Department Chair, Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Saint Louis University, a Catholic, Jesuit institution dedicated to student learning, research, health care, and service, is seeking an outstanding individual with a strong commitment to academic and research excellence, a proven record of effective leadership, and a visionary approach to administration to serve as Department Chair. The Department Chair will assist in promoting research, engagement, and undergraduate and graduate education in the Department. We are particularly interested in candidates who can lead the Department in developing interdisciplinary courses for a new University-wide undergraduate Core. We especially welcome applications from scholars in underrepresented groups and those who have demonstrated experience engaging with initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures is comprised of six language programs (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish) delivered by fifteen tenured or tenure-track professors, eight non-tenure-track faculty, and seven adjunct instructors. Also housed in the Department is the Language Resource Center which supports language instruction, learning, and faculty research. The typical teaching assignment for Department Chairs is 1/1, with expectations of an active research program. Salary is competitive.

The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures welcomes students and faculty to an experience of inclusion by bringing societies from every corner of the globe into the classroom. Our students emerge from our classes committed to building better communities in which cooperation with others enhances the collective human experience. The programs in the Department teach students that holistic, global learning happens when it is informed by people of widely-varied backgrounds, experiences, and points of view. To ensure such a learning environment, the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures includes and welcomes faculty and students who represent all human identities, including race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, age, and ability.

Successful applicants must be able to work collaboratively across all the Department’s language programs and have a Ph.D. in one of the languages listed above or in SLA/Linguistics. Candidates must also have previous administrative and leadership experience across languages, preferably as Department Chair or equivalent. Preference will be given to applicants who are familiar with Jesuit institutions and Ignatian pedagogy, in which SLU’s new undergraduate Core is grounded. Full Professor rank is preferred, but advanced Associate Professors will be considered.

The Department Chair serves as the Department’s academic leader and administrative officer and reports to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • leading the Department through a time of transition to connect our programs to the newly-adopted University Core;
  • building alliances across disciplines in the university;
  • further aligning our programs to the broader university and Jesuit missions;
  • recognizing and promoting excellence in faculty research, teaching and mentoring, service, and community engagement;
  • developing a strategic plan that allocates resources within the department;
  • evaluating faculty performance and making recommendations for retention, promotion, and tenure in a fair and equitable manner;
  • recruiting and hiring new faculty and staff;
  • working collaboratively with Program Coordinators for curricular planning and assessment;
  • managing physical and fiscal resources.

To apply, please visit SLU’s Workday portal at https://slu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Careers.

Required Documents:

  • a cover letter
  • a curriculum vitae
  • a one-to-two page statement of leadership philosophy
  • a one-page reflection statement on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • names and contact information for three references

Submitting your materials on Workday

The system limits uploads to five documents. You may need to save multiple documents into one file. 

On the “My Information” page, upload cover letter and CV as a single .pdf file. 

On the “My Experience” page, you may upload all other required documents using the upload box labeled “Resume/CV”. 

On the Workday page “Application Questions 2 of 2,” you will be required to supply information about three academic references, including names, phone numbers, and email addresses. Additionally, Workday requires all applicants to SLU to complete a statement on the page “Application Questions 1 of 2” about their understanding of Jesuit identity and values.

Your application must be completed in one sitting; you will not be able to revise it once it is submitted. At the time of completing the application, have your documents ready to upload listed under required documents above, and feel free to combine them all into a single document.

Successful applicants will be required to provide additional materials upon request. The position will remain open until filled; review of applications begins November 1, 2022.  

For additional information, contact the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at langadmin@slu.edu.

Vaccine Protocol: Saint Louis University will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, staff, and faculty who are physically present on our St. Louis campuses. As a prospective and/or a new employee at Saint Louis University, you will be required to comply with the University’s vaccination protocol. Proof of full vaccination will be required before the start of employment in order to work at Saint Louis University. If you are not vaccinated, you will be required to begin the vaccination process at the time of your first day of employment. Exemptions may be granted on the grounds of religious beliefs or medical circumstances. 

Equal opportunity/affirmative action Statement: Saint Louis University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for the position applied for without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, gender identity, or other non-merit factors. We welcome and encourage applications from minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities (including disabled veterans). If accommodations are needed for completing the application and/or with the interviewing process, please contact Human Resources at 314-977-5847.


Similar searches: Full-time, Department chair, 4-year college or university, Chinese, French, Germanic, Generalist, Italian, Interdisciplinary, Language teaching, Linguistics, Russian, Spanish, Literature, non-English, Missouri