The Department of Latin American, Latino & Iberian Studies in the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Richmond invites applications for a teaching faculty member to begin in the 2027-2028 academic year. This is a full-time, non-tenure-track, continuing position with benefits.
The candidate will teach 6 units per year, whereby 2 units often constitute a single intensive class that meets five times per week. The department’s interdisciplinary curriculum highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Spanish-speaking world and is committed to excellence in undergraduate teaching at all levels of the curriculum. The beginning and intermediate language courses that this candidate will teach develop students’ linguistic and intercultural competence, thereby fulfilling an important requirement of our General Education curriculum, the Web of Inquiry, and prepare students for more advanced courses in support of the University’s mission. While not required, the candidate will also have the occasional opportunity to teach more advanced Spanish courses with specific thematic foci (e.g. politics, media, literature), first year seminars in English, and the intensive intermediate Spanish courses taught abroad or on campus during the summer.
In addition to teaching, the candidate will co-direct the Spanish language program and serve on committees as needed. The candidate will work closely with a fellow co-director of the Spanish language program. Their shared duties include overseeing curricular development of beginning and intermediate Spanish courses, which are taught by full-time faculty members; advising students; and supervising the undergraduate assistant teachers who lead weekly practice sessions to build oral fluency. The candidate should bring creative and data-driven ideas and the administrative skills required to continually improve the language program. As both co-director and as language teacher, the candidate should have the knowledge and agility to respond thoughtfully to emerging technologies, including generative AI, as well as a commitment to improving students’ ability to engage in uniquely human communication. The candidate will also be expected to build community and encourage belonging by connecting students from a wide range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds to opportunities across campus. There is no obligation to do research, but there are opportunities to do so.
Candidates must hold a Master’s or doctoral degree in a relevant field such as Spanish, language program direction, second-language acquisition, or applied linguistics by the time of appointment. The candidate should have a record of excellence in teaching beginning and intermediate Spanish language courses at the college level. The ideal candidate will have experience in language program direction as well.
Applicants should apply online at https://jobs.richmond.edu and submit the following five documents: a one-page (single-spaced) cover letter; a curriculum vitae; a one-page (single-spaced) teaching statement; a one-page (single-spaced) program direction statement; and a single document, not to exceed five pages, containing evidence of teaching effectiveness. The teaching statement should describe the candidate’s teaching philosophy and methods, including their approach to teaching a diverse student body, and provide context for the evidence of teaching effectiveness submitted. That evidence of teaching effectiveness could take the form of a syllabus, lesson plan, activity, assessment, or other material. The program direction statement should outline the candidate’s experience and preparation for language program administration as well as their general approach to and vision for directing the Spanish language program at the University of Richmond.
Candidates for this position may be asked, at a later date, to provide a more comprehensive teaching portfolio, student evaluations, and the names and contact information for three references who will be asked to submit letters of recommendation. Review of applications will commence October 15, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. Please contact Elizabeth Kissling, department chair, with any questions. For more information on the department/school and its programs, please visit https://lais.richmond.edu/.
The starting salary for the position is budgeted at $77.000. Compensation is determined by the candidate’s individual qualifications, experience, education, and skills.
The University of Richmond is a private university located just a short drive from downtown Richmond, Virginia. Through its five schools and wide array of campus programming, the University combines the best qualities of a small liberal arts college and a large university. With approximately 4,000 students, an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and more than 90% of traditional undergraduate students living on campus, the University is remarkably student-centered.
The mission of the University of Richmond is to educate in an academically challenging, intellectually vibrant, and collaborative community dedicated to the holistic development of students and the production of scholarly and creative work. A Richmond education prepares students for lives of purpose, thoughtful inquiry, and responsible leadership in a diverse world. The University of Richmond’s strategic priorities are academic excellence, belonging and community, access and affordability, well-being, and experiential learning and community engagement. The University seeks to model a relentlessly welcoming and inclusive campus community that values the expression of difference in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development, and institutional success. Our academic community strongly encourages applications that are in keeping with this commitment.