Advanced Assistant or Associate Professor of French Studies

Advanced Assistant or Associate Professor of French Studies
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell, MA
Full-Time


The Department of World Languages and Cultures at the University of Massachusetts Lowell is seeking to fill a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Advanced Assistant or Associate Professor of French Studies (literature, culture, film, and society) with a specialization in Quebec Studies or other North American French Speaking Communities. Assistant Professors should be at least three years in rank at the time of application.

The department is interested in hiring an innovative and dynamic scholar who will bring to our French program a focus in the French Speaking World with a specialization in Quebec Studies or other North American French Speaking Communities. We are seeking candidates with an expertise in various areas of French Studies (literature, theory, culture, film and society) who can teach language courses as well as more general undergraduate literature and culture courses related to the French Speaking World. Area of specialization is open and could include Visual Culture, Digital Humanities, narrative, or other related fields. The teaching load at UMass Lowell ranges from 3-3 to 2-1 depending on the Faculty member's research productivity and publication record. Teaching load includes elementary French courses (levels 1-4) and advanced French courses taken by our majors and minors at the undergraduate level as needed. Salary is commensurate with experience, and start-up funds are provided.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in French and a record of scholarship consistent with tenure at a research university. Qualified candidates should demonstrate a clear and active ongoing research agenda and have a strong record of publication. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students, and serve on committees. Experience in administrative duties is welcomed. The ideal candidate should demonstrate a commitment to strengthen the French program by creating new courses as needed and engage actively in service activities for the department, college, and university. Native or near-native fluency in French and English is a requirement.
Preferred start date for this appointment is September 1st, 2021. All offers of employment are conditional based on successful completion of a background check. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

  • An earned Ph.D. in French with a focus on Language, Literature or Cinema is required at the time of application. ABD candidates will not be considered.
  • A strong record of scholarly accomplishments appropriate to the level of academic appointment.
  • Demonstrated excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level.
  • Demonstrated ability to balance excellent teaching, scholarship, and service.
  • Native or near-native fluency in French and English.
  • The ability to work effectively with diverse groups.

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Review of complete applications will begin in May 2021 and continue until the position is filled. However, the position may close when an adequate number of qualified applications is received. 
Please include the following documents with your application:

  • Cover Letter (approximately one to two pages, single-spaced).
  • Curriculum Vitae.
  • Teaching Philosophy - Attach teaching interests and objectives (approximately one to two pages, single-spaced).
  • Research Statement (approximately one to two pages, single-spaced).
  • Diversity Statement (approximately one page, single-spaced).
  • Sample of Scholarly Work/Publication (a representative sample of current scholarship).
  • Evidence of successful teaching experience at the college or university level - Attach representative course syllabus and summary of teaching evaluation.
  • Names and contact information of three references will be required during the application process. References will be contacted before the campus interview.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://careers.pageuppeople.com/822/lowell/en-us/job/507750/advanced-assistant-or-associate-professor-of-french-studies

About the Department of World Languages and Cultures:
The Department of World Languages and Cultures (WLC) is housed within the University's College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (FAHSS). The College is the largest unit of the University, with 11 academic departments and over 200 full-time faculty members.  FAHSS has experienced significant growth in recent years, including hiring over 70 new faculty members, achieving a 70% growth in funded research expenditures, and the addition of several new interdisciplinary graduate programs. The Department of WLC currently trains undergraduate majors as well as a significant number of students who either minor in a language and its culture or who choose Languages as a concentration through the Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts degree. Our students can choose between one of the four options within the major: French, French and Spanish, Italian and Spanish, and Spanish. Besides the B.A. in World Languages, the department of WLC serves the College of Fine Arts Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) by scheduling and delivering the language requirement courses for all majors with a language requirement. Our Department offers nine minors including Asian Studies, Arabic Studies, Film Studies, French, German Studies, Italian Studies, Latin American Studies, Portuguese Studies and Spanish. WLC works closely with the Office of Study Abroad and International Experiences to promote and support study abroad and internship opportunities not only among our Modern Language majors and minors but also for all students in our College and University. 

The Department of WLC currently includes thirteen full-time and five part-time faculty members with expertise in the various languages offered (Arabic, Cambodian (Khmer), Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish). All full-time faculty members are actively engaged in teaching, research, and service according to their rank (visiting lecturers, teaching professors, tenure-track, tenured). During the past years, the tenure-track and tenured faculty have published several single-authored books as well as a variety of scholarly articles, review essays, book chapters, translations, and edited collections. The faculty also work with local schools, community organizations, professional and language organizations to advance the study of languages at UMass Lowell. Faculty members have won many grants and fellowships.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action, Title IX employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age over 40, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, or other protected class.