Assistant Professor & Director of Civic Thought & Leadership

Job Title

Assistant Professor & Director of Civic Thought & Leadership

Agency

East Texas A&M University

Department

History and Liberal Studies

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Commerce, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT:

During the application process the “My Experience” page has a section provided “Attachments (Resume/CV, References, Cover letter, etc.)” to upload required documents. 

• Use the Upload button to add each document.
• You will be able to upload up to 5 documents. Be aware that the maximum size allowed for any one document is 5MB.
• All documents must be electronically submitted through the Texas A&M Online Employment Services website to be considered.
• Incomplete or improperly submitted applications may be excluded from consideration.
• Please do not withdraw your application in an attempt to upload a missing document, instead please email HR for help.

Please provide the following documents:

• Cover Letter addressing your qualifications and approach to developing a civic thought and leadership program
• Resume/CV
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Research Statement
• Three professional references with complete contact information (Unsolicited letters of recommendation will not be considered).

• Transcripts (Unofficial will be accepted with application. Official transcripts are required upon acceptance of verbal offer). 
  If transcripts are from an international institution, it is the responsibility of the prospective faculty member to have the transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved credential evaluator.

If you need assistance, please contact us at [email protected]

A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Please be advised that Texas A&M University will NOT pay this fee. Therefore, if you need immigration sponsorship for your employment, we recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense to ascertain whether your current immigration status would make a potential offer of employment from Texas A&M University subject to this fee.

In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbot issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate.

SUMMARY:

East Texas A&M University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor who will serve as Director of Civic Thought and Leadership in the Liberal Studies program within the Department of History and Liberal Studies.

The successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of the university’s new Civic Thought and Leadership degree program. The director will work with faculty to build a coherent curriculum connecting civic thought, the humanities, constitutional government, and leadership. The position also includes developing and teaching foundational courses, leading co-curricular programming, building campus and community partnerships, and seeking external funding to support the program’s growth.

We seek a scholar and teacher who can help students connect the study of influential texts, historical experiences, and political institutions to questions of citizenship, public responsibility, and leadership. The successful candidate will maintain an active research agenda and contribute to teaching, scholarship, and service appropriate to a tenure-track assistant professor.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

●        Lead the development, launch, and ongoing coordination of the Civic Thought and Leadership degree program, including curriculum planning, assessment, student recruitment, and collaboration across participating disciplines.

●        Contribute to the development and teaching of foundational courses in civic thought and the humanities, emphasizing close reading, discussion, reasoned argument, and the relationship between enduring questions and contemporary civic life.

●        Teach undergraduate courses in areas such as civic thought, American political thought, constitutionalism, leadership, and interdisciplinary humanities.

●        Develop and lead co-curricular programming, including public lectures, reading groups, student forums, and other opportunities for civic learning and substantive dialogue.

●        Build partnerships with university programs, schools, community organizations, and scholarly or civic institutions to support programming and student opportunities.

●        Identify external funding opportunities, develop grant proposals, and coordinate funded activities in collaboration with faculty and university offices.

●        Maintain an active scholarly agenda related to civic thought, leadership, political philosophy, constitutionalism, or a closely related field.

●        Advise and mentor students and contribute to departmental, college, and university service.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• An earned doctorate in political science, history, philosophy, or a closely related field by the appointment start date.

●        A research agenda in civic thought, political theory or philosophy, American political thought, constitutionalism, leadership, or a related area.

●        Evidence of effective undergraduate teaching relevant to civic thought or interdisciplinary humanities.

●        Ability to teach foundational texts and facilitate substantive discussion of competing ideas and interpretations.

●        Evidence of the ability to collaborate with colleagues and contribute to curriculum development, academic programming, or student engagement.

●        Strong written communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

PREFERRED EDUCATION / SKILLS/ EXPERIENCE:

●        Experience contributing to the development or administration of a civic thought, constitutional studies, liberal arts, or related academic program.

●        Experience teaching courses organized around foundational texts that connect political, philosophical, historical, and literary questions.

●        Teaching or scholarly expertise in the history of political ideas, democratic leadership, public communication and persuasion, citizenship, or American constitutional traditions.

●        Experience organizing student programming, public lectures, reading groups, conferences, or other co-curricular activities.

●        Evidence of success securing external grants or contributing substantially to funded educational or public humanities initiatives.

●        Experience developing educational programming for teachers or building partnerships beyond the university.

●        A record of peer-reviewed scholarship or evidence of strong potential for continued research and publication

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS:

NA

APPLICATION MATERIALS:

Applicants should submit a cover letter addressing their qualifications and approach to developing a civic thought and leadership program; a curriculum vitae; a statement of teaching philosophy; a research statement; and contact information for three professional references.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.