Assistant Professor of French

The French Department at Oberlin College invites applications for a full-time tenure track faculty position in the College of Arts and Sciences in Francophone literature and culture. Initial appointment to this position will be for a term of 4 years beginning fall semester of the 2025-2026 academic year and will carry the rank of Assistant Professor.

Oberlin’s Department of French offers instruction and immersion in the French language with a distinctive curriculum focused on literary texts, film, cultural and historical documents, and other media. The French major is interdisciplinary, allowing students to draw from their interests in a range of fields such as art history, comparative literature, cinema studies, economics, history, Middle Eastern and North African studies, music, politics, and other subject areas. Oberlin’s French students enjoy the opportunity to live in La Maison Francophone (Bailey House), a language-themed residence hall, where they can immerse themselves in and build community around the French language.

The incumbent will teach the standard teaching load (4.5 courses per year) in the general area of French language (2 courses per year), as well as literatures and cultures from French-speaking countries except France (ie. countries in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, the Caribbean, Haiti, Québec, etc.). Candidates are invited to propose Francophone courses that offer wide undergraduate appeal and intersect with one of the following new integrative concentrations/majors at Oberlin: business, global health, public humanities, journalism, peace and conflict studies, public humanities.

The incumbent will also be expected to engage in sustained scholarly research and/or other creative work appropriate to the position and participate in the full range of faculty responsibilities, including academic advising, service on committees, and participation in activities at our Maison Francophone. Every few years, the incumbent might be expected to teach a semester in Oberlin’s nascent Paris Program (Fall Semester) should it become an annual or bi-annual offering, or a summer block course (a 3.5-4 week intensive course during June), or support the department’s annual Winter Term program in Bordeaux.

Among the qualifications required for appointment is the PhD degree (in hand or expected by first semester of academic year 2025-2026. Candidates must demonstrate interest and potential excellence in undergraduate teaching. Successful teaching experience at the college level is desirable. Oberlin College is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. The incumbent will bring understanding of or experience working with underrepresented and diverse academic populations. Oberlin is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the excellence and diversity of the academic community through their research, teaching, and service. Oberlin recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran’s status, and/or other protected status as required by applicable law.

Review of applications will begin on: October 7, 2024, and will continue until October 7, 2024, OR until the position is filled. May only be one or the other.
Questions about the position may be addressed to: to:Grace An, Chair of the Department of French & Italian, at gan@oberlin.edu.