Assistant Professor of English: Linguistics - Tenure Track

JMU Careers; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of English with a focus on Linguistics, to begin August 2027. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, contribute to General Education, and support interdisciplinary minors within the College of Arts and Letters.

The department seeks a scholar with a PhD in Linguistics (by Aug 31, 2027) and a strong record or potential in teaching, research, and service.

Qualifications

• PhD in Linguistics or a related field by August 31, 2027.
• Evidence of excellence or potential for excellence in teaching in Linguistics and Literature.
• Evidence of excellence or potential for excellence in publishing in an area of Linguistics.
• Evidence of excellence or potential for excellence in departmental, university, or professional service in support of Linguistics and English.

Responsibilities

• Teach introductory, advanced, and graduate courses in Linguistics for English majors/minors and Linguistics minors; contribute to General Education Program.
• Offer literature courses for majors/minors and in General Education to support the English curriculum.

Skills

Teaching excellence

Linguistics publishing

Dept. service

Interdisciplinary teaching

Education

PhD in Linguistics

Job description

Working Title: Assistant Professor of English: Linguistics - Tenure Track

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Arts and Letters

Department: 100020 - English Department

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 11/01/2026

About JMU

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.
Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.
Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.
JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.
JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information

The Department of English at James Madison University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Linguistics to begin August 2027.
The Department offers a B.A. and an M.A. English and serves students inthe university’s General Education program. It housesthe University’sthriving creative writing minor, and faculty teach across many interdisciplinary minors, including African, African American and Diaspora Studies;American Studies; Digital Studies; Disability Studies; Environmental Humanities; Film Studies; Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies; Linguistics; Medieval and Renaissance Studies; Queer Studies; Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies; andWorld Literature.
The College of Arts and Letters, in which the Department of English is located, enrolls over 3100 undergraduate majors and about 150 graduate students across ten academic units in the humanities, social sciences, and communication studies. Home to several interdisciplinary centers and institutes, the College employs 270 full-time faculty. We embrace the teacher-scholar model, and encourage excellent applicants within our particular disciplines, as well as scholars and teachers eager to work across them.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to teach introductory, advanced, and graduate (M.A.) courses in Linguistics to English majors and minors, Pre-Professional Secondary Education (SEED) majors and minors, Linguistics minors, and contribute to the university’s General Education Program. This hire will also contribute to the English curriculum by offering literature courses for majors and minors and in the General Education program.

Qualifications

Required:

• PhD in Linguistics or a related field by August 31, 2027
• Evidence of excellence or potential for excellence in teaching in Linguistics and Literature
• Evidence of excellence or potential for excellence in publishing in an area of Linguistics
• Evidence of excellence or potential for excellence in departmental, university, or professional service in support of the fields of Linguistics and English

Additional Considerations:

• We welcome applications from candidates with secondary interest and experience in one or more of the interdisciplinary minors in the College of Arts and Letters.
• We welcome applications from candidates with secondary interest and ability in teaching Histories of English.
• We seek candidates with a demonstrated commitment to building a supportive, welcoming scholarly environment.

Additional Posting Information

Interested candidate will complete the online application and provide:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Cover Letter
• Professional Writing Sample
• Names and contact information for three references

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.
We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.
Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: [phone].

Reasonable Accommodation

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.