Job description

The Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina invites applications for an exceptional leader and nationally or internationally recognized scholar to serve as Chair of the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (HPEB). We seek a dynamic, forward-thinking researcher with vision and expertise to strengthen the department’s scientific impact, expand its extramural funding portfolio, and elevate its national and global presence.

The Chair will provide strategic and scholarly leadership in an environment committed to high-impact research, interdisciplinary collaboration, excellence in teaching and mentoring, community engagement, and innovation. The successful candidate will have a strong track record of leading or contributing to large-scale, multi-site, or interdisciplinary research initiatives, and a demonstrated ability to cultivate sustained extramural research funding from federal agencies (e.g., NIH, CDC, NSF, HRSA), foundations, and other sponsors.

Key Responsibilities

• Articulate and implement a strategic research vision  that enhances the department’s national and international prominence.
• Foster and support interdisciplinary science by  cultivating collaborations across academic units, research centers,  community organizations, and global partners.
• Expand the department’s research enterprise by  promoting team science, developing collaborative funding proposals, and  strengthening mechanisms for faculty research development.
• Mentor faculty in securing and managing major  extramural awards, including program grants, center-level grants, and  interdisciplinary multi-investigator initiatives.
• Lead educational program/curriculum development and advancement.

• Support the professional development of faculty,  staff, and students, with a focus on building an inclusive and  high-performing academic culture.
• Oversee departmental operations, budgeting, and strategic planning.

• Represent the department in school-wide and  university-wide initiatives, national professional organizations, and  global health and research networks.

Qualifications

Candidates must hold an earned doctorate in public health or a related discipline and demonstrate:

• A distinguished record of scholarly achievement,  including high-impact publications and national/international recognition  in the field.
• A sustained and substantial record of extramural  funding, preferably including leadership roles in center grants,  cooperative agreements, or major interdisciplinary research programs.
• Evidence of effective leadership in academic  settings, including administrative experience, strategic planning, and  faculty development.
• A commitment to advancing team science, translational  research, community-engaged scholarship, and cross-disciplinary  partnerships.
• Excellence in teaching and mentoring at the graduate  and undergraduate levels.

Preference will be given to candidates who have successfully led or contributed to large, collaborative research initiatives, including but not limited to NIH P-series, U-series, or center grants; multi-institutional partnerships; or globally focused research consortia.

About the Department

HPEB supports two undergraduate minors, master’s programs (MPH, online MPH), a PhD program, and graduate certificates in aging, global health, and health communication, as well as the Arnold School’s undergraduate BA/BS programs. HPEB faculty engage in rigorous, innovative, and impactful research and prepares future leaders to improve public health locally, nationally, and globally with an emphasis on disadvantaged populations. Our faculty and students address how interventions, social context, health care systems, and physical environments influence health behaviors and health status by employing diverse quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches.

The department’s strong research culture is bolstered by active participation and leadership in multiple interdisciplinary centers and initiatives at the University of South Carolina, including:

• Global Health Initiative
• Nutrition Consortium
• Office for the Study of Aging
• Consortium for Latino Health Studies
• USC Big Data Health Science Center
• South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare  Quality
• SmartState Technology Center to Promote Healthy  Lifestyles
• Prevention Research Center
• Cancer Prevention and Control Program
• Research Center for Child Well-Being

These and other units within the Arnold School and across campus provide a robust platform for expanding externally funded interdisciplinary research, strengthening collaborative grant proposals, and enhancing training opportunities for students and early-career scholars.

About the University and Community

Located in Columbia, the vibrant capital city of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina offers access to a thriving academic community, abundant cultural and recreational opportunities, and a growing downtown district. Columbia is centrally situated, with world-renowned beaches and the Blue Ridge Mountains both within a two-hour drive.

How to apply

Applicants should submit:

1. A cover letter describing research and leadership  experience, a vision for expanding interdisciplinary research and  extramural funding, and a record of scholarship, teaching, and mentoring;
2. A curriculum vitae;
3. Contact information for three references.

Application materials are accepted online: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/202130

Only applications and materials submitted through the online application process will be considered.

Inquiries may be directed to Patsy Yarborough, Executive Assistant to the Dean, Arnold School of Public Health, via email: [email protected]. Review of applications begins March 1, 2026, and continues until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.