Assistant Professor of Spanish

PURPOSE

The Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic university, seeks applicants for a tenure-track (Assistant Professor) position in Spanish Studies. The successful candidate will be a teacher-scholar whose research and teaching interests focus on either contemporary indigenous and/or afro-hispanic cultures, with a geographical focus on at least one of the following regions: Andes, Paraguay, Pacific Coast, Amazonía, or Caribbean Basin.  Also desirable: expertise or demonstrated interest in Medical Humanities, Environmental Studies, or Gender and Sexuality Studies. The candidate must have the ability to design and teach innovative courses that cover the contemporary period, while maintaining a diachronic, critical perspective on the legacies and impact of coloniality in Latin America and its diasporas.

We are seeking a dynamic teacher-scholar committed to interdisciplinary inquiry who can complement, strengthen, and expand the competencies of our program and department. The successful candidate must demonstrate evidence of a rigorous and sustainable research agenda. They must also demonstrate intellectual breadth and the ability to build curricular connections with other disciplines, and to foster innovative collaborations with faculty in various units on campus. The candidate must be able and willing to support the department in curriculum development within their area of expertise, and to teach a variety of courses, including language and culture courses at all levels from elementary to advanced Spanish, as well as upper-division courses in Latin American Studies that will advance the department’s efforts to promote global competence in the Jesuit model of education.  Ability to teach outside their field of direct specialization, tend bridges across the disciplines, or offer core curriculum courses in the English language a plus.

Significant training and practice with proficiency and Standards-based second language pedagogy are expected.  Responsibilities will include service to the department, college, and discipline as appropriate to rank.  The successful candidate must demonstrate the creativity, leadership skills and commitment to contribute significantly to program and departmental growth and diversification.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

The following are required of all candidates:

• Ph.D. in Spanish, Latin American Studies, or related fields, with a specialty on either contemporary indigenous and/or afro-hispanic cultures, and a geographical focus on at least one of the following regions: Andes, Paraguay, Pacific Coast, Amazonia, or Caribbean Basin.  
• Ph.D. in hand by time of appointment (ABDs selected for a zoom interview must provide evidence of capacity to complete degree by time of appointment).
• Demonstrate evidence of a rigorous and sustainable research agenda
• Evidence of significant training and experience with communicatively-oriented, proficiency and Standards-based language instruction and assessment.
• Native or near native proficiency (oral & written production and comprehension) skills in Spanish and English
• Evidence of creativity in curriculum innovation
• Ability and desire to build curricular connections and engage in course development with other disciplines (e.g. STEM, Political Science, History, Women’s and Gender Studies, Sociology, Communications, Psychology, etc.)
• Ability to promote diversity within curriculum (esp. with respect to traditionally underrepresented or marginalized groups) and departmental extracurricular activities (cultural events, outreach, etc.)
• Solid proficiency with digital technologies and social media as they relate to teaching, research and service
• Ability to serve as a mentor to students, especially those of diverse backgrounds
• Ability and interest in enhancing students’ learning experience outside of the classroom, including organizing cultural events, academic presentations, etc...
• Demonstrate understanding and support of the University’s Jesuit mission
• Ability to work in a collegial and collaborative manner with department and university colleagues to help address priorities and achieve goals

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Expertise or demonstrated interest in Medical Humanities, Environmental Studies, or Gender and Sexuality Studies
• Ability to teach courses in the core curriculum in the English language
• Experience implementing community-based, experiential, and/or project-based learning;
• Commitment to student recruitment and retention
• Solid proficiency with digital technologies and/or social media as they relate to teaching, research and service
• Demonstrate interest and potential in mentoring undergraduates in research and/or internships

RESPONSIBILITIES

Tenure track faculty at SCU are teaching scholars who are expected to balance teaching, research, and service. This is an in-person position. More specifically, duties include but are not limited to:
TEACHING:

• Teach courses as assigned which may include elementary through advanced (upper-division) courses in language, culture and possibly CORE offerings in English. SCU is on the quarter system and tenure line faculty are expected to teach 6 courses per year (2 each quarter), assuming they are engaged in an active scholarship program. An additional reduction is available for Faculty in their first year of the tenure track.
• Conducting and appearing at all assigned class meetings in a timely and prepared manner that demonstrates a command of the discipline and skill in presenting it effectively. Design creative learning experiences, provide students timely feedback, measure student learning outcomes within the context of departmental and Core objectives, and submit grades by the designated deadline. Maintain regular office hours at times reasonably convenient to students. Administer numerical and narrative evaluations in each section for all courses.
• The department would especially welcome development of new core curriculum courses and building curricular connections with other disciplines (e.g. STEM, Business, Political Science, Sociology, History, Communications, Psychology, etc.) and SCU Centers of Distinction (Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics).  Faculty teaching university core courses should follow an approved syllabus or work with the chair to design an appropriate syllabus for submission for approval from the relevant Faculty Core Curriculum Committee
• Participate in assessment of student learning for courses in the department
• Provide informed advice and mentoring to undergraduate students.
• Fulfill other instructional or academic duties as may be assigned by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences or by the Chair of the Modern Languages and Literatures Department

RESEARCH

• Develop and sustain a rigorous scholarship agenda and superior scholarly profile: produce a body of high quality scholarship that is validated (i.e. peer reviewed) and disseminated to publics beyond the University, that demonstrates a high level of academic expertise (e.g. research, criticism, (re)analysis, (re)interpretation, and creative expression, etc.), and that makes an original contribution to the candidate’s area of research and teaching.
• Keep abreast of innovations and best practices in the disciplinary field and in second language pedagogy.
• The department welcomes candidates with a research program that can accommodate participation of undergraduates.

SERVICE:

• Engage in meaningful and useful service that promotes department, college and university strategic goals and priorities, commensurate to rank, through contributions other than teaching and scholarship such as service on committees, participation in professional organizations and activities, leadership, and community service performed by virtue of professional expertise or association with the university as appropriate to rank and experience.
• Collaborate with colleagues in creative efforts to enhance students’ learning experience outside of the classroom, including organizing cultural events, academic presentations, etc.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

October 21, 2024

START DATE

September 1, 2025

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT

Please submit the following materials through the SCU hiring portal: https://jobs.scu.edu

• Letter of application, including a statement/ information regarding:
  • applicant’s teaching philosophy, research plan (including how they foster intradepartmental and/or interdepartmental connections), and experience working with people of diverse cultures and identities.
  • applicant’s vision for promoting student interest in Spanish Studies.
  • the applicant’s commitment to the Jesuit model of educating the whole person.
  • how the applicant meets other required and desirable qualifications.
• Curriculum vitae
• Graduate transcripts (unofficial, with official available upon request)
• Name of three professional references (with letters to be provided upon selection for Zoom interview
• Evidence of teaching excellence (small portfolio of sample syllabi, faculty evaluations and student teaching evaluations from most recent position)
• A representative sample of scholarship, e.g. an in-press or published article, dissertation chapter, etc.
• Applicants invited for an on-campus interview will be asked to provide a recorded teaching demonstration from one of his/her classes.

Please contact Alberto Ribas-Casasayas, Chair of the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, at aribascasasayas@scu.edu with any questions.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $83,771 to $93,107, depending on the successful candidate's years of teaching experience at the college-level. The position comes with generous benefits (scu.edu/hr/benefits), including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and university contributions toward retirement. Recognizing the high cost of housing in the local area, there are two University housing assistance programs: Rental assistance to ease the transition into the local housing market, and housing purchase assistance for tenure-stream faculty. For details, go to

https://www.scu.edu/provost/policies-and-procedures/support-for-faculty/housing-assistance/

COVID-19 Statement

The health and safety of the University community is a top priority. The University strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as the vaccination and boosters are safe, effective tools that significantly minimize the chances of serious illness and hospitalization. Please contact Human Resources if you have any questions.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

Work Authorization:

A foreign national who is appointed to a tenured or tenure-track faculty position is eligible for visa sponsorship assessment by Santa Clara University together with its legal counsel.

EEO Statement

​Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and California State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at www.scu.edu/title-ix. Information about Section 504 and the ADA Coordinator can be found at https://www.scu.edu/oae/, (408) 554-4109, oae@scu.edu. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).   

Clery Notice of Availability

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Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its' commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia@scu.edu.