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Job Description Summary

The Educating Character Initiative (ECI), an initiative of the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University, seeks a postdoctoral fellow to join a new, collaborative effort for educating character anchored in communities of impact (CoIs). The anticipated start date for the postdoctoral fellow is August 1, 2026.

The role of the postdoctoral fellow will be to work closely with researchers, scholars, and practitioners across the ECI Community to support collective learning through (1) research aimed at understanding the landscape of character education across higher education and showing the impact of intentional character development in higher education contexts; (2) contributions to the design of learning experiences and practical resources equipping institutions to undertake character-building projects adapted to their institutional contexts; and (3) support for the creation and maintenance of a collective learning platform for individuals and institutions in the ECI Community. The postdoctoral fellow will report to the Managing Director of the ECI Communities of Impact and work closely with the ECI research and education teams as well as the staff of the broader Program for Leadership and Character. This position is an excellent fit for recent PhDs, early career scholars, and emerging leaders in character education. The postdoctoral fellowship, which begins July 1, 2026, is grant-funded for one year and, pending satisfactory work, renewable for an additional year.

The communities of impact project extends the mission of the ECI to catalyze a movement in character education at colleges and universities across the U.S. Since its launch, the ECI has built a community of character among over 2,000 individuals and 700 organizations and institutions; awarded over $35 million in grants to our partners; hosted educational and community-building webinars, conferences, convenings and other events; and become a significant presence in character education around the world.

We welcome applications from candidates with expertise in any discipline relevant to research and/or programming concerning virtue, character, character education, moral and intellectual development and/or higher education. To apply, please provide (1) a cover letter detailing your relevant expertise and interest in the position, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a one-page statement describing your approach to research on character, character education, and/or moral and intellectual development; (4) a scholarly writing sample or published article; and (5) a list of at least three professional references, including at least one current or former supervisor.

Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational institution dedicated to academic excellence in liberal arts, graduate and professional education. Located in Winston-Salem, NC (“The City of Arts and Innovation”), the University has a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world, as indicated by the motto Pro Humanitate (for humanity), which encourages students to develop the qualities of human character needed to serve humanity. With the aim to educate the whole person, the University has established an innovative Program for Leadership and Character that plans creative, liberal arts-based programming to help students develop the virtues of character needed to lead in an increasingly complex world.

The Educating Character Initiative (ECI), a project of the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University, made possible by generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc., seeks to catalyze a movement for character education at colleges and universities across the United States. Through our work in grantmaking, collective learning, and community engagement, we equip institutions of higher education with the funding, resources, and support necessary to integrate character into their distinctive institutional contexts, curricula, and cultures. Our broad aspiration is to enable institutions of higher education to become communities of character that form students, staff, and faculty to act with character and for the common good.

For additional information, please contact ECI@wfu.edu.

Job Description

Essential Functions:

The postdoctoral fellow must be able to contribute to character education efforts both as a researcher and in facilitation of community-building and program development. The list below contains functional needs of the ECI team for the proposed project. While no candidate is expected to meet every item listed, strong candidates will be well-positioned to engage broadly and deeply across many of these lanes of work.

Research

- Design, conduct, and disseminate original research on character or character education.
- Collaborate with ECI and Program for Leadership and Character scholars as well as partner institutions to produce a range of scholarly and practice-oriented resources (e.g., books, articles, workbooks, research studies, discussion guides, survey instruments, and op-eds) that advance understanding of how to educate character across diverse institutional, cultural, and disciplinary contexts.
- Partner with external survey organizations and ECI colleagues to design, implement, and analyze two major national surveys of faculty/staff and students in higher education.
- Contribute to the development of survey instruments and items that assess character, character formation, formative practices, and institutional cultures.
- Help interpret survey findings to generate new insights, inform collaborative initiatives, and support the larger movement for character in higher education.
- Collect, curate, and synthesize research, resources, and data generated by partner institutions and communities of practice to advance collective learning.
- Develop frameworks and methodologies that integrate empirical data with qualitative insights from communities of practice.
- Evaluate and document the impact of collaborative initiatives across the ECI Community.
- Present findings and resources through conferences, symposia, publications, and publicly-engaged presentation to expand awareness of the role and power of character-building efforts for undergraduate students in the US.

Community-Building and Program Development

- Contribute to the development, coordination, and implementation of communities of impact dedicated to character education, fostering collaboration and shared learning across colleges, universities, and higher-education serving organizations and networks.
- Build strong, trust-based relationships with faculty, staff, and emerging leaders at partner institutions to cultivate networks of mutual learning and support.
- Design or contribute to workshops and professional learning sessions that support communities of practice in developing practical resources to support character-focused initiatives on college and university campuses.
- Collaborate on the creation and dissemination of high-quality, accessible, and adaptable resources (e.g., guides, toolkits, case studies, and models of practice) that equip educators for contextualized character-building efforts in distinct institutional contexts.
- Support the planning and execution of convenings and gatherings that strengthen collaboration across communities of practice and the broader ECI Community.
- Work with the ECI staff to support emerging leaders in coordinating and sustaining character education initiatives at their institutions and within broader higher education communities.
- Assist with grant reporting, documentation, and storytelling that communicate outcomes, insights, and the impact of this initiative to partners and stakeholders at Wake Forest University and beyond.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

- Ph.D. or Ed.D. in a relevant academic discipline (including, but not limited to, higher education, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, political science, psychology, or religious studies).
- Record of scholarly research and/or programming related to virtue, character, character education, and/or the moral and intellectual development of college students.
- Candidates with expertise in liberal arts or humanities disciplines must demonstrate scholarly engagement with bodies of literature on virtue, character, character education, moral education, moral psychology, higher education or related topics as a core component of their research agenda.
- Candidates with expertise in social sciences must demonstrate experience with research, assessment, and/or program evaluation, preferably related to virtue, character, character education, moral education, higher education, moral psychology, or related topics. Additionally, they should demonstrate both quantitative and qualitative research skills and a track record indicative of a promising publication record in their relevant discipline. There is a strong preference for expertise in mixed-method research design, assessment planning, and data analysis.

Demonstrated abilities to:

- Contribute to multiple research and scholarly investigations simultaneously.
- Publish rigorous academic research in respected journals and publications.
- Initiate projects and work independently.
- Collaborate with program staff, other postdoctoral fellows, and research assistants to conduct, analyze, and disseminate co-authored research.
- Contribute to the collection, analysis, and management of complex datasets.
- Develop short- and long-term research goals.
- Set priorities and effectively manage time and resources.
- Exercise discretion and keep sensitive information confidential.
- Positively influence colleagues and develop collaborative relationships with a wide range of people.
- Learn more about character education and apply that knowledge to inform the design and implementation of character-building initiatives across the landscape of higher education.
- Ability to work constructively on teams and in cross-institutional collaborations, including excellent organizational, administrative, and interpersonal skills, with accuracy and attention to detail; effective and thoughtful communication with people across multiple institutions, disciplines, and skill sets; and a clear commitment to building community with a wide range of individuals at Wake Forest University, across the ECI Community, and beyond.
- Exceptional written, oral, and visual communication skills.
- Experience working in a higher education context, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of academic cultures, rules, and regulations.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills, including the ability to juggle competing demands, work efficiently, and deliver high quality work while adhering to deadlines.
- Good character, sound judgment, and a strong work ethic.
- Openness to feedback and a commitment to personal and professional growth.
- Ability to represent the programs and the university in a professional manner.
- Some travel may be required.

Accountabilities:

- Reports to Managing Director, Communities of Impact, Educating Character Initiative.
- Works under minimal supervision.
- Responsible for their own work.

Physical Requirements:

- Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting and standing.

Environmental Conditions:

- No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Time Type Requirement

Full time

Note to Applicant:

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact AskHR@wfu.edu or (336) 758-4700.