Director of Jewish Studies

The Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of North Texas invites applications for a full time, Senior Lecturer position as the Director of Jewish Studies to start in Fall 2022.

AOS: Jewish Philosophy and/or Jewish Religious Studies and/or Jewish Theology
AOC: Philosophy of Religion, History of Philosophy, Middle East Studies

The work distribution is 60% teaching and 40% service. This means the successful candidate will teach a 3/3 load, including introductory and advanced undergraduate religion courses, and the service portion of the workload will primarily (though not exclusively) consist of directing the Jewish Studies Program (JSP), the only JSP at a public university in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The JSP is an interdisciplinary program offering a minor and a certificate. As JSP does not have any of its own courses, a significant portion of directing the program involves making students aware of and interested in the Program, working with department chairs and their faculties to offer courses needed for the JSP minor and certificate, and ensuring those courses are offered in a manner that enables them to enroll at expected levels and students to complete the minor/certificate timely. Currently, there are 60 courses on Jews and Judaism across 11 of UNT’s departments, involving 30 faculty. Thus, the JSP Director will develop and manage undergraduate recruitment, retention, and graduation in the minor and concentration; contribute to the JSP curriculum, facilitate course scheduling and new course development; and organize outreach activities, events, and public lectures. The Director will also administer the Program’s seven scholarships and oversee its extensive library of over 2,600 books and 350 films.

The appointment is in the UNT department of Philosophy and Religion. We seek candidates who will complement and add to our strengths in social and environmental philosophy and religion. Our department is strongly committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in teaching, research, and service. Candidates from underrepresented groups in higher education, those with experience working with minoritized populations, and individuals with life experiences that have challenged them to know themselves as multicultural beings are strongly encouraged to apply.

UNT is recognized as a Minority- and Hispanic-Serving institution, and substantial proportions of our majors (approximately 50%) and graduate students (approximately 30%) are from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. A documented commitment to and engagement with diversity in all its forms is expected.

UNT has a highly diverse campus with a wide range of languages spoken in addition to English. We welcome candidates who have experience with HSI/MSIs and/or who speak Spanish, Vietnamese, American Sign Language, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin and other variations), Arabic, Tagalog, Farsi, French, or/and Yoruba.

Review of application will begin April 18, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled.

The University of North Texas is an AA/ADA/EOE. Further information about the department can be found at www.phil.unt.edu. Inquiries are welcome at or (940) 565-2134. Information about UNT can be found at www.unt.edu.

The following elements of the application must be submitted online (in PDF format only):

1. A cover letter in a file titled “LastName cover letter.pdf”
2. A curriculum vitae in a file titled “LastName CV.pdf”
3. A teaching dossier (including a statement of teaching philosophy, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations) in a file titled “LastName teaching.pdf”
4. A diversity statement (describing how you incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into your teaching practices, and how you would contribute to the development of a diverse and inclusive learning community at UNT through teaching and service) in a file titled “LastName diversity.pdf”

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references.

The Department of Philosophy and Religion will solicit and collect letters of references. Applicants are, however, responsible for ensuring that their references submit letters (on letterhead, dated, and signed).

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit – and takes actions to prevent – discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence), and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, family status, genetic information, citizenship or veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, and employment practices. The University of North Texas System immediately investigates and takes remedial action when appropriate.

The University of North Texas System also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose a discriminatory practice, file a charge, or testify, assist or participate in an investigative proceeding or hearing.

Minimum qualifications:
PhD in Philosophy, Religious Studies, Comparative Religions, or a related field. The candidate must have experience teaching courses in Judaism.

Preferred qualifications:
The candidate will be expected to teach a variety of undergraduate religion courses including some of the following: Introduction to Judaism, Judaism and Philosophy, Hebrew Bible, Rabbinic Judaism, Kabbalah, Maimonides, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, Modern European Philosophy, Islam and Philosophy, World Religions, Religion in American Society. Because the candidate will have to collaborate with multiple departments, they should have an interdisciplinary approach to Jewish Studies.
The candidate may have the opportunity to teach graduate courses in our MA and PhD programs in philosophy in the candidate’s area of expertise and to develop new courses that complement our department’s focus on the history of philosophy, social and political philosophy, and environmental philosophy.

Download a copy of this job ad [pdf].