Visiting Teaching Assistant Faculty, Half-time, Kinesiology and Sport Studies

Founded in 1864, the University of Denver (DU) is an independent, R1 doctoral-granting university with robust undergraduate and graduate education. DU has become increasingly known, nationally and internationally, for its creative, 21st-century approaches to problem-based scholarship, as well as its holistic, student-centered approach to learning and its dedication to the public good through local, national, and international partnerships. The University plays an integral role in the cultural, social, economic, and educational vibrancy of the fast-growing city and region it calls home.

The Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) at DU was created in 1976 to house one of the first Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) programs in the country, under the then-new Vail training model (practitioner-scholar). GSPP offers four master’s programs including, Sport Coaching, Sport and Performance Psychology, Forensic Psychology, and International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health, along with several fully online graduate certificates in sport, strength and conditioning, and fitness coaching. As a professional school, GSPP promotes and utilizes high-level pedagogy that integrates applied practice, theory, research, and scholarship.

In Fall 2021, we launched an undergraduate minor in Kinesiology and Sport Studies (KINE), which expanded to the launch of the Bachelor of Arts in KINE in 2023. In Fall 2026, we will launch a Bachelor of Science in KINE.

We seek a half-time Visiting Assistant Rank Teaching faculty for a 10-month appointment. This is a non-tenure track position based on-campus (i.e., will not be fully remote although remote work on non-teaching days is possible). This appointment is for the 2026-2027 academic year (through June 30, 2027) but may be renewed for additional years depending on performance and available budget.

The position includes mainly teaching duties, with some service activities. The workload for this line is based on 18 credit hours, with an expectation to teach 16 credit hours throughout the 10-months. It is likely that all course assignments will be for in-person, undergraduate courses on the DU campus roughly equally distributed across the fall, winter, and spring quarters. Additional teaching beyond 16 credit hours would be paid as overload. The remaining 2 credit hours of workload are devoted to service to the program and GSPP, including attendance at program and college meetings and engagement in strategic planning. This position is not eligible for reduced teaching based on grants or philanthropic awards. GSPP requires all faculty and staff to exhibit excellent teaching and pursue professional development to foster a model workplace.

This position reports to one of the KINE co-Academic Program Directors/Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Appointment and promotion for this role is governed by the University of Denver’s Policies and Procedures Relating to Faculty Appointment, Promotion, & Tenure.

The appointment will commence on September 1, 2026.

We welcome applications from individuals who may have taken a nontraditional career path, taken time off for family or personal reasons, or who have achieved excellence in careers outside of academia.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience and versatility in inclusive pedagogy. Duties in these areas include, but are not limited to:

Teaching

• Teach 16 credit hours, most likely all at the undergraduate-level within the KINE program, although there may be opportunity at the online graduate level.
• Maintain high teaching standards informed by best practices in pedagogy and leveraging available technologies to improve the student experience.
• Assess student learning and report data for program- and university-level accreditation.
• Develop field-placement opportunities for undergraduate students.
• Foster students’ understanding of career and graduate school options in kinesiology and sport fields, including how to meet requirements and preferences of graduate schools and writing letters of recommendation.
• Pursue relevant and needed professional development to complete these tasks.

Service

• Exhibit professional behavior and responsibility as described in DU Policies and Procedures Relating to Faculty Appointment, Promotion, & Tenure.
• Participate in program and college-level meetings.
• Participate in philanthropic activities to support the unit and college.
• Other duties as assigned

• Knowledge of kinesiology and sport studies.
• Relevant knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to inclusion, social justice, and access in education
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the capacity for outstanding teaching.
• Strong technology skills, including familiarity with MS Office suite, to be successful as a faculty member and leader.
• Strong administrative and leadership skills, including project and process management.
• Initiative and ability to work both independently and in a collaborative, collegial environment.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with communities or evidence of a commitment to incorporate inclusive teaching methods and/or pedagogies to effectively engage student populations.
• Ability and willingness to incorporate relevant, timely, and inclusive course material.
• Ability to effectively receive and incorporate feedback.
• Ability to meet changing course and program needs.
• Fluency in English.

• Doctoral degree in kinesiology or highly related area (e.g., education, exercise/health/sport psychology, sport sociology, motor development, sport management, physical activity/education).
• Strong work ethic, frustration and ambiguity tolerance, and openness and curiosity.
• Demonstrated ability to teach various learners effectively, particularly at the undergraduate level.
• Demonstrated praxis committed to social justice and addressing the needs of populations.

• Experience as a sport practitioner, preferably as a sport coach, athletic administrator, or support staff, such as physical therapist or athletic trainer.
• Demonstrated success in community-based research or programming.
• Strong network in kinesiology and sport.
• Experience seeking and/or securing external funding for research or program-level support.
• Evidence of scholarship and creative activities in the form of original works.
• Demonstrated ability to complete scientific research across quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods or the ability to learn new methodologies quickly.

Advertised: August 07, 2026
Applications close: August 14, 2026

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.