experience in supervising personnel;
· Experience in and evidence of a commitment to working collegially and with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

The Pennsylvania State University:
Penn State [http://www.psu.edu] is a comprehensive, multi-campus research university serving all regions of the Commonwealth, as well as the nation and the world in instruction, research, and service roles that require responsiveness to and support from society's public and private sectors. As a land-grant university, Penn State has responsibility for providing a wide array of programs in the professional and technical disciplines, as well as a balanced offering of undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts and sciences. Penn State shares with other major research universities the traditional responsibilities to discover, develop, preserve, and disseminate knowledge.

The College of Education:
The College of Education [http://www.ed.psu.edu] at Penn State was established in 1923 to deepen and extend knowledge about the formation and utilization of human capabilities. It offers resident degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as an extensive outreach effort aimed at continuing professional development for educators at distant locations. The College's research program is also extensive; College faculty members secured over $46 million in external support during the past three years from a wide range of national and state government agencies, private foundations, and corporations. The College's location within a large, research oriented, land-grant university provides numerous opportunities for studying education from multidisciplinary perspectives in the context of a university-wide commitment to making life better for all citizens.

The College houses four academic departments: Curriculum and Instruction; Education Policy Studies; Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education; and Learning and Performance Systems. The departments offer seven undergraduate majors to more than 2,500 students and 12 graduate programs, under authority of the Graduate School, to nearly 1,000 students. Recent surveys rank the Penn State College of Education among the top colleges, schools, and departments of education in the United States.

Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy and Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy:
Founded in 1985, the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy (ISAL) in the Penn State College of Education seeks to advance the field of literacy through collaborative research, development, outreach, and leadership to improve practice, expanding access to high quality education and enriching the lives of individuals and families. ISAL’s initiatives have focused on the contexts of the family, workplace, and health. ISAL staff assist providers with program design and delivery, customized instructional materials and assessment development, professional development, and program evaluations.

Also housed within the College of Education, the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy provides national leadership that promotes the value of family literacy and supports program improvement through research and its application to practice and professional development. Since its founding in 2001, the Goodling Institute has focused on research, professional development, and policy. The Institute works collaboratively with the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy and the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL).

Application procedures:
Applicants must submit a letter of application documenting qualifications for the position, a current résumé or curriculum vitae, copies of official graduate transcripts (where appropriate), copies of three scholarly publications or other professional writing samples (if available), and contact information for at least three references (name, mail and e-mail addresses, telephone numbers). Applications received by December 1, 2012, are assured full consideration; however, applications will be received until the position is filled.

Electronic submission of all materials is strongly preferred. Send application materials to mrf2@psu.edu. Those who do not have access to electronic mail can direct hardcopy of application materials to:

Dr. Esther Prins
GI/ISAL Co-Director Search Chair
c/o Mary Frank
405 Keller Building
University Park, PA 16802

This job announcement is also available in alternate format. Employment will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.

Posted by Sara Cole on October 11, 2012 3:54 PM | Permalink