Assistant Director and Assistant Teaching Professor – Special Education Department

ABOUT SIMMONS

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.

You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six‑school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high‑value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success.

You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice‑oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.

As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under‑represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices—at all levels, for all positions—ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

The Special Education department is part of The Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences. The programs in special education are all off‑site as part of the partnership between Simmons and The New England Center for Children (Southboro and the UAE). The program options include:

• MSEd Autism Specialization (with licensure)
• Post Masters (with licensure)
• MSEd (UAE non‑licensure)
• Post‑Master’s Qualified Behavior Analysis Eligibility Program.

The goal of these programs is to prepare graduate students to teach learners with special needs using evidence‑based practices with an emphasis on culturally responsive inclusive strategies. Instructors in this program are experts in their discipline and have on‑the‑ground experience in the field of education.

The Special Education Department in the Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Simmons University invites applications for an Assistant Director and Assistant Teaching Professor beginning August 2026. We are particularly interested in a colleague who holds an advanced degree in education, preferably, special education with administrative experience. The ideal candidate brings a deep understanding of special education and commitments to culturally responsive teaching through integrative learning aimed at the professional preparation of special education educators.

The Assistant Director supports the academic, administrative, and operational functions of the graduate programs, with a particular focus on teaching, student support, recruitment, and program coordination. This role works closely with the Department Chair, faculty, students, and external partners to ensure high‑quality programming and a positive student experience. The responsibilities will include:

• Academic Instruction & Mentorship: Teach four courses annually and provide clinical supervision for five practicum students, including conducting observations and delivering comprehensive formative and summative evaluations.
• Enrollment & Lifecycle Management: Lead recruitment and admissions efforts through event presentations and proactive outreach, while overseeing the full student onboarding process and academic records (registration, transfers, and accommodations).
• Program Administration & Faculty Support: Manage program quality by updating course catalogs and faculty manuals, providing orientation for new hires, and designing professional development opportunities for licensed educators.
• Str…