Assistant Professor of History

Working Title: Assistant Professor of History

State Role Title:N/A

Position Type:Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Arts and Letters

Department: 100025 - History Department

Pay Rate:Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only positionNo

Is this a grant-funded positionNo

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated positionNo

Beginning Review Date:11/10/2025

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginias beautiful Shenandoah Valley the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington D.C. and Richmond VA.

JMU is a selective public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21000 undergraduate and 1800 graduate students with over 1000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts science and technology and professional disciplines at the undergraduate masters and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Department of History at James Madison University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor specializing in United States history since 1950. The position will begin in August 2026.

The College of Arts and Letters in which the Department of History is located enrolls over 3100 undergraduate majors and about 150 graduate students across ten academic units in the humanities social sciences and communication studies. Home to several interdisciplinary centers and institutes the College employs 270 full-time faculty. We embrace the teacher-scholar model and encourage excellent applicants within our particular disciplines as well as scholars and teachers eager to work across them.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will teach the U.S. History survey in the General Education program and upper-level undergraduate and MA courses that add to the departments current offerings and may also participate in the colleges interdisciplinary minors.

Qualifications:

PhD in History must be in hand within six months of the start date. Candidates must demonstrate their experience with and potential for excellence in teaching research and service.

Additional Posting Information:

Applicants will complete a faculty application and submit a cover letter curriculum vitae an article-length sample of scholarly writing (as Other Document #1) evidence of teaching effectiveness (as Other Document #2) and three references. The cover letter should include a discussion of the candidates research interests teaching experience and philosophy and contributions or potential contributions to the classroom program and university. Evidence of teaching effectiveness may include course syllabi assignments and summaries of course evaluations if available.

For more information regarding the position contact the search chair Dr. Andrew Witmer .

JMUs Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information please visit of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age color disability gender identity or expression genetic information national origin parental status political affiliation race religion sex sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access inclusion and diversity for all students faculty staff constituents and programs believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: .

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at or You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office located at 752 Ott Street Harrisonburg VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.