Knight Professorship of Public Policy

As the largest and most academically diverse college at UNC Charlotte, the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences houses 15 departments, 13 interdisciplinary programs, and 7 applied centers. We offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs with extensive honors and early-entry options. The College plays a pivotal role in delivering on the university's goals in the areas or research excellence, student success and experience, and community engagement. Through their scholarship and teaching, the College's 350+ faculty members seek to deepen our understanding of complex problems and lead the university in interdisciplinary collaboration.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the second largest institution within the University of North Carolina system. This past Fall, UNC Charlotte enrolled 32,207 students and experienced record growth with its incoming first-year class and graduate programs. UNC Charlotte is also the fastest growing institution in the UNC System, comprising eight academic college offering 83 programs leading to Bachelor's degrees, 64 Master's degrees, and 25 Doctoral degrees. UNC Charlotte is proud to have 3,747 passionate and committed faculty and staff members and more than 185,000 living alumni.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte recognizes the differentiation of mission, goals, and objectives inherent in the diversity of disciplines represented by its colleges and departments. Thus, the Job Responsibilities and Essential Functions for Tenured and Tenure Track Faculty should be interpreted in the context of the related departmental and collegiate goals.
Teaching, Advising, Curriculum and Instructional Development - Faculty responsibilities and essential functions with respect to teaching may include but are not limited to: subject matter competence, course design, course presentation, advising and consultation, directing student research, curriculum and instructional development, and grading student work.
Scholarly Research, Creative, and Other Professional Activities - All tenured and tenure-track faculty are expected to participate in expanding the knowledge base of their academic field by conducting research or engaging in other creative activities as appropriate to the faculty member's discipline. Faculty responsibilities and essential functions with respect to research may include but are not limited to: research/creative activity that generates new knowledge and/or synthesizes and/or integrates existing knowledge, publication, an on-going agenda for research, scholarly, and creative activity, and are expected to seek extramural support for their work.
Service to University, the Public, and the Profession - All tenured and tenure-track faculty are expected to engage in a program of service appropriate to their discipline. Faculty responsibilities and essential functions with respect to service may include but are not limited to: service to the administration and governance of the University, public service, and service to the profession.

To view the complete Job Responsibilities and Essential Functions for Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty document visit our website: https://provost.charlotte.edu/academic-budget-hr/academic-personnel-procedures-handbook/

The Knight Professorship of Public Policy serves as a catalyst for studying critical regional needs in Charlotte and other rapidly growing urban areas in the southeastern United States. Such needs include, but are not limited to, transportation, growth management, economic development, health, education, economic mobility, sustainability, and environmental issues, especially energy policy.

The Knight Professor will have an appointment within an appropriate CHESS Department and will act as a faculty affiliate to the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute. The Urban Institute is a non-partisan, applied research and community outreach institute at UNC Charlotte, seeking solutions to the social, economic, and environmental challenges facing our region. The Knight Professor will also be a core member of the interdisciplinary Public Policy Ph.D. program, teaching and mentoring doctoral students.

UNC Charlotte gives primary consideration to the earned doctorate or terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline.

Requirements:

The College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences ( CHESS) invites applications for the Knight Distinguished Professorship of Public Policy, a full-time, tenured faculty position to begin August 10, 2026.

Applicants should apply online at https://jobs.charlotte.edu (position # 006936) and submit the following materials: 1) a letter of interest discussing the applicant's professional qualifications and how the applicant would contribute to the program, college, and university's research, teaching, and service mission; 2) a curriculum vitae; and 3) names of three references. Confidential letters of reference will be requested later for applicants selected for further consideration.

To ensure full consideration, complete applications should be submitted by January 31, 2026. Questions about the position should be directed to Greg Weeks, the Search Committee Chair (gbweeks@charlotte.edu). The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is committed to equality of educational and employment opportunity and does not discriminate against applications, students, or employees based on any protected status. The candidate chosen for the position will be subject to Criminal Background Check. The selected candidate will be required to provide Official Transcripts of their highest-earned degree upon hire.

Hiring is subject to budget availability.