The Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture department at Occidental College seeks applicants for a tenure-track position of Assistant Professor whose teaching and scholarship focus primarily on Latin literature of the Republican and Imperial periods of Ancient Rome. Applicants may have their training in either Classics or Comparative Literature.
The recently established CSLC department has adopted an innovative liberal arts approach to the study of the so-called “lesser taught languages,” and we invite all candidates willing to contribute to the design of an undergraduate curriculum that would complement this undertaking. Grounded in a student’s understanding of at least one foreign language, the department seeks to embed traditional language and literature instruction within a larger interdisciplinary and comparative context, one that highlights the role that the formal structures of language and literature play in the constitution of culture. We therefore especially encourage applicants whose additional areas of specialization would facilitate connections between Latin literature and the College’s wider curriculum. Such areas might include, but need not be limited to, contemporary literary and aesthetic theory, gender and postcolonial studies, Classical reception, and the literary traditions of other languages, both Western and non-Western. (While not absolutely necessary, the ability to assist in the teaching of Ancient Greek language and literature would be most welcome.) As members of a new department located within a small liberal arts college, we expect candidates to demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching excellence, both in terms of general class instruction and the mentoring of individual undergraduate research projects. Candidates should be prepared to offer courses both in translation and in the original language, at both the lower and upper division levels.
Occidental, a highly selective and nationally-ranked small liberal arts college located in Los Angeles, California, is widely recognized for its diverse student body, its commitment to academic excellence and equity, and its outstanding undergraduate research programs. Named one of America’s most beautiful campuses, the College is situated in the vibrant neighborhoods of Eagle Rock and Highland Park in Northeast Los Angeles, allowing convenient access to major cultural and natural attractions in the nation’s second largest city. As one of the few urban liberal arts colleges in the country, Occidental affords students and faculty a unique pedagogical engagement with vast resources outside of the classroom.
Please submit: (1) a cover letter outlining your scholarly interests, as well as your interest in teaching and working at Occidental, its new Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture department in particular; (2) a detailed statement of teaching philosophy, teaching history and ideas for future courses and programs (please include in this statement a discussion of how you plan to support and enhance the College’s goals of building a strong educational environment in classrooms that have an ethnically, socio-economically, and culturally diverse student body, and of preparing its students for participation in an “increasingly complex, interdependent and pluralistic world”); (3) a detailed statement of your scholarly/professional activity, including how students may participate in or benefit from your research; (4) three confidential letters of recommendation, at least one of which can attest to your teaching performance or abilities; (5) evidence of teaching effectiveness (teaching evaluations or other data if available); (6) a sample of your scholarly work (dissertation chapter, published or forthcoming article, or conference paper), and (7) a Curriculum Vitae.
All materials are due by November 04, 2016. “First-round” interviews will be held by video-conference, between November 28 and December 10, 2016. For submissions and Inquiries about the position, they can be directed to the Department Services Coordinator, Romy Corona: rcorona@oxy.edu, 323 259-2769.
Occidental College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants because of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, or sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal Law. We strongly encourage underrepresented minorities, women, and LGBTQIA+ candidates to apply.