Program Chair, Personal Financial Planning

The School of Consumer Sciences, within the College of Health and Human Sciences, is currently seeking a Program Chair in Personal Financial Planning. This 9-month position is eligible for appointment as an Associate Professor/Professor with tenure, Professor of Practice/Senior Professor of Practice, or Teaching Associate Professor/Teaching Professor, dependent upon the successful applicant's qualifications.

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced individual to join our team and lead the Personal Financial Planning program. This position will have a vital leadership role and be integral to the daily oversight and operations of the program, including providing regular updates to school leadership. Additionally, this person will be tasked with deepening industry engagement and support of the program.

Teaching expectations will include credit and/or non-credit courses delivered at a level appropriate for undergraduate, graduate, and/or professional learners. For additional information on the expectations of this position, please view the position description.

The successful candidate must have a passion for personal financial planning with the ability to engage and inspire learners at various levels, while engaging with local, regional, and national businesses. Individuals with demonstrated experience in collaborating broadly and working as a team member across disciplines are particularly desired, with the highest consideration for candidates with industry experience in personal financial planning. This position will report to the school's Associate Director.

This 9-month position has a preferred starting date of Spring or Summer 2026, with a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Personal Financial Planning Program offers Certified Financial Planning (CFP) Board-registered certificate, B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degree programs on the Manhattan and Olathe campuses and online; and graduate certificate programs in financial therapy and advanced financial planning. We value academic innovation, collaborative research, community engagement, and thought leadership in financial planning and enjoy strong support from alumni, industry partners, and community organizations.

The School of Consumer Sciences transforms lives through education, scholarship, and community engagement in consumer-focused business disciplines. Through the event and hospitality management, fashion studies, personal financial planning, and sensory sciences programs, we prepare learners to live meaningful lives that have a sustainable impact on the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

The College of Health and Human Sciences inspires and prepares passionate and caring individuals for a meaningful life and career that promotes human well-being in the areas of consumer sciences, health sciences, and human sciences. Home to 16 undergraduate and 22 graduate programs, we provide students with the education and skills needed to make an impact in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

This position is on-site.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned Ph.D. in personal financial planning, consumer economics, consumer sciences, couple and family therapy, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated success leading, collaborating, and building growth-minded coalitions with a range of individuals and stakeholders
• Demonstrated content expertise to teach core classes in the personal financial planning curriculum
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels
• Demonstrated success in building collaborative engagement with industry partners that support student and program success
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgement, maintain discretion, and handle sensitive information and/or situations with confidentiality
• 
  To be considered for the rank of associate professor or professor, with tenure:
  
  
  
  • Strong record of distinguished academic achievement that merits appointment as a tenured associate or full professor, with evidence of professional distinction and national or international recognition in the field
  
  
  
  
• 
  To be considered for the rank of teaching associate professor or teaching professor:
  
  
  
  • Record of sustained excellence in teaching that is recognized by students and peers as an outstanding educator in the discipline
  
  
  
  
• 
  To be considered for the rank of professor of practice or senior professor of practice:
  
  
  
  • Substantial non-academic experience in financial planning
  • Sustained record of excellence in teaching and serving as an effective role model for colleagues, students, and clientele
  
  
  
  

The degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Earned CFP marks
• Significant professional experience in personal financial planning or related industry, with demonstrated track record of success
• Evidence of innovations in teaching and learning through different course delivery modalities and technologies
• Evidence of developing curriculum, including assessing course outcomes and overall program impact
• Proven track record of successful grant writing and securing research funding

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

Please submit the following documents:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae (CV)
3. Contact information for three professional references

Inquiries about the position should be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Elizabeth Kiss, at dekiss4@ksu.edu with the subject line: PFP Program Chair Search.

Applications close on: November 30, 2025.