Assistant Professor - Criminal Justice

As Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, the successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, as applicable; contribute to course and curriculum development; conduct research and scholarship; mentor students; participate in Department, Program, College, and University service; and perform other duties as assigned.

The successful candidate will contribute to the teaching needs of the Criminal Justice program and the Forensic Studies programs, with the ability to teach a range of undergraduate Criminal Justice courses, including research methods, statistics, and preferably courses addressing criminal law, the legal system, or related areas. The candidate will contribute to instruction in both face-to-face and online/hybrid learning environments and support student learning through effective use of instructional technology.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to scholarly research, student mentorship, and the integration of academic knowledge with contemporary criminal justice practice.

Florida Gulf Coast University is a comprehensive university dedicated to quality education, research, and service. All faculty are expected to: be excellent teachers, responsive to changing professional needs; be committed to innovative delivery of instruction resulting in improved student learning; be committed to effective use of technology including distance learning; produce peer reviewed scholarship; and provide service to the College, University and Community. Teaching assignments may be on the main campus or at off-campus sites within our region.

FGCU is building a culture of curiosity, commitment and collaboration. We value employees who successfully work with others and drive positive change through critical thinking and decisive action. If you thrive in an environment of innovation, accountability and mutual respect, you will find a good home here.

Job Description

Typical duties include but are not limited to:

• Plans, prepares, and teaches assigned courses, including developing syllabi, instructional materials, and assessments.
• Delivers consistent, interactive, and engaging lectures aligned with curriculum goals and accreditation standards.
• Maintains the highest standards of classroom instruction and engages in reflective self-assessment to ensure continuous improvement.
• Holds regular office hours and provides academic advising and individual support to students.
• Utilizes the University's learning management system and other instructional technologies effectively.
• Collaborates with departmental faculty on curriculum development and program advancement.
• Ensures curriculum outcomes and accreditation standards are met.
• Establishes and maintains an active research program, including opportunities for undergraduate student involvement.
• Demonstrates evidence of scholarly publication and grantsmanship.
• Engages in continued professional development and maintains professional skills appropriate to rank and field.
• Actively participates in departmental, college, and university committees and meetings.
• Contributes to community, institutional, and professional service in support of the University’s mission.
• Participates in faculty evaluation, student learning assessment, and required training activities.
• Communicates professionally and in a timely manner with students, colleagues, staff, and administrators.
• Upholds the highest standards of integrity, responsibility, and excellence in all professional activities.
• Complies with University policies, procedures, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Job Description

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Forensic Studies, Psychology with a Criminology focus, Law/Policy/Society, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent accreditation.
• Experience in either Statistics and Research methods or Criminal Law and Policy.
• ABD will be considered if degree is conferred by August 7, 2027. If successful candidate is ABD, appointment will be made at a Lecturer level on a fixed contract.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional or practitioner experience within the criminal justice or legal system.
• Experience seeking, developing, or managing external research or programmatic grants.
• Demonstrated proficiency with R for statistical analysis, data management, or research is preferred; experience with other statistical or research software, such as SPSS, Stata, SAS, Python, or comparable platforms, is also desirable.
• Experience with interdisciplinary teaching, research, or programming involving Criminal Justice and related fields such as Forensic Studies, Legal Studies, Psychology, or other relevant disciplines is preferred.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate or graduate students in research, applied projects, internships, capstone projects, or other experiential learning activities is also preferred.
• Demonstrated experience teaching undergraduate Criminal Justice and Forensic Studies courses across a range of substantive areas.
• Demonstrated record of scholarly research and peer-reviewed publication in criminal justice, forensic studies, or a related field.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in quantitative research projects, capstones, theses, or data‑driven internships.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Knowledge of contemporary Criminal Justice theories, research, practices, and issues, including major concepts, assumptions, debates, processes of inquiry, and ways of knowing that are central to the discipline(s).
• Knowledge of research methodologies and statistical concepts relevant to Criminal Justice and related fields.
• Knowledge of critical thinking processes and inquiry-based instructional models and strategies.
• Knowledge of digital and interactive technologies and their application to specific learning goals across face-to-face, synchronous online, asynchronous online, and hybrid teaching modalities.
• Skill in integrating academic research with applied Criminal Justice practice and connecting research, theory, and practice within the classroom.
• Ability to teach effectively across a range of Criminal Justice and Justice Studies Department courses, including criminal justice policy, legal-based courses, and research methods and statistics at the undergraduate level, and to apply quantitative and/or qualitative research methodologies within Criminal Justice and Forensic Studies.
• Ability to develop engaging, student-centered instruction; communicate research and statistical concepts effectively to students; and help learners develop critical thinking and high-level questioning skills.
• Ability to mentor students in research, applied projects, and other experiential learning activities across the Criminal Justice and Forensic Studies programs.
• Ability to teach criminal justice legal-based classes for Forensic Studies, Legal Studies, and Criminal Justice programs and contribute Criminal Justice perspectives to mock trials, moot court, courtroom simulations, and interdisciplinary programming with Legal Studies.
• Ability to use digital and interactive technologies effectively to achieve specific learning goals across various teaching modalities.
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders both within and outside the University in the development and delivery of instruction, resulting in improved student learning.
• Proven ability to think strategically and approach challenges with creativity.
• Demonstrated track record of reliability, meeting goals, and holding oneself accountable.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience working effectively across teams.

Institutional Values & Behavioral Expectations:
In this role, the successful candidate will be expected to:

• Seek out new approaches to improve outcomes; remain open to feedback and new ideas.
• Lead with integrity; consistently produce high-quality work; persevere to overcome obstacles to meet deadlines and achieve deliverables.
• Share information and insights thoughtfully; build partnerships across departments; communicate respectfully; support colleagues to achieve common goals.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Appointment will be made on a 9-month multi-year appointment with an anticipated start date of August 2027.

Because applications and materials are subject to public review and retention under Florida’s Public Records Law, please DO NOT send examples of your project/scholarship unless requested to do so. Therefore, all submitted materials, including articles, disks, slides, books, etc., become the property of FGCU and CANNOT BE RETURNED. As applicable, finalists will be notified of the need to submit specific additional materials. Such materials will become the property of FGCU. Under Florida’s Public Records law, applications will be available for public review upon request.

Required Application Materials:

• Unofficial Transcripts
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Statement of Research
• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Five (5) Professional References

The position is listed as “open until filled”, however applications received by November 30, 2026 will receive priority consideration.

FGCU is a State University System of Florida member and an Equal Opportunity and Equal Access employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.