Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Tenure Track

Pacific University achieves excellence and distinction by investing in exceptional people to think, care, create, and pursue justice in our world. We embrace discovery in a close nurturing environment that leads to genuine transformation. Our community is diverse, sustainable, and dedicated to discovery and excellence in teaching, scholarship and practice. 

At Pacific University we thrive in an extraordinary environment, surrounded by the beauty of the great Pacific Northwest, with campus locations in Forest Grove, Hillsboro, and  Eugene. We humbly acknowledge and thank the original caretakers of the lands on which we live, work, teach, acquire and share knowledge.

Pacific University’s Department of Philosophy invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Philosophy. We seek a passionate educator, scholar, and community member dedicated to engaging widely with the intellectual resources of the discipline of philosophy, and to bringing these resources to bear on contemporary issues in the spirit of humanism. The successful candidate will have an AOS related to addressing Artificial Intelligence from a humanities perspective, as well as an AOS in either Philosophy of Science or Philosophy of Mind. The AOC is open, but we are particularly interested in candidates with at least one of the following: Social and Political Philosophy, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Philosophy of Race, African/Africana Philosophy, or Feminist Philosophy. Candidates should demonstrate interest in developing and sustaining a research portfolio related to philosophy within the context of a liberal arts education.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion

Pacific University is committed to improving practices and university structures to foster equity, diversity, and inclusion. The University’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI) provides leadership and fosters partnerships to create a campus environment where everyone feels welcome and can thrive.

Appointment

The full-time position (FTE 1.0) will begin in August 2025. We anticipate the appointment will be at the Assistant Professor level, but Associate Professor rank will be considered.

Teaching expectations

We seek candidates who demonstrate a strong potential for excellence in teaching, as this is a priority for our faculty. We seek a new colleague who can contribute to creating engaging and inclusive learning environments for our diverse student body; more than 20% of our students are first-generation college students and we are designated as an Asian American Native American and Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). We are pursuing status as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) with 20% of current undergraduates, and 21% of the new first-year students, identifying as Latinx. As a department, we explore and support innovative pedagogical approaches that will help us meet those goals.

Teaching Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in Artificial Intelligence from a humanities perspective.
• Teach Philosophy of Mind and Philosophy of Science on rotation.
• Develop courses in Social and Political Philosophy and in the successful candidate’s AOC as needed.
• Supervise senior capstone projects, and participate in the advising of our majors, minors, and undeclared undergraduate students.
• Teach an AI themed section of First Year Communities. A required class for new students taught across the disciplines.

Scholarship expectations

We seek a collegial scholar-teacher whose research interests supplement or complement existing expertise in the department. We expect our new colleague to maintain an active research agenda that includes publishing in peer-reviewed academic journals in their sub-fields. Start-up funds are available. We also encourage course-based undergraduate research experiences. Pacific provides resources for developing skills in grant writing, mentoring students in research, and other areas to support the establishment of a sustained research program.

Service expectations

Service at Pacific occurs at many different levels (department, school, college, and university). We expect service at the college or university level prior to tenure, and pre-tenure faculty will be eligible for appointment or election to committees starting in their second year. Philosophy faculty also provide academic advising to 10-15 students each semester, starting in the second year. This position includes an expectation for collaboration with other faculty and staff to develop a thoughtful integration of AI into the undergraduate curriculum.

Service to the profession through attendance at professional academic conferences and leadership or review positions in one or more of the discipline’s scholarly associations is also valued in faculty reviews.

• PhD in Philosophy
• AOS in Artificial Intelligence (humanities-oriented) and in either Philosophy of Science or Philosophy of Mind
• AOC in at least one of the following: Social and Political Philosophy, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Philosophy of Race, African/Africana Philosophy, or Feminist Philosophy.
• ABD candidates will be considered with an understanding that they will complete their degree within one year of their appointment.

Required Experience

• Some experience in teaching at the college level is preferred

We welcome applications from individuals of all identities and backgrounds, and we are committed to fostering a work environment where everyone feels valued and included.

Applicants must be U.S. workers, which includes U.S. citizens and nationals, permanent residents, refugees and asylees, and foreign nationals granted temporary residence under one of the 1986 legalization programs. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the US. We are unable to sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment Visa for this position at this time.

Who we are

The Department of Philosophy at Pacific University is part of the College of Arts and Sciences (ca. 1400 students), a liberal arts undergraduate college where faculty and staff are committed to an intimate, personalized education. The University also includes a College of Health Professions, a College of Optometry, a College of Education, and a College of Business. The Department of Philosophy serves the educational needs of approximately 20 majors and minors, and many more non-philosophy majors from other disciplines. The department offers a well-balanced Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy that includes a full range of courses in the history of philosophy, a well-developed ethics program with an independent track for interested students, a formal logic class, and multiple upper-division course offerings that include courses in the philosophy of art, Islamic philosophy, animal ethics, artificial intelligence, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and environmental ethics. We currently run a travel course with a philosophy of religion focus that alternates between Nepal and Bali. We host the largest and longest-running annual undergraduate conference in the Pacific Northwest. Our friendly faculty are dynamic professionals dedicated to supporting each other and making a positive difference in the lives of our students and our community.

Sabbaticals, course releases, leaves, and benefits

This position is eligible for full benefits (information at our HR website). Tenured faculty are eligible for sabbatical every 7 years.

The Forest Grove area

Pacific University is located in Forest Grove, OR, a town of around 25,000. Pacific University has been the most distinctive aspect of the town throughout its history, and Old College Hall on campus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Forest Grove is within a 30-minute driving distance of downtowns for Portland, Beaverton, and Hillsboro. Forest Grove also provides easy access to many exceptional natural areas for a variety of outdoor activities (hiking, biking, surfing, climbing, etc.), including the Cascade and Coastal Mountain Ranges, volcanos, rivers, lakes, high deserts, and the Oregon Coast.

Detailed Application Instructions

Please submit all application materials through PayCom using the application link. The details below are intended to help you prepare your best application. Candidates should submit materials by January 15, 2025 to guarantee a full review; review will continue until the position is filled. To ensure equity in the review process, material beyond page limits will not be reviewed.

To facilitate our review, please combine all application materials into a single file (.doc or .pdf), in the order listed below, and give the file a name following this pattern:

Last Name, First Name, Philosophy, 2025

The application materials include

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) that explains interest in the position and teaching at a liberal arts university. Include succinct teaching and scholarship philosophy statements.
• A CV (no page limit). Summarize your educational and professional experiences and accomplishments, including any student mentorship and grant applications (funded and unfunded).
• An example publication or writing sample.
• Evidence of teaching excellence.
• A list of three references from the discipline of philosophy with names, titles, and contact information (email address and phone number).
• A statement addressing how you respond to the needs of a diverse student population.

Additional materials may be requested later in the process.

Review process

The search committee will include several Philosophy faculty, one non-philosophy faculty member from the Arts and Humanities, one faculty member from outside the Arts and Humanities, two Pacific students, and a non-voting administrator who is responsible for ensuring equity in the review process.

Contact Professor Katharine Loevy (katharine.d.loevy@pacificu.edu) with questions.

Review timeline

Reviews will begin immediately after the deadline for receipt of materials. We expect to conduct preliminary interviews with top candidates by Zoom in late January or early February, and then invite finalists to campus in early March. Campus visits are typically 1-2 days in length, and include a class lecture, research presentation, and meetings with philosophy faculty, support staff, the Director of the School of Arts and Humanities, students, and the Dean of the College. We will provide more details about campus visits to invited candidates.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Studies have shown that candidates that are female and/or BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all of the qualifications they find in the job description. We are seeking the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be a person who comes from a less traditional background. We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every minimum qualification described or are unsure if your experience could be considered related experience.