Director of Russian Studies

University of Richmond invites applications for a full-time Director of Russian Studies (language, literature, and culture), to begin in August 2023. This is a non-tenure track, annually renewable continuing faculty position. We seek an energetic and versatile colleague who will be able to teach undergraduate courses in Russian language at all levels, as well as innovative courses in English for majors and non-majors alike in nineteenth-, twentieth-, and twentieth-first-century Russian literature in translation, in addition to corollary areas in Russian, East European, and Eurasian cultures, such as film, popular culture, gender studies, and trauma and memory studies. Director will take a leading role in attracting students to a small but vibrant Russian Studies program. Ability to mentor students closely and foster a sense of engagement with the program through extracurricular programming is essential. Successful candidate should have a clear commitment to improving diversity in the field through the active cultivation of inclusive pedagogies and periodic reassessment of curricular priorities. Experience using instructional technologies to teach language is required.  Qualifications required for appointment include a Ph.D. in Russian Literature (in hand or expected by August 2023) and native or near-native fluency in Russian. Candidates must demonstrate a strong interest and potential excellence in undergraduate teaching. Successful teaching experience at the college level is highly desirable. 

The Director of Russian Studies is expected to teach at least two language courses and at least one area studies course in English per semester for a total of seven classroom courses per academic year. The Director shares responsibility with one other tenured faculty member and with Russian Studies affiliate faculty for advising, mentoring, and fostering a sense of identity within the cohort of Russian Studies majors and minors. While the Directorship emphasizes program-building and innovative and inclusive pedagogies, the ideal candidate should have demonstrated a capacity to produce peer-reviewed scholarship in the field of language pedagogy and/or literary and cultural studies.

The University of Richmond is committed to developing a diverse workforce and student body, and to modeling an inclusive campus community which values the expression of difference in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development, and institutional success. Our academic community strongly encourages applications that are in keeping with this commitment. For more information on the Russian Studies program and the Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department, please see https://llc.richmond.edu/academics/russian/index.html.

Applicants should apply online at http://jobs.richmond.edu and submit a curriculum vitae, cover letter, and, teaching statement. The teaching statement should articulate the candidate’s teaching philosophy, interests, and future professional development goals, as well as involvement in and commitment to inclusive pedagogy. Candidates for this position may be asked, at a later date, to provide the names and contact information for three references who will be asked to submit letters of recommendation. Review of applications will commence April 17, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. Interviews will be conducted virtually. Please direct all inquiries about this position to Dr. Yvonne Howell, Search Committee Chair (yhowell@richmond.edu).


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