ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SPANISH

About Occidental College

Founded in 1887, Occidental is a nationally recognized, private college of the liberal arts and sciences, dedicated to providing a gifted and diverse group of students with a total educational experience of the highest quality -- one that prepares them for leadership in an increasingly complex, interdependent and pluralistic world.

What makes Occidental special? An intellectually rigorous academic environment. Small classroom settings where students collaborate with professors and their peers while pursuing or discovering their passion. A beautiful residential campus that offers students hands-on engagement with the cultural and intellectual resources of Los Angeles. A community open to stimulating conversation and divergent points of view. Some 2,100 students from 46 states and 28 countries choose from 41 majors and minors and participate in one the country’s top undergraduate research programs. Oxy students routinely win top awards and fellowships; its first Rhodes Scholar was named in 1907. Dedicated to excellence and equity, Occidental also is one of the country’s most economically diverse campuses, according to the New York Times. Some 71 percent of Oxy students receive some form of financial aid; 20 percent are Pell Grant recipients; and 19 percent are the first in their family to attend college




Assistant Professor of Spanish

Spanish & French Studies



POSITION SUMMARY


The Department of Spanish & French Studies at Occidental College invites applications for a tenure‐track
Assistant Professor of Spanish with appointment to begin Fall 2025.

The Department of Spanish and French Studies at Occidental College seeks to hire a tenure-track Assistant
Professor in the area of Modern Latin American literatures and cultures, starting in August 2025. We seek a
candidate with a specialization in one of the following areas: the Andean region, the Southern Cone, Central
America, or the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. In addition to teaching courses in the area of specialization, the
new hire should be able to teach our Spanish senior seminar in literary theory and genre, general courses in
Modern Latin American literature and culture, Spanish language and composition at all levels, and courses in
English in our First-Year Seminar (FYS) program.

The Spanish and French Studies department houses two majors (Spanish Studies, French Studies), the
Linguistics minor, and contributes to the unique Group Language major, a combination of two languages or a
language and linguistics. The Spanish major has three potential concentrations: literature, culture, and
linguistics, but requires all majors to have a background in all three areas. We are fortunate to have a strong
balance of Peninsular and Latin American literatures and cultures, as well as a strong linguistics program. The
department offers our students a global, critically engaged educational experience that is enriched by the
inclusion of underrepresented voices and traditions.

The department also collaborates frequently with other departments such as Latinx/Latin American Studies,
Education, Cognitive Science, and History, as well as other offices and programs around the college such as the
the Center for Community Based Learning, the Hameetman Career Center, and the International Programs
Office by way of supporting students to participate in both semester- and summer-long study abroad programs,
as well as via faculty-led research and study experiences abroad. All members of the department are encouraged
to explore these and other opportunities for collaborative engagement across campus, within the city of Los
Angeles, and internationally.

Occidental faculty are committed teacher-scholars who bring research and creative discovery to life for students
in classrooms, labs, studios, and mentored projects. They teach broadly in the curricula of their departments,
advise students, carry out research and creative work, and provide departmental, college-wide, and external
service. In this position, your primary responsibilities will include the development and teaching of introductory
and core courses in the discipline, including courses in your area(s) of specialization. Specific courses that you
will teach include introductory and intermediate Spanish language, upper-division courses on Modern Latin
American literary and cultural studies, the senior seminar, and courses in English in the College’s First-Year
Seminar program. You will also be responsible for producing scholarship commensurate with the requirements
for tenure and will be expected to develop a program of research that engages undergraduate students. You will
also be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students,
serve on committees, and participate in the broader college and disciplinary communities.

QUALIFICATIONS


Required Qualifications

● Ph.D. in Spanish by August 2025, specializing in an appropriate area of Modern Latin American
literatures and cultures

● Expertise in one of the following areas: the Andean region, the Southern Cone, Central America, or the
Spanish-speaking Caribbean

● Native or near-native command of Spanish
● Demonstrated commitment to and excellence in undergraduate teaching
● Demonstrated experience teaching Spanish language, experience/potential to teach Latin American

literatures and cultures as well as literary theory and genre
● A strong record of scholarly accomplishments appropriate to the level of appointment
● Demonstrated commitment to working effectively with students from minoritized and marginalized

social groups
● Demonstrated commitment to the four cornerstones of the mission of the College: excellence, equity,

community, and service

SALARY RANGE

Salary range for Academic Year, nine-month appointment: $85,000 - $92,000

If you are offered this position at Occidental College, your final base salary compensation will be determined
based on factors such as skills, education, experience, and/or geographic location. In addition to those factors,
Occidental complies with applicable pay equity laws and considers internal equity among current employees
when developing the final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the base salary range for
the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical in order to allow for future and continued
salary growth.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Application Deadline and Instructions

To be considered, your application materials must be received by midnight Eastern time (9:00 pm Pacific
time) on January 15, 2025.

Applicants must submit a complete application package electronically via Interfolio
(http://apply.interfolio.com/156010) to be considered by the search committee.

An application includes the following:

● Cover Letter (max. 2 pages) in which you describe the education, experience, and/or skills you possess

that are relevant to the required and preferred qualifications, including a brief discussion of teaching
experience, current scholarship, and theoretical and/or methodological approach(es) to teaching and
research

● Curriculum Vitae
● Research Statement (max. 2 pages; please discuss further the current stage of your scholarship and your

future research directions)
● Teaching Philosophy Statement (max. 2 pages; please address your approach to teaching, both in the

language classroom as well as in upper-level courses in your area of expertise, with specific examples of
success, when appropriate)

● Samples of syllabi for potential literary and cultural studies courses (up to 2)
● Commitment to Inclusive Excellence Statement

▪ This statement provides your unique perspective on your past and present contributions to and
future aspirations for promoting justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity in your professional
career. This should include your demonstrated commitment to, past evidence of, and future plans
for creating equitable opportunities for learning and mentoring especially for students from
marginalized and minoritized groups. You may also speak to how your research and/or service
promotes justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity. The purpose of this statement is to help the
department identify candidates who have professional experience, intellectual commitments,
and/or willingness to engage in activities that could help the College contribute to its mission in
these areas.

● Graduate transcripts

On Interfolio, one of the application steps you will need to complete is the Occidental Equal Employment
Opportunity (EEO) form. This form needs to be completed in order to submit your application, but applicants
may choose to decline answering any specific question.

If you have any questions about the position, the application materials, or the application instructions, please
contact Michael Shelton at mshelton@oxy.edu. If you have questions about Interfolio or the application
process, please contact the Academic Support Administrator, Beatrice Gonzales, at facultysearch@oxy.edu.



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Occidental is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or
applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression,
pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status,
physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, military and
veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Occidental is strongly committed to
increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum, and to fostering an inclusive, equitable,
and just environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Candidates who can
contribute to this goal through their work are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area.
Individuals advancing the College’s strategic equity and justice goals and those from groups that are
underrepresented in the field are particularly encouraged to apply.

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. A comprehensive benefits package is available that
includes: excellent health, dental, life, and retirement benefits; tuition benefits for the employee, spouse,
domestic partner, and dependents; additional extras including use of gym facilities and the College Library. For
a detailed description of benefits, please visit https: //www.oxy.edu/offices-services/humanresources/benefits-
information.

All qualified applicants will be considered for employment, including those with criminal histories, in a manner
consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair
Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Occidental College is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with
qualifying disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the
application or employment process, please contact Human Resources (hr@oxy.edu).

As a condition of hire for a staff position and for appointment to a faculty position, Occidental College requires
that all candidates who have received a conditional offer of employment complete an application form (if they
have not already done so) and consent to a background check. Satisfactory completion of a background check,
along with pre-employment verifications and references are required as a condition of employment, but only as
permitted by federal, state, and local law, including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring
Ordinance.