Lakehead University (Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada)

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Appointment

Mental Health/Special Education 

Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin on July 6, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

Faculty of Education

Reference # EDUC-2026-27-02

Lakehead University, Thunder Bay Campus, invites applications for one tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education in Mental Health/Special Education. The academic rank of the appointment will be commensurate with the qualifications of the successful candidate. The successful applicant will contribute fully and broadly to the Bachelor of Education and the Graduate Program within the Faculty. The position will commence on September 1st, 2026.

The successful candidate will have the ability to work collaboratively with others on the continued development of the academic and research culture of the Faculty and be able to contribute to the teaching and development of courses within the Initial Teacher Education and graduate programs. Experience in teaching in elementary or secondary schools would be an asset. 

About the Faculty of Education

The Faculty of Education has 24 full-time faculty members and offers concurrent and consecutive Teacher Education Bachelor of Education (Primary/Junior and Intermediate/Senior divisions), HBEd (Indigenous), BA/BEd (Indigenous Learning Major), the Indigenous-led Keewatinase Initial Teacher Education Program, in-service Professional Development in Education programming, MEd, and PhD programs. The Faculty of Education is committed to working with local Indigenous community partners through innovative, collaborative, and community-based educational initiatives. We are in the process of expanding Indigenous Education at the Orillia campus.

Qualifications: 

 

A PhD by the appointment start date in Mental Health and/or Special Education, or a closely related field, is required. PhD candidates who are nearing completion are encouraged to apply.  Experience with experiential learning and online or alternative modes of delivery is highly desired.

The successful candidate will:

• Have a coherent and well-articulated program of research and specialization in mental health education (e.g., well-being and belonging in the school system; scholarship at the interface of psychology, disability, and education disciplines that can include the mental health of students and/or school educators themselves; addictions; trauma-informed practice; and scholarship that changes education systems positively) and the intersection with special education (e.g. disability studies, identification/diagnosis, differentiated instruction, inclusion, neurodivergence, behaviour, self-regulation, neuro-affirming practices). 
• Have a commitment to research for positive social change. 
• Have a record, or evident promise, of generating innovative, substantive, rigorous, and, as appropriate, externally funded research and/or research creation. 
• Have a record, or evident promise, of making influential contributions and demonstrating excellence in the field with a record of publications (or forthcoming publications) with significant journals in the field; and/or other scholarly productions; presentations at major conferences; awards and accolades; and strong recommendations from referees of high standing.
• Have a record of excellence in teaching and dedication to students (e.g., teaching and supervision record; teaching statement; teaching accomplishments and pedagogical innovations), including in high-priority areas such as special education and mental health. 
• Have suitability for working toward graduate-level teaching and supervision with eventual appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
• Have evidence of sustainable positive contribution at the interface of special education and mental health education.
• Have a strong commitment to the social justice goals of the Faculty, evident in all activities as outlined above.

Compensation
 

The expected compensation range for this position is:

• Assistant Professor: $88,094 - $133,223 

Salary will be determined in accordance with the collective agreement and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. Our campuses are located in Thunder Bay on the traditional lands of the Fort William First Nation, Signatory to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850 and in Orillia on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, and Rama First Nation. Lakehead University acknowledges the history that many nations hold in the areas around our campuses and is committed to a relationship with Métis, Inuit and First Nations peoples. Lakehead has approximately 10,000 students and 2,160 faculty and staff. With an emphasis on collaborative learning and independent critical thinking, and a multidisciplinary teaching approach, Lakehead offers a variety of degree and diploma programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels through its nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Health and Behavioural Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Science and Environmental Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities, Graduate Studies, and Law. For further information, please visit: www.lakeheadu.ca.

For further information, please contact Dr. Wayne Melville, Dean Faculty of Education at dean.educ@lakeheadu.ca. Detailed information on the Faculty of Education and our programs is available at: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/education

Review of applications will begin on July 6, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The electronic application (in the form of one PDF document) quoting Reference # EDUC-2026-27-02 should include: 

• a letter of interest,
• curriculum vitae,
• evidence of teaching effectiveness (including a statement of teaching philosophy, course outlines and teaching evaluations for previously-taught courses),
• a statement of a research plan (current and future interests),
• copies of the three most significant publications,
• the names and contact information of three references,
• And a completed Confirmation of Eligibility to Work in Canada.pdf form must accompany your package. 

Applicants are to submit their electronic application quoting the above reference number to:

Attn: Dr. Wayne Melville, Dean

Faculty of Education

Lakehead University

955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E1

Email: aadean.educ@lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including women, racialized persons, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and other equity-seeking groups. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. This is in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements. 

Lakehead University has an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2019-2024 with a goal to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as measured by increasing representation of under-represented groups among applicants, candidates and hires. We encourage candidates to self-identify, if you are from an under-represented group, and prefer candidates with the knowledge, competencies and relationships derived from lived experience. Experience working with Indigenous or racialized communities, and/or members of other equity-deserving groups is a strong asset. A lived experience or worked experience of any of these issues is preferred.

We appreciate your interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be notified. Lakehead University is committed to supporting an accessible environment. Applicants requiring accommodation during the interview process should contact the Office of Human Resources at (807) 343.8010 ext. 8334 or human.resources@lakeheadu.ca to make appropriate arrangements.

This position is subject to budgetary approval.