Department Chair, Associate or Full Professor

The Department of Humanities at Michigan Technological University seeks an experienced scholar and leader committed to interdisciplinarity to serve as department chair at the rank of associate or full professor. The chair will lead our collaborative, multidisciplinary department in implementing a shared vision for excellence in scholarship, creative work, and teaching. The chair will be responsible for developing and supporting new departmental initiatives as well as ongoing efforts to foster innovative interdisciplinary research and advance graduate and undergraduate programs.

Our department offers undergraduate degrees in Communication, Culture and Media; English; and Scientific and Technical Communication, as well as graduate degrees in Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture. (For a complete list of our major and minor degree programs, please go to: https://www.mtu.edu/humanities/). Our faculty specialize in communication, composition, creative writing, gender studies, literature, media studies, modern languages, philosophy, rhetoric, visual studies, technical communication, technology studies, and user experience, which are all integral to our university and broader community. The department houses the Composition Program, which prepares first-year students for reading, writing, and information literacy in and beyond the university. It also hosts the Humanities Digital Media Zone, a unique media-production, computing, and language-resource center, and The Writing Center, both vital resources for students across campus. The chair is supported by two administrative staff, a director of graduate studies, director of composition, and directors of the undergraduate degree programs.

Michigan Tech’s campus hosts many research centers and institutes that support our vibrant campus research culture. Our campus also supports innovative mentoring and partner engagement programs for faculty. Students participate in a range of activities and programs, from campus (and community) traditions such as the Parade of Nations, K-Day, and Winter Carnival to hands-on learning experiences in Michigan Tech’s Enterprise programs.

Michigan Tech is a hub for cultural activity in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, hosting the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, The McArdle Theatre, and an excellent Visual and Performing Arts department that produces events reflecting the uniqueness of the region, like New Music in the Mine. The Humanities department also hosts the regionally acclaimed 41 North Film Festival and a Modern Languages Film Series.

Michigan Technological University is located in Houghton, Michigan. We enjoy four seasons of outdoor beauty where you can pick wild blueberries and thimbleberries in the summer; enjoy vibrant colors of the mixed northern hardwoods in fall; ski, snowshoe, snowboard, or sled in our 250” of annual snowfall; visit rushing waterfalls in spring; and watch the northern lights from the shores of Lake Superior during much of the year. Our university forest includes 70 miles of single-track trails for hiking and biking, as well as groomed cross country and skate ski trails accessible from campus. Michigan Tech’s alpine ski hill is only a five-minute drive from the office. Reach out to us to learn more about how you can join our team of innovative educators and researchers.

Michigan Tech attracts world-class faculty and staff who enrich the educational experience of smart, motivated, and adventurous students. Applicants who are committed to promoting a sense of belonging and contributing to an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all are strongly encouraged to apply (Engagement and Belonging.).

For more details about the full range of responsibilities and requirements for this position, and to submit application materials, visit: https://www.employment.mtu.edu/cw/en-us/job/493755/department-chair-humanities 

The position will remain open until filled; review of applications will begin December 1, 2024.

Applicants will need to upload the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Statements of Research Interests, Educational Philosophy, and Administrative Philosophy
• Contact information for three professional references

We strongly encourage applicants to address the required and desired qualifications in their cover letter along with an explanation of how they will contribute to the Vision and Mission of Michigan Tech.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.