Assistant, Associate, or Professor of Japanese

The Department of Asian Studies at Furman University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of assistant, associate, or professor of Japanese to begin August 2024. The successful candidate will join one of the largest Asian Studies departments among liberal arts undergraduate institutions, with a vibrant, interdisciplinary program and a strong commitment to inclusive excellence. The position consists primarily in teaching Japanese language, and candidates must demonstrate significant experience, excellence, and enthusiasm in Japanese language instruction. We seek applicants with expertise in the fields of contemporary Japanese culture and society, including but not limited to film or performing arts, literature, gender and sexuality, or race and ethnicity. Candidates who also possess training in pedagogical methods are especially encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will become an integral part of the Japanese language program at Furman. Teaching load is five courses per year, which will include language classes at all levels. Responsibilities also include developing courses in the candidate’s area of specialty, coordinating study abroad; involvement in co-curricular activities; teaching first-year seminars; offering interdisciplinary courses on Asian Studies; pursuing an active research agenda; advising and mentoring; and university service. The successful candidate will have the ability to work with historically underrepresented students, including students of color, and be committed to assisting the university in its continuing efforts to become a model of inclusive excellence.

Qualifications include a Ph.D. in Japanese or a related field expected by Aug 1, 2024. Native language proficiency or near-native language proficiency in Japanese and English is required. Candidates must demonstrate both excellence in teaching and scholarly potential. Successful candidates will also show the potential to be dedicated contributors to The Furman Advantage (https://www.furman.edu/furman-advantage/) and to promoting a diverse and inclusive teaching environment. The position offers competitive salary and benefits.

Furman University is a nationally ranked, top 50 liberal arts college that aspires to become a leader among its peer institutions in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all facets of university life, and strives to create a community that fosters a sense of belonging through excellence in teaching, mentorship, and programming. Numerous initiatives and programs are underway or planned to promote these ideals, including:  historic projects, dialogue initiatives, the Center for Inclusive Communities, and a recently established major in Africana Studies. The Department of Asian Studies similarly strives to foster an environment of inclusion in all respects, including in our curriculum, pedagogy, and mentoring. Many department members are active in these areas across the university.

Greenville, SC, is a racially and culturally diverse community that is one of the fastest growing cities in the Southeast and is ranked among “America’s Ten Best” by Forbes Magazine. Greenville has a thriving downtown, excellent private and public schools and a vibrant international community. A 20-mile bike and running trail connects the university to Greenville and Travelers Rest, which was named “one of America’s coolest small towns.” It is within a short driving distance of Asheville, Charlotte and Atlanta. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Atlantic Beaches are within easy reach. In keeping with our commitment to equity and inclusion, domestic partners of employees are eligible for comprehensive benefits and faculty/staff affinity groups exist to offer support for faculty/staff that identify as LGBTQIA+ and/or Black/African-American.

Application instructions: Applicants must submit materials no later than November 1, 2023 through this link on the Furman University application portal: [https://furman.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Furman_Careers/details/Assistant--Associate--or-Professor-of-Japanese_R002316]. Preliminary interviews will be conducted remotely via video conference.

Please upload all application materials as a single PDF in the following order: letter of application, CV, statement of teaching philosophy, diversity statement, evidence of excellence in teaching, and contact information for three referees (at least one of which must be able to address the candidate’s teaching abilities). The diversity statement should describe how the candidate’s teaching, scholarship, mentoring and/or service might contribute to a liberal arts college community that includes a commitment to inclusion and equity among its core values.

Inquiries may be directed to Alexander Francis-Ratte, Chair of the Japanese Search Committee, Department of Asian Studies, Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613, alexander.francis-ratte@furman.edu

About Us

Furman University is a selective private liberal arts and sciences college committed to helping students develop intellectually, personally, and interpersonally and providing the practical skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly-changing world. Furman professors are exceptional teacher-scholars who mentor undergraduate students within a campus community that values and encourages diverse ideas and perspectives. Our recently-launched strategic vision, The Furman Advantage, promises students an individualized four-year pathway facilitated by team of mentors and infused with a rich and varied set of high impact experiences outside the classroom that include undergraduate research, study away, internships, community-focused learning, and opportunities to engage across differences.

Furman is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty and staff. The University aspires to create a community of people representing a multiplicity of identities including gender, race, religion, spiritual belief, sexual orientation, geographic origin, socioeconomic background, ideology, world view, and varied abilities.

In keeping with our commitment to equity and inclusion, domestic partners of employees are eligible for comprehensive benefits and faculty/staff affinity groups exist to offer support for faculty/staff that identify as LGBTQIA+ and/or Black/African-American.

The Furman student experience is supported by a rich network of centers and institutes that includes The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, The Riley Institute, The David E. Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities, The Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, The Rinker Center for Study Away and International Education, The Cothran Center for Vocational Reflection, The Furman Humanities Center, The Shucker Center for Leadership Development, The Malone Center for Career Engagement, The Center for Inclusive Communities, and our newest addition, The Tocqueville Center for the Study of Democracy and Society.

Furman is located on traditional Cherokee land in Greenville, South Carolina, a racially and culturally diverse community that is one of the fastest growing cities in the Southeast. It has been ranked among “America’s Ten Best” by Forbes Magazine. Greenville has a thriving downtown, excellent private and public schools and a vibrant international community. A 20-mile bike and running trail connects the university to Greenville and Travelers Rest, which was named “one of America’s coolest small towns.” It is within a short driving distance of Asheville, Charlotte and Atlanta. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Atlantic Beaches are within easy reach.