Term Faculty Instructor or Assistant Professor, Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

Summary/Mission or Goal of Unit:

The VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness Program invites applications for a non-tenure eligible faculty at the rank of instructor or assistant professor, depending on qualifications and experience. Applicants with a Ph.D. in the social sciences are preferred. Candidates with a Master’s Degree and significant professional experience will be considered.

The Wilder School’s mission is to:

• Engage, teach and inspire students and leaders to understand and solve challenges in our world.

• Advance research that informs public policy and decision making to improve our communities.

• Collaborate with communities through innovative partnerships to enhance quality of life.

The Wilder School's vision is to be the premier resource for public policy expertise and social equity in public safety, governance, and economic and community development. The 2024-2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings confirm the Wilder School among the top 15% of graduate schools of public affairs at No. 39. The School is also ranked No. 6 in Homeland Security Programs and No. 33 in Public Management and Leadership. The Wilder School has over 1,500 students and more than 11,000 alumni, with an established environment where diverse perspectives thrive and where a common interest in public service and the betterment of society unites these perspectives together. Our academic excellence attracts the highest quality faculty, staff, and students, and our graduates are leaders in their professions.

Our location in Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, combined with our proximity to Washington, DC, provides numerous opportunities for engaged scholarship, teaching and community engagement activities. A creative, interdisciplinary School with both academic programs and training/research centers in the social sciences and professional arenas, we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve providing students and faculty with the knowledge, skills, opportunities and experience necessary for success.

For additional information about the Wilder School, please visit our website at wilder.vcu.edu .

This position is non-tenure eligible faculty at the rank of instructor or assistant professor, depending on qualifications and experience in the Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness program to begin in August 2025.

Chief Purpose of this position:

The Wilder School is seeking to continue its growth and commitment to its large and successful Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness Bachelor’s, Master’s and Certificate programs. The faculty will complement and expand our existing expertise in the field of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Successful candidates will join a dedicated group of colleagues with diverse interests and a demonstrated ability to teach effectively. We are interested in faculty who will demonstrate through teaching, creative expression, and/or public engagement, the richness of diversity in the learning experience through integrated intersectional approaches and perspectives.

Position Responsibilities:

1. Teaching

Successful candidates will teach within the core requirements of the graduate and undergraduate programs in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and may contribute to the Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration. The faculty member will be expected to carry a teaching load equivalent to eight 3 credit courses a year (4/4), involving both in-class and on-line delivery, and demonstrate leadership in developing techniques to meet the needs of diverse learning styles and intellectual interests.

2. Service

Faculty member may serve on program, School, and/or University committees as necessary, as well as in a professional capacity in their field.

For additional information, please visit https://wilder.vcu.edu/programs/homeland-security-and-emergency-preparedness/.

Required Qualifications:

Applicants with a Master’s degree and significant professional experience.

Our interest is in instructors who demonstrate a profound commitment to high-quality effective instruction who can contribute to the strength and diversity of our faculty. Successful candidates will have particular expertise in cybersecurity policy, emergency management, disaster response, intelligence or homeland security. The faculty member will complement and expand our existing expertise in the field of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications:

Applicants with a PhD in the social sciences are preferred.

Application Process/Additional Information:

Applications should include a cover-letter, a detailed CV with the names and contact information of three references, one example of scholarship or writing, and evidence of teaching effectiveness.

As a preeminent national, urban, public research university and academic health center, Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity and inclusion - an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence.

Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically between 150-300 words) providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you can share how your lived experiences; and past, present, and future academic and professional activities have or will contribute to VCU’s mission of promoting equity and inclusion.

Note: Examples include working with others to further the goals of equity and inclusion; leading in any capacity that tangibly promotes an environment where diversity is welcomed, fostered, and celebrated; creative activity, research and scholarship that promotes equity and parity; teaching and mentoring students, and/or engaging with faculty and/or staff from traditionally underrepresented groups to create a positive and successful organizational experience.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, with priority review beginning November 15, 2024 .

EEOC and/or Diversity and Inclusion Statement:

"Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability”.

VCU demonstrates its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion through a number of initiatives, including an NSF ADVANCE-IT grant to increase the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority (URM) faculty in STEM disciplines, and iCubed, a multi-faceted program designed to recruit URM faculty t collaborate with community partners in transdisciplinary cores to develop promising solutions that enhance the vitality of urban communities. Wilder School faculty are actively engaged in both initiatives.




Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Open
Months: 9
Department: Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, L. D. Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

Salary: $60,000 - $70,000

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Hans Louis-Charles
Contact Email: louischah@vcu.edu
Contact Phone: (804) 828-8889