Assistant Professor of Environmental Social Sciences

The Environmental Studies Department at Wofford College seeks an engaged teacher-scholar with expertise in environmental social sciences to join our multi-disciplinary team of faculty as a tenure-track assistant professor starting in fall 2025.

EXPECTATIONS

Wofford is a liberal arts college and Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary department. Candidates from any social science discipline will be considered; a focus on environmental policy, law or economics is desired. We seek an engaged teacher-scholar with a commitment to the liberal arts and the ability to connect their teaching and mentoring to environmental aspects of natural science and humanities fields. This person will actively engage in the program’s valued tradition of field studies and experiential education and equip students to communicate effectively about environmental issues to diverse audiences. Candidates should discuss how they might work and facilitate learning at Wofford’s Goodall Environmental Studies Center, as some environmental studies courses take place there. The ideal candidate will also embrace the collaborative spirit that characterizes the College and display excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 

The teaching responsibilities for this position include three courses each semester and a four-week January focused-study Interim term (interim is not taught during the first year or during sabbaticals). To earn tenure, faculty are expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching, continued scholarly development, and service to the college. The successful candidate will teach an environmental social science core course that incorporates multiple social science perspectives and is taken by all environmental studies majors and minors. They will also teach upper-level courses within their specialty area and a topical first-year seminar. All department faculty periodically teach our four-credit interdisciplinary introductory seminar, capstone courses, and senior seminar, as well as mentor environmental studies majors as they engage in multi-semester original research projects that reflect their diverse interests.

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualified candidates will have a terminal degree (e.g. PhD, JD) by August 2025 with a focus on an environmental social science field. We are particularly interested in candidates who work on environmental issues as they relate to economics, policy and law, broadly construed. Evidence of having taught or demonstrated capacity to teach environmental policy is preferred. We welcome applicants who have shown a commitment to enhancing and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, relevant to environmental studies. Candidates must show evidence of excellent undergraduate teaching and evidence of or aptitude for mentoring undergraduates in scholarship that reflect their diverse interests in environmental social sciences. Candidates must show capacity and interest in experiential or applied teaching. The successful candidate must be active in scholarship or similar productive pursuits, with expertise that complements and broadens existing departmental strengths.

APPLICATION

To apply, please send a single pdf document with: (1) a cover letter describing your experience and how you meet the qualifications of this position; (2) a current curriculum vitae; (3) a statement of teaching philosophy; (4) a statement of research interests and direction including your approach to mentoring student research; (5) unofficial graduate and undergraduate transcripts; and (6) the names and contact information for three professional references to ENVS-search@wofford.edu. Statements should be one to two pages in length. Applications received by October 31, 2024, will be given full review and consideration.

ABOUT WOFFORD COLLEGE

Wofford College is a place where thought leads, where ideas are celebrated and problem solving is expected. Wofford invites applicants who are focused on student success and excited to join a community committed to preparing thought leaders.

Wofford College, established in 1854, is a four-year, residential liberal arts college located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A Phi Beta Kappa college (chartered in 1940), Wofford offers 27 major fields of study to a student body of 1,775 undergraduates. Nationally known for the strength of its academic program, outstanding faculty, experiential learning opportunities and successful and supportive graduates, Wofford is recognized consistently as a “best value” and for accessibility for low- and middle-income students. To learn more, visit Wofford.edu.

EEO STATEMENT

Wofford College values diversity within our students, faculty and staff and strives to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people. Wofford College does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For information about Wofford’s Title IX compliance, visit wofford.edu/administration/title-ix.

It is the policy of Wofford College to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities for employment. If you require any accommodations to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact HumanResources@Wofford.edu.