Assistant Professor (Continuing Track), Department of Women and Gender Studies

The Department of Women & Gender Studies, https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/cas/units/departments/women-gender-studies, in the College of Arts and Sciences seeks to hire an Assistant Professor (continuing track) whose intersectional teaching and research centers on Sexuality & Gender Studies with a focus on how American society and media generate and circulate cultural forms, practices, values that resist and reinforce normative and non-normative sexuality and gender roles.

The Department of Women & Gender Studies at the University of Delaware is one of the oldest and strongest in the country. Having recently celebrated our 50th year, the Department of Women & Gender Studies continues to thrive and grow in scope. This Continuing Track position is intended to support this growth and increased student interest in sexuality and gender studies. The position has an anticipated start date of August 2025. Continuing Track faculty begin with a two-year contract and are eligible for renewals pending successful review. CT faculty enjoy contracts that increase in length over time and receive full and generous benefits consistent with tenured track faculty appointments as part of their compensation package. CT faculty have a path to promotion up to full professor. All CT faculty earn sabbaticals, have opportunities to pursue research, participate in shared governance, and hold academic leadership positions. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:    We seek applications from experienced educators who hold a PHD and have a demonstrated track record of college or university level teaching.  Specifically, we seek candidates whose teaching is interdisciplinary yet grounded in American cultural studies, the humanities, and queer theory. Areas of desired teaching expertise include sexual geography and the intersection of sexuality and space, and the social ramifications of LGTBQ+ representation within contemporary and digital cultures. Successful candidates will demonstrate the drive and vision to develop innovative, cutting-edge instructional programs and will contribute directly to core courses in the Sexualities & Gender Studies minor while supporting the foundational Women & Gender Studies major requirements. A proven track record is needed of outstanding teaching experience at all levels and via all modes of instruction, including on-campus, blended, hybrid and fully digital. The candidate will be expected to support the departmental goals of attracting future majors, and cultivating non-traditional students enrolled in WGS coursework through programs such as the Associate in Arts Program and the Early College Credit Program. Responsibilities will include a 3/3 teaching load and service as well scholarship that advances pedagogy in sexuality and gender studies. We seek a colleague that fulfills these responsibilities while supporting and advancing UD’s core values of diversity and inclusive excellence. 

WOMEN & GENDER STUDIES AT UD: The Department of Women & Gender Studies is within the College of Arts and Sciences and offers interdisciplinary perspectives on the past and current status of women around the world and offers students the opportunity to learn about formations of gender and their intersections with sexuality, race, class, nationality, religion, and age. The department has teaching and research expertise that position us to address the most pressing social issues within the context of a transnational world and from perspectives as diverse as history, sociology, political science, linguistics, economics, anthropology, literary and cultural studies, philosophy, science, religion, and the arts. The Department offers a B.A. degree in Women & Gender Studies, with an Honors Degree option, and minors in Women & Gender Studies, Sexualities & Gender Studies, Women in Religion, and Domestic Violence Prevention & Services (DVPS). Each minor carries 18 credits. Majors may also choose to complete a concentration in Domestic Violence Prevention & Service. The Department specializes in providing students with internship and practicum experiences that integrate what they have learned in the classroom with practical competencies that can only be gained from actual experience.

The mission of the Department of Women & Gender Studies as a multidisciplinary department is to produce and disseminate knowledge about women and gender that utilizes interdisciplinary approaches to learning that engage faculty, students, and staff as well as the community at large.  We strive for excellence through teaching, scholarship, cultural events, and public engagement, anchoring our work in core principles of diversity, social justice, and inclusion in a globally connected world. The Department also houses the Center for the Study and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence which, while furthering research aimed at understanding and preventing GBV, also builds professional capacity and stabilization of the workforce in this field.

The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Delaware offers exceptional educational experiences including integrated instruction, research, and public engagement. With 24 academic departments and more than 30 centers, programs and institutes, the College serves over 7,000 undergraduate students and 1,000 graduate students with CAS majors, but also every single University student through foundational course work. The College’s 580 faculty members emphasize the enduring value of an arts and science education and share a deep commitment to excellence in scholarship and all forms of creative and intellectual expression. The College has departments in the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, and features outstanding research and teaching facilities. Faculty and staff encourage and support innovative interdisciplinary collaborations and students engage local, national and global audiences through research and creative activity. With annual research expenditures of approximately $30 million and growing, the College currently houses several large, interdisciplinary grants with significant funding from the NIH and NSF.

The University of Delaware (www.udel.edu) is one of the nation’s oldest institutions of higher education, combining tradition and innovation. The university recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the experience of its employees and in supporting its academic mission.  We are committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds, and we strongly encourage applications from educators from under-represented groups. UD provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

TO APPLY: Review of applications will begin immediately. Applicants should upload the following: (1) a letter of application, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) statement on teaching which addresses teaching philosophy, provides example of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts both in the classroom and in mentoring, as well as engagement with students of marginalized backgrounds, and (4) contact information for three references. Letters of recommendation will be solicited for finalists. For additional information, please contact Jennifer Naccarelli jnacc@udel.edu.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Compensation packages are highly competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. The UD benefits package is one of the best in the nation.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:  The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups. The University's Notice of Non-Discrimination can be found at http://www.udel.edu/aboutus/legalnotices.html