Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies

Swarthmore College is seeking a Visiting Assistant Professor for its Environmental Studies Program, starting Fall 2026. This two-year, full-time position requires expertise in Environmental Policy and related fields. Candidates should have a Ph.D. or be ABD, with a commitment to teaching and research. Faculty will teach a 2-2 course load and engage with a diverse student body. The position is located in Swarthmore, PA, and is not remote.
Swarthmore College: Environmental Studies Program

Location

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Open Date
Dec 04, 2025

Description

The Environmental Studies Program at Swarthmore College invites applications for a two-year, full-time visiting appointment at the level of Assistant Professor to begin in Fall 2026. We welcome applications from scholars who specialize in any dimension of Environmental Policy. The candidate might have training in fields that include (but are not limited to) environmental studies, economics, political science, public policy, planning, sociology, anthropology, Indigenous studies, environmental law and policy, public health, and science and technology studies. We seek candidates committed to excellence in both undergraduate teaching and scholarly research and who contribute to diverse and inclusive communities. Successful candidates will be prepared to teach courses in their areas of expertise and in our core Environmental Studies courses, including Introduction to Environmental Studies, and advise students in the environmental studies major. Visiting faculty teach the same 2-2 course load as tenure-track faculty, are provided mentoring and professional development opportunities, and are eligible for funds to support research and conference travel. The salary is highly competitive.

The Environmental Studies program is an inherently interdisciplinary community that draws on expertise in the humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and the social sciences to tackle environmental issues of great complexity and sociopolitical importance. Our mission is to enable students to be responsible custodians of a rapidly changing and interconnected world. Additional information about the program can be found at https://www.swarthmore.edu/environmental-studies

Located in the suburbs of Philadelphia and near Wilmington DE, Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity. We welcome applications from all candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable experience effectively supporting, teaching, and engaging a highly diverse student body. For more information available to all faculty at Swarthmore, see https://www.swarthmore.edu/provosts-office/welcome-to-provosts-office

Qualifications

Applicants should have either completed a Ph.D (or the equivalent) in a related field or be close to finishing a Ph.D. ("all but dissertation" or ABD).

The strongest candidates will demonstrate an active research program and a commitment to creative teaching that speaks to and motivates undergraduates from diverse backgrounds.

Application Instructions

Applicants should include a brief cover letter describing their interest in Swarthmore College, a curriculum vitae, and a teaching statement. The teaching statement should describe the applicant's interest in teaching at an undergraduate institution, previous teaching experience, and approach to teaching and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds. Applicants will be asked to provide contact information for three confidential letters of recommendation at the time of application. At least one recommender should be able to comment specifically on teaching. Submission of an application will automatically prompt the recommender to submit a letter of recommendation. However, these may be submitted by the letter writer at the time of the request or later at the request of the hiring committee. All applications (with or without letters in the initial submission) will be given full consideration. Recommendations will be solicited for shortlisted candidates without previously uploaded letters after the application deadline in January. Please address any questions you may have to Sandra Sullivan, Environmental Studies Program ssulliv2@swarthmore.edu

Applications should be submitted via Interfolio: apply.interfolio.com/178233

All applications received by January 21, 2026, will receive full consideration, and review of applications will continue until the position is filled.