Faculty Position in French and Applied Linguistics / Second Language Acquisition for Fall 2025

Position:  The Department of Languages and Linguistics seeks applicants for one non-tenure track faculty position to start August 2025. This position is a full-time, nine-month appointment with additional summer teaching possibilities on a separate contract.  Academic rank will be commensurate with experience and credentials. This is an ideal opportunity for candidates who aspire to a position at a public liberal arts and sciences institution where teaching high-ability undergraduates is the primary mission.

Responsibilities:  Provide classroom instruction in undergraduate and graduate French courses for Master of Arts in Education (MAE) students, majors, minors, and non-majors, and regularly teach an undergraduate course in Second Language Acquisition.  The successful candidate will also supervise the teaching internships of MAE students in French and will serve as the liaison between the French program and the Truman Education Department. Truman is looking for field-specific expertise accompanied by an ability to teach to students following a broad range of pathways in the liberal arts and sciences. Successful candidates will be excited by the opportunity to engage in intentional collaborative research, curricular and co-curricular experiences across programs, departments and schools. Truman is committed to responding to rapidly evolving changes in our fields and in the workforce, embracing expansive modes of inquiry, and building strong communities of practice to address real world needs.

Required Qualifications:  The position requires a PhD in French or a closely related field for the rank of Assistant Professor.  ABD will be considered, in which case the degree must be completed by the beginning of the second-year contract. Expertise in Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, or foreign language pedagogy also required. K-12 certification preferred.

Applications will be evaluated on:

• academic qualifications,
• teaching philosophy, experience, and background, 
• demonstrated success in student-centered teaching of undergraduate and graduate French courses
• demonstrated success with or potential to supervise MAE students in teaching internships,
• experience teaching lower-level French classes online,
• commitment to development in the liberal arts and sciences,
• evidence of effective communication and interpersonal skills,
• compatibility with the department’s needs.

Program:  The Department of Languages and Linguistics, a unit of the School of Arts & Humanities, has twenty-two full-time faculty members and approximately 50 undergraduate majors.  The department offers BA degrees in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Classics, and Modern Language—with specializations in French, German, and Spanish—and a BS degree in Linguistics.  The department also offers fourteen minors, including French.  The French program contributes to United Speakers, a student service organization dedicated to providing language-related assistance to area Congolese and Hispanic communities.  

The University: Truman State University is home to a vibrant educational community. The approximately 3,500 students who make up its student body are well prepared for the challenging academics in a supportive environment. More than 25% engage in significant undergraduate research and creative projects. Nearly 40% gain leadership experience, and nearly half plan to go on to graduate or professional school.

Founded in 1867, Truman is known for its focus on student learning and outcomes and places an emphasis on high-impact experiences such as internships, research, and study abroad opportunities. Truman has the highest overall graduation rate among the state’s public four-year colleges and universities. For more than two decades, Truman has been recognized as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest regional category by U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly consistently ranks Truman as one of the best master’s universities in the nation. For more information regarding additional rankings and acknowledgments, visit truman.edu/about.

The Community: Located in northeast Missouri, Kirksville is a cultural and economic hub in the region. In addition to being the home of Truman, Kirksville is the birthplace of osteopathic medicine and features a medical school, dental school and community college, and the Kirksville School District is consistently recognized for academic excellence. The community takes pride in several annual events including the Red, White and Blue Festival and the FLATS Trail Half-Marathon. The charming downtown area features an arts center, as well as several local shops and restaurants. It is also the site of numerous community events including weekly farmers’ markets from May through October, as well as the Red Barn Arts and Craft Festival each fall. Just a few minutes outside of town is beautiful Thousand Hills State Park with hiking and biking opportunities surrounding the 700-acre Forest Lake. Kirksville offers easy access by car to Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and Des Moines. Daily flights from Kirksville Regional Airport to Chicago O’Hare provide quick access to one of the country’s major metropolitan areas. More information about Kirksville can be found at visitkirksville.com.

Application: Applications must be submitted electronically

at http://employment.truman.edu/. For assistance with submitting an application, please contact Human Resources at 660-785-4031 or hrstaff@truman.edu. Completed applications must include: a letter of application that clearly addresses the qualifications and evaluative criteria listed above, a current curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy for French that considers our program’s liberal arts and sciences setting, contact information for at least three references, and official or unofficial undergraduate and graduate college transcripts.

Review of applications will begin November 22, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. If hired, applicants must provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States, official graduate transcripts, or documentation of degrees if transcripts are not available. Final candidates are required to undergo and successfully pass a background check. Questions about this position may be directed to the Chair of the Department of Languages & Linguistics, Dr. Dan Doman, at ddoman@truman.edu.

Truman State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, Truman State does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in its program or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. Direct inquiries to the Institutional Compliance Officer, 660-785-4354 and titleix@truman.edu.

Truman State is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate form or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources, McClain Hall 101, 100 E. Normal, Kirksville, MO 63501, 660-785-4031 or hrstaff@truman.edu.