Professor and Chair, Modern Languages and Literatures

The Opportunity:

The College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a 12-month tenured professor and chair in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures (MLL). This position is located at the UCF main campus with an anticipated start date in August 2026.

MLL is committed to innovative teaching and research that address challenges related to composing rhetoric and literacy in school workplace civic and community settings. We seek an outstanding scholar-leader who can help us to collectively develop rally around and execute a strategic plan that will allow us to grow our academic programs to national prominence and expand our role as a valued source of expertise on public and academic language-related issues.

The chair provides leadership for the department by connecting department goals to college and university objectives. Guiding both short- and long-term visioning including development of an academic vision and facilitating program development interdepartmental collaboration and productive relationships within the university structure the chair serves as an advocate for the department. The chairs duties include program administration personnel teaching research student recruitment as well as developing relationships with community partners including those in humanities-related arts organizations and industry. The chair reports to the dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department and coordination between as well as oversight of department programs. Other responsibilities include:

• Mentoring faculty in support of developing research and teaching agendas;

• Fostering the growth of the departments research culture which includes undergraduate graduate and faculty participation in research;

• Active and visionary student recruiting and program building;

• Maintaining an atmosphere of transparency and inclusion;

• Promoting a spirit of collegiality and shared governance that encourages faculty across all ranks and staff to leverage their individual abilities and interests in support of a common vision of success for the department;

• Managing programs personnel course scheduling and budget;

• Coordinating fundraising and public-facing outreach;

• Evaluating faculty and staff performance.

MLL is a vibrant independent department. It employs 17 tenured and tenure-earning Language and Literature faculty members 25 full-time instructors and lecturers 2 full-time support staff members and over a dozen graduate teaching assistants in its ongoing efforts to support comprehensive language literature and cultural enrichment. We currently lead 23 programs (some at both graduate and undergraduate levels) and are responsible for teaching 12 languages and TESOL.

One of the nations largest universities (over 69000 students) UCF is a metropolitan research institution with the Carnegie Foundations highest classification for research activity and community engagement. UCF has a diverse student population with approximately a quarter being first-generation students and a large percentage being multilingual. A Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) UCF awards the second highest number of degrees to underrepresented students in the nation.

For more information on the department please visit Qualifications:

• To be eligible for appointment as a tenured professor upon hire the selected candidate must have a demonstrated record of teaching research and service commensurate with a tenure faculty appointment at the rank of professor.

• A Ph.D. in Languages Linguistics or a related field from an accredited institution;

• Prior academic administrative experience at the college/university level;

• Experience planning growing evaluating and innovating academic programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated record of successful and sustained experience in academic administration including performance of duties such as operational processes budget and personnel management supervision and evaluation of faculty and staff program administration and faculty and student recruitment;

• Demonstrated commitment to faculty growth and success;

• Evidence of an active research agenda that resonates with and enhances those of current MLL faculty members;

• Demonstrated support or use of innovative teaching methods and/or curriculum development;

• Evidence of successful academic program planning development and assessment;

• Experience with or ability to integrate emerging technologies and align programs with industry standards

• Experience with or ability to cultivate strategic partnerships with other academic units stakeholders and/or community partners

• Evidence of successful outreach and cultivation of strategic partnerships which may include acquiring grant funding fundraising industry relationship and competency building training programs industry certifications external professional development initiatives and other forms of external relations;

• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration and interdisciplinary including community outreach.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents to be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website In addition to the online application interested candidates should upload the following:

• A curriculum vitae.

• A letter of interest describing qualifications for the position such as research agenda and teaching experience/interest.

• A statement of administrative philosophy

• Unofficial academic transcripts.

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and as applicable U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to: Dr. Nancy Stanlick at

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

The selected candidate must be legally authorized to work in the Unites States without the need for sponsorshipnow or in the future.

Job Close Date:

Open until filled.

Note to applicants: Please keep in mind that a job posted as Open until filled may close at any time without notice. As such we encourage you to submit your application and all required documentation as quickly as possible to ensure consideration for the posted position.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida we are a community of thinkers doers creators innovators healers and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is when you join Knight Nation youll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. Youll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty staff and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow youll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and youll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!UCF offers:

• Benefit packages including Medical Dental Vision Life Insurance Flexible Spending and Employee Assistance Program.

• Paid time off including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.

• Retirement savings options.

• Employee discounts including tickets to many Orlando attractions.

• Education assistance.

• Flexible work environment.

• And moreFor more benefits information view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting it is UCFs expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35 prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S. or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education employment or training in China Cuba Iran Russia North Korea Syria or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions including but not limited to faculty graduate positions individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds post-doctoral positions undergraduate positions visiting assistant professors and visiting research associates.

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As a Florida public university the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position please call or email .

For general application or posting questions please email .