The LEAD Faculty Fellowship
Program Description
The Leveraging Equity in Academia through Diversity (LEAD) Faculty Fellowship is a
professional development program designed to prepare a broad and talented pool of
educators who are equipped to teach and support the increasingly diverse community
college student population. The program is open to all individuals interested in developing
their teaching experience in the community college setting. A collaborative initiative
between the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Office of the Provost,
the fellowship provides compensated teaching experience, structured mentorship, and
professional development that prepare participants for future full-time faculty roles.
The LEAD Faculty Fellowship aligns with Harper College’s commitment to academic excellence,
inclusive teaching practices, and student success. Fellows receive a two-year paid
appointment beginning each fall; if hired into a full-time role, the second year may
apply toward tenure.
Click here to read LEAD Faculty Fellow Bios!
(2023 - 2025 LEAD Faculty Fellows Cohort)
Goals of the LEAD Faculty Fellowship Program
- Welcome new talent and perspectives to Harper’s academic community.
- Strengthen a culture of inclusive teaching and student-centered pedagogy.
- Enhance creativity, innovation, and diversity of thought within academic departments.
- Provide students with access to a variety of role models and mentors.
- Support the success of all students.
Benefits for LEAD Faculty Fellows
- Exposure to community college teaching as a meaningful and rewarding career pathway.
- Growth in knowledge, skills, and abilities related to effective teaching at a community
college.
- Increased competitiveness for future community college faculty positions.
- Participation in structured professional development and engagement with senior academic
leaders.
- Mentorship from experienced faculty throughout the cohort experience.
- Opportunities to observe colleagues teaching courses.
Consider this Opportunity if You:
- Are interested in gaining teaching experience at a community college.
- Believe in the community college mission and want to support student success.
- Have minimal or no full-time teaching experience but a strong desire to educate others.
- Enjoy dialogue and want to contribute your perspectives to a learning community.
- Value inclusive excellence and the importance of creating learning environments where
all students can thrive.
- Seek mentorship and opportunities to grow as an educator.
- Want to build your knowledge, skills and abilities as a college instructor.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
- Fewer than three years of full-time teaching experience as the instructor of record.
- The College is particularly interested in applicants eligible to teach in Economics,
English, Political Science, Geography, Health Science Core, and Mathematics, but applicants
from all disciplines can apply.
Primary Responsibilities
- Teach the designated number of credit hours each semester (reduced load in the first
year; full load in the second).
- Maintain office hours.
- Attend monthly professional development sessions.
- Contribute to Harper College’s commitment to inclusive excellence and student success.
Compensation
- Fellows are compensated at the full-time instructor level. For the 2025-2026 academic
year, the salary is $59,008.
- Professional development allocation.
- Full benefits.
Applications
- Applications for the 2026-2028 cohort will open in October 2025 and the priority deadline
is Monday, January 5, 2026.
- If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. Tamara A. Johnson at jt03888@harpercollege.edu
