Job Post: Two (2) Tenure Track Asst. Prof. Environmental Studies Positions
The Environmental Studies Program at St. Mary’s College of Maryland is excited to recruit two (2) tenure track assistant professors to begin August 2023 to expand our interdisciplinary academic offerings in the environment and deepen our commitment to the broad theme of critical climate studies. We are eager to find creative and committed new colleagues who think across disciplinary boundaries using theoretical, applied, and/or community-based approaches to address environmental challenges.
While specialization is open for both positions, competitive candidates will be able to demonstrate an ability to increase the diversity, equity, and inclusionary practices of Environmental Studies through experiential, high-impact pedagogy, mentoring, and program development.
Note that applications are being accepted online at two separate accounts:
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies (Science Specialty) https://apply.interfolio.com/112030
Natural scientists who hold a Ph.D in a relevant discipline are encouraged to apply. We especially welcome candidates whose scholarly work and teaching praxis engages climate issues through lens/es of: conservation and restoration ecology; monitoring and assessment; climate change impacts; natural resources planning and resilience. Experience using geospatial techniques for a variety of environmental science applications is highly desirable. Preference will be given to applicants with a strong background in quantitative ecological analysis (e.g. R) or the ability to leverage data science, data analytics, or big data.
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies (Ross Fellow)
https://apply.interfolio.com/112034
Environmental humanists and interdisciplinary scholars are encouraged to apply. We especially welcome candidates whose scholarly or creative work and teaching praxis engages climate issues through lens/es of: food systems; sustainability and resilience; carbon accounting; environmental humanities including but not limited to arts, design, communication, and storytelling; environmental health; social movements, citizen-science and activism; or environmental education. This Environmental Studies position is part of a cluster hire designed to increase the diversity of SMCM faculty. In addition to negotiated startup funds, new faculty in this cluster hire cohort will be supported by research funds up to $5000 in the first two years, paid professional development opportunities, individualized strategic mentoring, campus and community onboarding, and a dedicated steering committee to oversee the long-term success of the initiative and its participants.
Review of applications begins on October 1, 2022 and will continue until positions are filled. Please see below for additional details:
Critical Climate Studies Initiative Hires in Environmental Studies
St. Mary’s College of Maryland is recruiting two (2), full time, tenure track assistant professors to begin August 2023 to expand our interdisciplinary academic offerings in the environment and deepen our commitment to the broad theme of critical climate studies. We are searching for highly motivated and talented faculty whose teaching and research will make foundational and transformative contributions to the development of critical climate studies at the College. The goal of the critical climate change initiative hires is to leverage the strength of our integrated, liberal arts curriculum via faculty who work across traditional research and teaching boundaries to build and support dynamic teaching, programming, and applied learning centered on just climate futures by preparing students to respond to the social and environmental dimensions of the climate crisis with ethical, evidence-based, imaginative, and effective action.
We seek scholars with a Ph.D. by time of hire in relevant fields in the sciences, social sciences, or arts and humanities whose expertise intersects with climate change and is focused on affecting positive change. We are eager to recruit candidates who think across disciplinary boundaries using theoretical, applied, and/or community-based approaches to address environmental challenges. Ability to demonstrate experience with or interest in creating innovative, place-based teaching methods that promote engaged learning throughout St. Mary’s exceptional local ecosystems, field sites, open spaces, the campus farm, and in partnership with local and regional organizations strategically located on the Chesapeake Bay is highly desired. Strong, collegial communication and collaboration skills are essential. Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate ability to contribute to our campus-wide effort to increase the number of and support for underrepresented students through experiential, high-impact pedagogy, advising, mentoring and program development.
A priority for these two new positions is to increase the diversity, equity, and inclusionary practices of Environmental Studies. Our interdisciplinary environmental program occupies a unique and integral role supporting an institutional context for research, teaching, and applied learning that does not fit into traditional disciplinary structures. Because effective responses to pressing social and environmental problems straddle and synthesize disciplines, we seek faculty from diverse backgrounds whose teaching and research will engage with the patterns and processes of systemic oppression of historically marginalized communities related to climate change. We are looking for colleagues that will embrace the opportunity and responsibility to support, study, and work with and/or for under-represented communities; to develop collaborations across campus and with community partners; and to prepare today’s students to meet future intellectual and workforce demands related to creating and sustaining a more just social and environmental order.
Our new colleagues will each teach the equivalent of 6 courses per year at the introductory and advanced levels which includes senior capstone experiences; create relevant, distinctive courses and field-study opportunities that use our history and location to foreground new approaches to understanding and addressing climate-based difference and diversity in our curriculum and community; mentor and advise Environmental Studies majors; and participate fully in Program and College service.
We solicit applicants for two distinct positions:
Environmental Science position: apply.interfolio.com/112030
Specialization is open. Competitive candidates for the environmental science position will have demonstrated excellence in offering student-centered instruction, providing mentoring opportunities for students, and a track record of centering equity and inclusion in their professional activities. Natural scientists who hold a Ph.D in a relevant discipline are encouraged to apply. Of particular interest are interdisciplinary approaches to the natural and social dimensions of climate change. We especially welcome candidates whose scholarly work and teaching praxis engages climate issues through lens/es of: conservation and restoration ecology; monitoring and assessment; climate change impacts; natural resources planning and resilience. Experience using geospatial techniques for a variety of environmental science applications is highly desirable. Preference will be given to applicants with a strong background in quantitative ecological analysis (e.g. R) or the ability to leverage data science, data analytics, or big data.
Environmental Studies position (Ross Fellow designation): https://apply.interfolio.com/112034
Specialization is open. Competitive candidates for the environmental studies position will have demonstrated excellence in offering student-centered instruction, providing mentoring opportunities for students, and a track record of centering equity and inclusion in their professional activities. Environmental humanists and interdisciplinary scholars are encouraged to
apply. Of particular interest are interdisciplinary approaches to the social and natural dimensions of climate change. We especially welcome candidates whose scholarly or creative work and teaching praxis engages climate issues through lens/es of: food systems; sustainability and resilience; carbon accounting; environmental arts, design, communication, and storytelling; environmental health; social movements, citizen-science, and activism; or environmental education.
With the support of the Office of Inclusive Diversity, Equity, Access, and Accountability (IDEA2), St. Mary’s College has designated the Environmental Studies position as part of a cluster hire designed to increase the diversity of SMCM faculty. Programs participating in this cluster hire include Environmental Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Computer Science, Economics, and Psychology. The College seeks to build and support a network of committed scholars whose pedagogical practice-- across their diverse fields of specialization-- improves the educational experience of underrepresented students. Candidates who demonstrate commitment to and past experience with supporting BIPOC, first generation, and/or low income students will be given preference. St. Mary’s College is particularly interested in candidates whose teaching is culturally responsive, and grounded in strategies that both increase student belonging and reduce equity gaps in student performance. In addition to negotiated startup funds, new faculty in this cluster hire cohort will be supported by research funds up to $5000 in the first two years, paid professional development opportunities, individualized strategic mentoring, campus and community onboarding, and a dedicated steering committee to oversee the long-term success of the initiative and its participants.
St. Mary’s College (www.smcm.edu) embodies diversity and inclusion in its mission. We create an environment that recognizes the value of individual and group differences, and we encourage inquiries from applicants who will contribute to our cultural and ethnic diversity. St. Mary’s College of Maryland is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Application materials should include a cover letter that identifies the position of interest, addresses how the candidate will contribute to a campus culture of inclusion; includes a description of teaching interests that support interdisciplinary engagement in the Chesapeake region, and provides evidence of expertise in the broad area of critical climate studies; curriculum vitae (including email address), statement of teaching philosophy (up to 500 words), statement of research interests (up to 500 words), and evidence of teaching effectiveness (if available). Applicants should also arrange for the submission of three confidential letters of recommendation. Applicants can request confidential letters through their Interfolio Dossier account, which may be uploaded for free by the letter writer directly to our Interfolio-hosted account for committee review.
Note that applications are being accepted online at two separate accounts:
apply.interfolio.com/112030 for the ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE position
apply.interfolio.com/112034 for the ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES position (Open area, Ross Fellow Designation).
The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications October 1 and continue to accept applications until the positions are filled. Questions may be directed to Search Committee Chair at environmentalstudiessearch@smcm.edu. Employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check and proof of COVID-19 vaccination, medical and religious exemptions will be considered.
Non-sectarian since its founding, St. Mary's College of Maryland, a public Carnegie Baccalaureate, Arts and Sciences institution located in St. Mary's City, 70 miles southeast of Washington, D.C., has been designated as Maryland's public honors college. With selective admissions policies, academically talented students, and a rigorous curriculum, we offer a small college experience similar to that found at exceptional private colleges. St. Mary’s faculty benefit from a comprehensive program of support for scholarship, research, travel, and curriculum development, including course releases for pre-tenure faculty and leaves for tenured faculty. The quality of life is enhanced by the recreational opportunities of the Chesapeake region and by our proximity to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
Visit our website: www.smcm.edu/hr