Wake Forest University Looking for Teacher-Scholar Postdoctoral Fellow in Leadership and Character and Interdisciplinary Humanities Full Time

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Job Description Summary

The Interdisciplinary Humanities Program and Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University seek a thoughtful, engaged, and creative scholar to become a Teacher-Scholar Postdoctoral Fellow for up to three years. The Postdoctoral Fellow will join an innovative cohort of emerging scholars from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to develop and teach leadership and character-related courses within and across their respective disciplines. The Postdoctoral Fellow will teach four courses per year (a 2:2 load) and contribute to the co-curricular programming of the Program for Leadership and Character and Interdisciplinary Humanities Program. The Postdoctoral Fellow will benefit from course development workshops and mentoring from faculty in the Program for Leadership and Character and Interdisciplinary Humanities Program. The Postdoctoral Fellow will also work with the Co-Directors of Research and Assessment in the Program for Leadership and Character to assess the impact of their courses and potentially publish relevant research.

This grant-funded fellowship is open to candidates from across the humanities. We welcome recent PhDs in a variety of fields, including literature, history, classics, philosophy, political theory, religious studies, African American studies, environmental studies, and/or women’s, gender, and sexuality studies who specialize in ethics and have interest in working across disciplines to pursue ethics-related teaching and research. Compelling applicants will demonstrate a commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds, including international students, first-generation students, and those who identify as members of historically marginalized communities. A preference will be given to candidates who can teach core courses in the Interdisciplinary Humanities Program, including HMN 211: Dialogues with Antiquity, which introduces students to key ideas and concepts from ancient cultures and their legacies in medieval, modern, and contemporary societies through an interdisciplinary lens.

Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational institution dedicated to academic excellence in liberal arts, graduate and professional education. Located in Winston-Salem, NC (“The City of Arts and Innovation”), the University is ranked among the top thirty national universities by U.S. News and World Report. The University has a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world, as indicated by the motto Pro Humanitate (for humanity), which encourages students to develop the qualities of human character needed to serve humanity. With the aim to educate the whole person, the University has established an innovative Program for Leadership and Character that plans creative, liberal arts-based programming to help students develop the virtues of character needed to lead in an increasingly complex world. The Program is based on cutting-edge academic research on leadership and character, including research conducted by Wake Forest faculty in philosophy and psychology who are leading experts on the study of character. The program has established a partnership with the Oxford Character Project and has been profiled as a model for how universities can educate character. The Interdisciplinary Humanities Program is an exciting academic program that draws insights from multiple disciplines to explore what it means to be human. The Interdisciplinary Humanities Program offers an undergraduate minor and a wide range of courses that address big questions from a variety of disciplinary and ethical perspectives. For quick facts about the University, see http://www.wfu.edu/visitors/quickfacts.html. For more on the Program for Leadership and Character, see https://leadershipandcharacter.wfu.edu/. For more on the Interdisciplinary Humanities Program, see https://humanities.wfu.edu/.

Wake Forest University welcomes and encourages diversity and inclusivity and seeks applicants with demonstrated success in working with diverse populations. Wake Forest University is an AA/EO employer and values an inclusive and diverse learning community and campus climate. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please provide a cover letter addressed to the members of the search committee, a curriculum vitae, a teaching statement, copies of course evaluations (if available), and a writing sample. At least three confidential letters of recommendation must be sent via email to [email protected]. The position will begin on July 1, 2022. Applications arriving by April 1, 2022, will be given priority consideration.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Michael Lamb at [email protected].

Job Description:

Essential Functions: 

• Teaches four courses per year.
• Develops at least two new syllabi and teaching resources related to leadership and character.
• Assists with designing and delivering curricular and co-curricular programming for the Interdisciplinary Humanities Program and Program for Leadership and Character, such as participation in relevant events, discussions, and speaker visits.  
• Works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows in the Program for Leadership and Character and Interdisciplinary Humanities Program to advance the research, teaching, and programming of both programs.
• Participates in course development workshops and ongoing professional development to integrate leadership and character into their courses. 
• Works with the Co-Directors of Research and Assessment in the Program for Leadership and Character to develop assessment plans for their courses, assess the impact of their courses, and potentially publish relevant scholarly research.
• Pursues relevant academic research, presents research in academic contexts, and represents both programs at relevant academic conferences and educational convenings.
• Attends meetings, retreats, and convenings of the Interdisciplinary Humanities Program and Program for Leadership and Character.
• Meets as needed with the Director of the Interdisciplinary Humanities Program, the Executive Director of the Program for Leadership and Character, and related staff.
• Provides summaries and information about their work for inclusion in both program’ annual reports.
• Performs other duties as needed.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 

• Ph.D. in a relevant humanities field, such as literature, history, classics, philosophy, political theory, religious studies, African American studies, environmental studies, and/or women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary teaching, research, and engagement.
• Record of excellent teaching and commitment to developing creative pedagogy.
• Commitment to supporting the intellectual and ethical development of undergraduate students.
• Experience with, and sensitivity to, diverse populations and the ability to build inclusive and equitable communities where differences are appreciated and engaged. 
• Excellent writing, research, and communication skills. 
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. 
• Sound character, wise judgment, and a strong work ethic. 
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • Work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Set priorities and effectively manage time and resources. 
  • Be a constructive and collaborative member of a team.
  • Positively influence colleagues and develop collaborative relationships with a wide range of people.
• Willingness to learn more about leadership and character development and apply that knowledge to inform curricular design, implementation, and assessment.  
• Knowledge and understanding of academic cultures, rules, and regulations.
• Openness to feedback and a commitment to personal and professional growth. 
• Ability to represent the programs and the university in a professional manner. 
• Ability to work occasional weekend or evening hours as needed.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Teaching experience or research related to leadership, character, virtue, and/or ethics.

Knowledge of leadership development and/or character education.

Additional Job Description

In furtherance of the University’s commitment to resuming operations in a manner consistent with or similar to how those operations were conducted prior to the pandemic, and in an effort to protect the health and safety of the campus community, all faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated with an FDA approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccine and an influenza vaccine.  Faculty and staff with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs that preclude vaccination should contact Human Resources to request a reasonable accommodation. 

Time Type Requirement

Full time

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations for all final faculty candidates being considered for employment.

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.