Assistant Professor, Environmental Science

~ Western Carolina University is a 11,000-student, primarily undergraduate, campus within the University of North Carolina system. ~

It is designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a community engaged university. WCU is situated in the picturesque Cullowhee valley in the Blue Ridge mountains, 25 miles southeast of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and 50 miles southwest of Asheville, NC. WCU and the surrounding area offer a wide range of excellent field and laboratory facilities, on and off campus.

Carnegie statement:

WCU embraces its role as a regionally engaged university and is designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a community engaged university. Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a commitment to public engagement through their teaching, service, and scholarship.

Position Overview

The Department of Geoscience and Natural Resources at Western Carolina University is seeking applications for a 9-month tenure track Assistant Professor in the Environmental Science program to begin August 2019. The Department is home to programs in geology, natural resources, environmental science, and geography, which all share a commitment to excellence in teaching and undergraduate research. We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in environmental planning, which adds new expertise to our department.

Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and providing interdisciplinary experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students related to their area of scholarship.
• Teaching responsibilities will include an undergraduate introductory GIS course, courses in the Environmental Science program and the general education curriculum, and an upper level course related to the candidate’s area of expertise.
• In addition to teaching, collaborative research with undergraduates is expected, as we strongly believe in close mentoring and teaching through research.

Qualifications

• The candidate should have a PhD in a relevant field at the time of hire; an ABD candidate will be considered.

To Apply

Please click "Apply on Company Website" below. Applications must include:

• A resume/curriculum vitae
• A cover letter
• Transcripts (unofficial acceptable)
• A statement of teaching philosophy
• A statement of research interests that includes discussion of potential student involvement
• Contact information for 4 references

WCU strives to be a community supportive of diverse perspectives and identities among its faculty and students. Candidates should describe ways their research and teaching activities would help to foster an environment of inclusivity. Please contact the search chair, Dr. Diane Styers if you have specific questions about the position or see gnr.wcu.edu for more general information. Application review will begin by October 29, 2018, and continue until the position is filled.

~ Inclusiveness and diversity are academic imperatives and thus are university goals. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for students from underrepresented groups. ~