Visiting Assistant Professor, Public Scholar, Post-Doctoral Fellow

Job Summary

The Visiting Public Scholar in Residence in Racial and Environmental Justice is a new position at Florida Gulf Coast University, and the successful candidate will hold the rank of Visiting Assistant Professor with an appointment in The Water School. This position is a collaboration between the Center for Environment & Society in The Water School and the FGCU Center for Critical Race & Ethnic Studies, and is a one year appointment with the possibility of renewal for a second year. The Water School encourages applicants with experience in social sciences, arts and humanities, public health, and education, including scholars focused on Indigenous resources sovereignty, water contamination in communities of color, inequitable impacts of climate change, and environmental policies impacting marginalized peoples in the United States. Candidates working in one or more of these areas who are focused on the environmental justice dimensions of cities and landscapes will be given priority.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach one course per semester in their area of expertise, conduct scholarship related to environmental justice focusing on Southwest Florida issues, interface with the local communities to engage them in discussions of environmental justice issues, and serve as a resource in interdisciplinary courses or professional programs that focus on racial justice.

Florida Gulf Coast University is a comprehensive university dedicated to quality education, research, and service. All faculty are expected to be excellent teachers, responsive to changing professional needs, committed to innovative delivery of instruction resulting in improved student learning, produce peer reviewed scholarship, and provide service to the college, university and community. Teaching assignments may be on the main campus or at off-campus sites within our region.

Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to establishing and maintaining an inclusive working and learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of the campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview.

At FGCU, we collectively stand against any individual or group that practices any form of racism, discrimination, intolerance, hate expressions, or disrespect. We are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, religious beliefs, abilities, ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, family statuses, and military backgrounds. FGCU strives to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes our University stronger. The University community recognizes the importance of a diverse and inclusive institution and holds these ideals as paramount for the current and future success of the institution.

We seek colleagues who promote and embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply for this position as we believe that our University will grow and move forward through a commitment of equality for all.

Job Description

Typical duties may include but are not limited to:

• Work with the Center for Environment & Society and the Center for Critical Race & Ethnic Studies to develop and conduct independent and/or collaborative research focused on the environmental justice dimensions of cities and landscapes.
• Engage in campus and community activities such as special lecture series, speaking engagements before local community groups, interviews with local media.
• Teach one relevant course in area of expertise per semester.
• Serve as resource in interdisciplinary courses or professional programs that focus on racial justice.
• Conduct independent and/or collaborative research, acknowledging the support of FGCU in any publication or presentation of research undertaken during their term.
• Present work-in-progress to local scholarly communities.
• Collaborate with faculty investigators or serve as co-investigator on grant applications or funded projects whenever possible.
• Responsible for upholding standards of ethical and professional conduct as defined in FGCU’s policies, procedures and regulations; complying with Institutional Review Board protocols; and adhering to specific disciplinary and/or grant requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Additional Job Description

Required Qualifications

• PhD or other terminal degree such as an EdD, JD, MD, MSW, or MFA within the last five years in the fields of social sciences, arts and humanities, public health, or education or similar from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent accreditation.
• Must meet the University and College criteria for the appointment to the level of Assistant Professor.
• ABD will be considered if degree is conferred by August 7, 2021. If successful candidate is ABD, appointment will be made at a Lecturer level on a fixed contract.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise and scholarly productivity in racial studies and environmental justice.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Experience with and commitment to the use of instructional technology, a willingness to cultivate an interdisciplinary perspective, and a demonstrated commitment to professional development.
• Experience or commitment to university teaching. Interest in collaborating both within and outside the university in the development and delivery of instruction resulting in improved student learning. Must value continued scholarship and service to the university.
• Ability to contribute effectively and collegially to a positive, dynamic, and inclusive learning environment for a diverse student population.
• Ability to thrive in an organization that values the diversity of its student body and workforce and actively promotes equity and inclusion.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Appointment will be made on a 12-month visiting appointment basis available August 2021 for a period of one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second year.

Because applications and materials are subject to public review and retention under Florida’s Public Records Law, please DO NOT send examples of your project/ scholarship unless requested to do so. Therefore, all submitted materials including articles, disks, slides, books, etc., become the property of FGCU and CANNOT BE RETURNED. As applicable, finalists will be notified of the need to submit specific additional materials. Such materials will become the property of FGCU.

Under Florida’s Public Records law, applications will be available for public review upon request.

Required Application Materials:

• Unofficial Transcripts
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter
• Five (5) Professional References

The position is listed as “open until filled”, however applications received by Tuesday June 15, 2021 will receive priority consideration.

FGCU is an EOE AA /F/Vet/Disability Employer.