CHHS Colvard Position Description
CHHS Position List
Colvard Distinguished Professor
Community Health
Position Overview
The Colvard Distinguished Professor position is a unique faculty appointment in the College of
Health and Human Services. Created and supported through the generosity of the Brand
Foundation, it is a key and contributing resource for the College and University to realize our vision
of becoming a central research and public engagement force in addressing community health and
human service needs both in Charlotte and across the region.
The Colvard Distinguished Professor faculty position has in the past been held by a CHHS faculty
member with their tenure home in the School of Nursing; since 2013, it has been held by a faculty
member with a tenure home in the Department of Public Health Sciences. Because of the intensive
interdisciplinary nature of the position, future appointments may be in any of the academic units
within the College of Health and Human Services. Faculty recruitment for future Colvard Professors should be conducted at the College level to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the role and to encourage applicants from diverse areas of study. The Colvard Professor reports directly to the unit head of the academic department where their tenure home resides. Teaching assignments (1 course per year) will be based on the Colvard Professor’s area of expertise and departmental needs. Performance evaluations and promotions will be based on standard University, College and unit criteria and procedures according to rank expectations for teaching, research, and service, acknowledging the limited teaching expectations of this position. All evaluation materials should include this position description to provide context for this unique role. Although appointed to a specific academic department, the Colvard Professorship’s focus is on College level priorities and the position’s responsibilities are comprehensively interdisciplinary and multi-college in nature; the position is focused on community engagement and partnership development, and to related research activities in community health/human services.
Primary Position Expectations
- Focused on and dedicated to building an expanded community-based health and human
services agenda for the College of Health and Human Services and the University - Focused on building and sustaining a functional framework that integrates both community
engagement and research activities for faculty (and their students) within CHHS and across
the University - Builds interdisciplinary outreach and research teams within the university and with
community partners; cultivates, grows and stewards community partner relationships - Provides support and mentoring to junior faculty and to graduate students in grantsmanship,
publications/information dissemination and overall research approaches; has no formal
instructional expectations - Advises the CHHS Dean, Associate Deans and Executive in Residence on strategy and
activities related to promoting community-based partnerships of value to the College and the
University - Provides service to: the University, College and academic units (search committees, graduate
committees, research/curricular improvements, workgroups/taskforces, fundraising, etc.); to
the community (board/advisory service, subject matter expertise, public forums, etc.); and to
the profession (national or international).
Last updated, 6/2021