About the Role
The Director of Education at the Society is responsible for advancing SUAPS’ mission through the development of structured academic programs, interdisciplinary learning initiatives, institutional partnerships, and public engagement strategies. This role integrates curriculum development, student engagement, membership-based learning, and educational content creation, ensuring that SUAPS provides a high-quality, research-driven approach to UAP studies education.
The Director of Education leads SUAPS’ academic programming and curriculum development. This is a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary role requiring not only academic expertise but also technological fluency, team coordination, and strategic initiative.
The successful candidate will drive forward SUAPS’ educational vision, ensuring a dynamic, accessible, and credible learning ecosystem aligned with the evolving landscape of UAP Studies and adjacent fields.
Key Responsibilities
1. Educational Leadership & Academic Integration
Develop and implement rigorous, research-based curricula for SUAPS’ educational programs.
Develop a set of explicit principles for maintaining high academic and pedagogical standards for all of SUAPS’ educational activities.
Maintain high academic and pedagogical standards across all learning initiatives.
Establish partnerships with universities, scholars, and research institutions to promote UAP studies in academic settings.
Oversee the development of accredited and non-accredited course offerings, workshops, and certification programs.
Position SUAPS as a certifying authority in UAP studies education.
2. Student Engagement & Membership Growth
Lead SUAPS' University Student Engagement Initiative, supporting the formation and expansion of student groups at academic institutions.
Develop membership-based learning programs that provide structured educational opportunities for SUAPS members at various levels.
Design and oversee SUAPS’ tiered membership system, ensuring that educational benefits align with supporter levels.
3. Academic Content Development
Oversee the design and production of educational materials, including:
Structured online courses and training modules.
Live and recorded educational events (colloquia, roundtables, panel discussions).
Video content, interviews, and case studies featuring SUAPS scholars.;;
Develop learning pathways that guide participants through different levels of expertise in UAP studies.
4. Public Outreach & Thought Leadership
Represent SUAPS as needed or requested at academic and interdisciplinary conferences, ensuring visibility in scholarly discussions.
Organize public lectures, faculty partnerships, and speaker events to promote rigorous engagement with UAP research.
Work with the Director of Marketing to promote SUAPS’ educational offerings and membership growth initiatives.
5. Program Oversight & Strategy Implementation
Lead the design and implementation of SUAPS’ first structured certificate or course series.
Oversee the University Student Engagement Project, providing guidance and support to campus groups.
Collaborate with the Development Director to seek grant funding and sponsorships for educational initiatives.
Develop an evaluation framework to measure the impact and effectiveness of SUAPS' educational programs.
Strategic Responsibilities
Develop a comprehensive strategic plan for curriculum development, student outreach, and learner retention.
Build and deploy a network of expert contributors and academic collaborators across relevant disciplines.
Coordinate with marketing, communications, operations, and community outreach teams to align programming with outreach goals and ensure student growth.
Conduct pricing analysis and develop a tuition model that supports both participation and instructor compensation.
Identify and implement innovative solutions to address existing and anticipated educational bottlenecks.
Reporting Structure & Collaboration
Reports to: CEO, with future reporting to the Chief Program Officer (CPO)
Collaborates and Coordinates with:
Director of Academic Events & Programs – Ensuring alignment between events and structured learning goals.
Director of Research Programs – Integrating cutting-edge research into SUAPS’ educational initiatives.
Director of Community Outreach & Engagement (incl. International Outreach Directors) – Expanding public access and instructor engagement.
Directors of Marketing & Communications – Promoting courses, events, and membership growth.
Desired Candidate Qualifications
Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Education (Ed.D.), Curriculum Design, History/Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Studies or related fields.
Tech-savvy and adaptable to fast-moving digital, AI-enhanced, and online learning platforms.
Demonstrated experience in curriculum development and educational program management.
Excellent strategic planning and leadership capabilities in an interdisciplinary academic or nonprofit context.
Strong communication and coordination skills, especially in multi-departmental settings.
Proven ability to work in evolving start-up or volunteer-based environments.
Preferred Qualifications
Prior engagement with science communication, STS, or interdisciplinary fields adjacent to UAP Studies.
Experience designing and managing remote learning ecosystems (Wix, LMS, or similar platforms).
Experience working with administrative and communications platforms (Slack, ClickUp, etc.).
Experience with tuition modeling, audience segmentation, and outreach alignment.
Demonstrated passion for building equitable, forward-looking academic communities.
Expectations
This is a volunteer position; time commitment will be subject to mutual agreement with SUAPS leadership.
Participation in quarterly research progress meetings and biannual Advisory Council sessions.
Ability to dedicate time to developing and overseeing strategic planning and expansion initiatives as SUAPS widens its programmatic reach.
Willingness to engage in external presentations, public forums, and collaborative research efforts.
Weekly / Operational Duties
Manage the course schedule, ensuring all offerings are timely, pedagogically sound, and aligned with Society priorities.
Oversee instructor recruitment and coordination, including extending offers and monitoring commitments.
Maintain oversight of current curriculum delivery, providing quality assurance and troubleshooting as needed.
Evaluate and adjust the educational calendar in response to evolving institutional needs and community feedback.
About Us
The Society for UAP Studies (SUAPS) is a nonprofit learned and professional society dedicated to redefining and redirecting the study of unidentified aerospace/anomalous phenomena (UAP), transforming it into a recognized academic field rather than merely a frontier science. Our approach draws upon multiple disciplines while remaining independent of any single academic framework.
At SUAPS, we uphold the highest standards of academic discourse, rigorous research, and critical debate, while acknowledging the epistemological challenges posed by UAP. We reject both uncritical belief and dogmatic skepticism, fostering an open yet disciplined intellectual space that critically examines what is currently thought to be known about UAP while remaining receptive to their more profoundly anomalous aspects.
Our work complements the efforts of other research organizations by focusing on meta-theoretic studies, examining how UAP research should be conducted and how "UAP Studies" itself ought to be conceived as a structured, interdisciplinary academic field. SUAPS promotes cross-disciplinary coordination between STEM fields, the humanities, and the social sciences, ensuring that UAP research engages meaningfully with fundamental questions about knowledge, science, truth, governance, and culture.
Beyond research, SUAPS is committed to education and outreach, actively developing a university-level UAP Studies curriculum that provides a clear pathway for integration into mainstream academia. We also publish Limina: The Journal of UAP Studies, a biannual, open-access peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing serious scholarship on UAP-related topics.
As a volunteer-driven organization, we seek dedicated professionals, researchers, and subject-matter experts who share our vision of establishing, expanding, and legitimizing UAP Studies as a rigorous, empirically accountable, and interdisciplinary academic field. By joining SUAPS, volunteers contribute to an emerging discipline while shaping the future of UAP research, education, and scholarly collaboration.