Assistant Professor of Spanish

The Department of Modern & Classical Languages & Literatures (MCLL) invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Spanish specializing in Peninsular literature and culture. This is a 9-month tenure track position contingent upon availability of funding. 

MCLL promotes the learning of language, literature, and culture so that students are prepared to engage in a multilingual, culturally diverse, global community. Our courses have both intrinsic and practical value for students and represent the backbone of the liberal arts educational mission of the university. We offer majors and minors in Classical Studies, French, German Studies, Norwegian, Spanish, and International Studies.

Established in 1883, the University of North Dakota is the oldest research university in North Dakota. It is the state’s flagship university and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having high research activity. Founded with a strong liberal arts core, UND has grown into a prominent scientific research university and was recently ranked among the top 100 public and top 25 most innovative universities in the country by U.S. News and World Report, and is widely regarded as among the top universities in the American Northern Plains region. UND offers degrees in more than 225 fields of study with nearly 14,000 students. It is the home of the state’s only School of Law. The School of Medicine & Health Sciences has major initiatives in rural and public health, and Aerospace is home to one of the first and largest unmanned aerial vehicle programs in the world.

UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a vibrant college town of over 57,000 people located on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. Short commutes, a great public school system, high quality medical facilities, low crime, ample parks and theaters, and a cost of living below that found in large American cities are some of Grand Forks’ advantages. Ranked as one of the top 5 Best Small College Towns, and America’s Best Hockey Town, Grand Forks offers stellar quality of life without the metropolitan hassles.

Position Benefits:

Benefits include single or family health care coverage (UND pays the full premium), basic life insurance, employee assistance program, retirement plans with generous employer contributions, and 10 paid holidays.

Optional benefits include supplemental life, dental, vision, flexible spending account, supplemental retirement plans.

UND also offers an employee tuition waiver and a variety of professional development opportunities.

Duties & Responsibilities

The successful candidate will contribute to Spanish and MCLL through teaching, scholarly activity, and service to the program, department, college, university, and community. We are seeking a generalist in Peninsular literature and culture; the area of specialization is open. The successful candidate will help lead the revitalization of our first-and second-year Spanish language sequences, contribute to curricular development and assessment, and enhance ongoing recruitment and retention strategies in the major through liaisons with the high school Spanish programs in the region. The standard course load is 3/3; however, the pre-tenure colleague will teach 2/3 their first two years in the department. The successful candidate will be assigned 70% effort to teaching language and topics courses on all levels of instruction, establish and maintain an active research agenda (20%), and engage in service and community outreach (10%). UND and the College of Arts & Sciences value diverse perspectives and seek applicants who are committed to helping students from underrepresented backgrounds succeed. MCLL has long played an important role in these efforts by promoting diversity and a culture of diversity through its programs and courses.

Required Competencies

  • Native or near-native fluency in Spanish
  • Ability to effectively teach Spanish language and content courses, embrace new pedagogies, and inspire students
  • Ability to develop and maintain a successful research program
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate with faculty, staff, and students
  • Ability to work with and engage diverse students and colleagues

Minimum Requirements

  • Earned Ph.D. in Spanish Language or Literature or related field by August 15, 2023
  • Experience teaching college-level Spanish language courses
  • Successful completion of criminal history records check.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Official transcripts from the highest awarding educational institution must be provided upon hire. 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Track record of excellence in teaching demonstrated through teaching evaluations and statement of teaching philosophy
  • Teaching experience in a foreign language classroom
  • Record of scholarly publications or potential for academic contributions in relevant fields
  • Experience with community outreach and recruitment

 

Contract Period/Start Date
Position is full-time, benefitted and exempt. Dates of initial contract are August 16, 2023, to May 15, 2024.

To Apply
For full consideration, applications must be received by December 31, 2022, and include the following materials:

Letter of application
Curriculum vitae
Statement of teaching philosophy
Evidence of teaching excellence (peer observations, teaching award nominations, student evaluations, etc.)
Name and contact information for three referees
Position is open until filled.

Questions should be directed to the department chair, Dr. Melissa Gjellstad, at melissa.gjellstad@UND.edu.

To apply, please follow this link: https://prd.hcm.ndus.edu/psc/recruit/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=2945823&PostingSeq=1&


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