Assistant Professor & Director of Civic Thought & Leadership

East Texas A&M University; Commerce (TX); On-site; USD 47,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

East Texas A&M University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor who will serve as Director of Civic Thought and Leadership in the Liberal Studies program within the Department of History and Liberal Studies.

The director will lead the development and implementation of the university’s new Civic Thought and Leadership degree program, forging partnerships and seeking external funding while teaching foundational courses.

Qualifications

• Doctorate by start date.
• Active research agenda in civic thought, political theory, or related area.
• Evidence of effective undergraduate teaching in civic thought or interdisciplinary humanities.
• Ability to teach foundational texts and facilitate discussions of competing ideas.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues and contribute to curriculum development and student engagement.
• Strong written communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and coordination of the Civic Thought and Leadership degree program, including curriculum planning and assessment.
• Teach foundational courses in civic thought and humanities.
• Teach undergraduate courses in civic thought, political theory, and interdisciplinary humanities.
• Develop co-curricular programming and public lectures.
• Build partnerships with programs, schools, and external organizations.
• Identify external funding opportunities and coordinate grant activities.
• Maintain an active scholarly agenda in civic thought and related fields.
• Advise and mentor students and participate in service.

Skills

Teaching experience

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Public speaking

Curriculum development

Education

Doctorate in political science, history, philosophy, or related field

Job description

Job Title Assistant Professor & Director of Civic Thought & Leadership Agency East Texas A&M University Department History and Liberal Studies

Proposed Minimum Salary $4,583.33 monthly

Job Location Commerce, Texas

Job Type Faculty

SUMMARY

East Texas A&M University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor who will serve as Director of Civic Thought and Leadership in the Liberal Studies program within the Department of History and Liberal Studies. The successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of the university’s new Civic Thought and Leadership degree program. The director will work with faculty to build a coherent curriculum connecting civic thought, the humanities, constitutional government, and leadership. The position also includes developing and teaching foundational courses, leading co-curricular programming, building campus and community partnerships, and seeking external funding to support the program’s growth. We seek a scholar and teacher who can help students connect the study of influential texts, historical experiences, and political institutions to questions of citizenship, public responsibility, and leadership. The successful candidate will maintain an active research agenda and contribute to teaching, scholarship, and service appropriate to a tenure-track assistant professor.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development, launch, and ongoing coordination of the Civic Thought and Leadership degree program, including curriculum planning, assessment, student recruitment, and collaboration across participating disciplines.
• Contribute to the development and teaching of foundational courses in civic thought and the humanities, emphasizing close reading, discussion, reasoned argument, and the relationship between enduring questions and contemporary civic life.
• Teach undergraduate courses in areas such as civic thought, American political thought, constitutionalism, leadership, and interdisciplinary humanities.
• Develop and lead co-curricular programming, including public lectures, reading groups, student forums, and other opportunities for civic learning and substantive dialogue.
• Build partnerships with university programs, schools, community organizations, and scholarly or civic institutions to support programming and student opportunities.
• Identify external funding opportunities, develop grant proposals, and coordinate funded activities in collaboration with faculty and university offices.
• Maintain an active scholarly agenda related to civic thought, leadership, political philosophy, constitutionalism, or a closely related field.
• Advise and mentor students and contribute to departmental, college, and university service.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• An earned doctorate in political science, history, philosophy, or a closely related field by the appointment start date.
• A research agenda in civic thought, political theory or philosophy, American political thought, constitutionalism, leadership, or a related area.
• Evidence of effective undergraduate teaching relevant to civic thought or interdisciplinary humanities.
• Ability to teach foundational texts and facilitate substantive discussion of competing ideas and interpretations.
• Evidence of the ability to collaborate with colleagues and contribute to curriculum development, academic programming, or student engagement.
• Strong written communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

PREFERRED EDUCATION / SKILLS/ EXPERIENCE

• Experience contributing to the development or administration of a civic thought, constitutional studies, liberal arts, or related academic program.
• Experience teaching courses organized around foundational texts that connect political, philosophical, historical, and literary questions.
• Teaching or scholarly expertise in the history of political ideas, democratic leadership, public communication and persuasion, citizenship, or American constitutional traditions.
• Experience organizing student programming, public lectures, reading groups, conferences, or other co-curricular activities.
• Evidence of success securing external grants or contributing substantially to funded educational or public humanities initiatives.
• Experience developing educational programming for teachers or building partnerships beyond the university.
• A record of peer-reviewed scholarship or evidence of strong potential for continued research and publication.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS

NA

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Applicants should submit a cover letter addressing their qualifications and approach to developing a civic thought and leadership program; a curriculum vitae; a statement of teaching philosophy; a research statement; and contact information for three professional references. All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check. Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

Welcome to East Texas A&M University, where we transform lives! At our university, we are committed to fostering an environment that ensures students are prepared for success in an ever-evolving world. Our faculty and staff work collaboratively to elevate research, drive innovation, and address global challenges, all while creating a welcoming community where academic excellence can thrive. We strive to align initiatives with the university's unique rural-urban identity, embracing both the opportunities of city life and the richness of rural traditions. Additionally, we are dedicated to modernizing university operations and business practices to enhance efficiency, support sustainable growth, and improve the student experience. East Texas A&M University is an Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer. Discover more about our sites: East Texas A&M University (Main Campus) East Texas A&M at Dallas East Texas A&M at Navarro College Texas A&M-Rellis