Assistant Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures (Spanish)

Industry:

Company: Grand Valley State University

Summary: The Modern Languages & Literatures Department at Grand Valley State University invites applications for Assistant Professor of Spanish to begin August 2025. Applicants are expected to have a Ph.D. in Spanish or Second Language Acquisition (SLA) with experience teaching Spanish.

Required Qualifications and Education:

• Ph.D. in Spanish or SLA. Current ABD candidates will be considered for a two-year contract with the provision that the Ph.D. must be completed by December 2026.
• Experience teaching Spanish language, familiarity with ACTFL standards, and specialization in Second Language Acquisition or Applied Linguistics.
• Native or near-native fluency in Spanish and English.
• Potential for successful college-level teaching and active research.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, such as the ability to interact with others with respect and cultural humility.
• Evidence of one’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. This could be demonstrated by an applicant using inclusive teaching practices; conducting research relating to minoritized populations or social inequality; engaging in community-based outreach to minoritized and underserved communities; or engaging in other kinds of DEI-infused teaching, scholarship, and/or service.

Preferred Qualifications and Education:

• Experience with PK-12 programs strongly preferred.
• Background in heritage language pedagogies also desirable.

Responsibilities – Essential Functions:
Successful candidates will contribute actively to the PK-12 World Language Education programs, including observations of student teaching in local schools. They will also teach all levels of Spanish language and linguistics courses. They must demonstrate a balanced commitment to undergraduate teaching, scholarly and professional activity, and service to the department and university.

Tenure-line faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are typically hired on nine-month contracts, with a nine-credit hour teaching load per semester. They are also expected to engage in scholarly/creative activity, service, and a significant focus, which is equivalent to three credit hours of additional responsibilities in teaching, scholarly/creative activity, and/or service depending
on the successful candidate’s interests and the department’s needs.

Minimum Starting Salary: $61,056; Commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Benefits:
The university offers an excellent comprehensive benefits package that includes medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, sick leave/disability, tuition waiver, flexible spending accounts, adoption resources, wellness coaching, and free access to campus fitness facilities effective on date of hire. Family and childcare options on and off-campus are also available.

Department: MLL is a student-centered learning community that fosters greater understanding of diverse cultural, literary, and linguistic perspectives. We strive to make connections with local and global communities, and we value high-impact learning experiences such as study abroad, internships, and undergraduate research. Our 30 full-time faculty in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish have established strong, interdisciplinary ties across campus, and we often engage in collaborative teaching and projects.

College: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the largest college at Grand Valley, offering over 50 bachelor’s degrees and a growing number of advanced degrees in the natural and mathematical sciences, the fine arts and humanities, and the social sciences. CLAS is a student-centered and diverse learning community that engages in critical inquiry, extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life. Our faculty are active teacher-scholars committed to equitable, inclusive, career-connected, and community- engaged liberal arts and sciences education. There are many opportunities for collaboration within CLAS and across a broad group of partners on and off
campus. We are interested in attracting a cohort of new faculty committed to these core values as we seek to foster a community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive together.

University: Grand Valley University (GVSU) is a public comprehensive institution located in West Michigan with campuses in Allendale, downtown Grand Rapids, and Holland, plus centers in Detroit, Muskegon and Traverse City. The University attracts more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students with high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities, and has been nationally recognized for innovativeness and its contribution to students’ social mobility. The greater Grand Rapids metropolitan area has a population of around one million people, is affordable, and offers rich cultural amenities. Grand Valley is located within easy driving distance of Chicago, Detroit, Lake Michigan beaches, and many other superb summer and winter recreational venues. Information can be found at Community Resources page on Grand Valley State University Human Resources website. Grand Valley is highly rated for safety, sustainability, and veteran and LGBTQ friendliness, and is committed to supporting employees and their families in work-life balance. The university seeks to create an inclusive and diverse environment for faculty and students while promoting enrichment of society
through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and service.

How To Apply: Apply online at GVSU Careers. To be considered for the position, applicants must upload the following to the online application:
(1) A cover letter addressing qualifications and your motivation to work at
GVSU
(2) Curriculum vitae
(3) Teaching philosophy statement
(4) Research statement
(5) Graduate transcripts (unofficial transcripts issued to students are acceptable)

The online application will allow you to attach these documents electronically, in the same file location. Applicants selected for interviews will be required to submit official transcripts prior to the interview. If you need assistance, call Human Resources at (616) 331-2215. Questions about the position may be directed to Janel Pettes Guikema (pettesj@gvsu.edu).

Application Deadline: Consideration of applicants will begin on October 18, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University.

For more information about Grand Valley, see our website at www.gvsu.edu
Grand Valley State University is an EOE which includes protected veterans and individuals
with disabilities. See http://www.gvsu.edu/affirmative/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay
Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State)

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. See www.gvsu.edu/affirmative/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State).

Grand Valley State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunity for racial and ethnic minorities, women, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. University policy extends protections to additional identities.