Assistant Professor of Business Administration (Business Communication) – Washington and Lee University

The Department of Business Administration in the Williams School of Commerce, Economics & Politics at Washington and Lee University invites applications for a position as an assistant professor in business communication. The position requires teaching experience in communication and/or writing and a Ph.D. in a relevant field. The appointment begins July 1, 2023. ABD candidates must present evidence that their dissertation will be defended by July 1, 2023, and must have some teaching experience.

We seek candidates with a background in communication who are passionate about empowering students to craft effective, engaging, and ethical professional messages through multimodal communication. This new line will add to our curriculum’s growing emphasis on business communication. Course expectations may include both upper-level courses and first-year courses in business presentations and in business writing as well as the possible opportunity to create workshops or electives based on the candidate’s areas of interest. Candidates with a strong background in oral, technical or visual communication are encouraged to apply. We value candidates who have experience in the industry, though this is not a requirement.

To achieve our mission as a liberal arts college, we continually strive to foster an inclusive campus community that recognizes the value of all persons regardless of identity. Our department is committed to preparing our students for engaged citizenship by creating an educational environment that is rich with cultural, social, and intellectual diversity. In keeping with the University Strategic Plan, we welcome applications from underrepresented minority candidates and members of other communities that are traditionally underrepresented in academia.

This position requires a strong commitment to excellence in teaching in an undergraduate liberal arts environment. We are particularly interested in candidates who value interdisciplinary studies and can integrate their course content with the liberal arts. Candidates who can demonstrate expertise or experience with diverse pedagogical techniques are likewise encouraged to apply.

The teaching load is 5.5 courses per year over three terms. The half course is most often a course offered every other year in our unique 4-week spring term. The school calendar consists of two 12-week terms, one in the fall and one in the winter, and the 4-week spring term.

We seek candidates that demonstrate the capacity to publish scholarly research in business and related fields that is consistent with the rank sought and who are enthusiastic about making service contributions to the W&L community. To support faculty research agendas, the university has a generous five-year sabbatical cycle as well as a pre-tenure research leave program.

About Washington and Lee University: Washington and Lee University is a highly selective, private, liberal arts university with approximately 1800 undergraduates, located in the Shenandoah Valley in Lexington, Virginia. It is the only top-tier liberal arts college in the United States to claim a nationally accredited commerce school. Established in 1905, the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics offers a business education within the university’s larger liberal arts curriculum. The Williams School has been fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) since 1927.

Established in 1749, Washington and Lee University is the ninth oldest institution of higher learning in the nation. To learn more, please visit www.wlu.edu

Lexington (population 7,000) is a warm, welcoming, and historic town located between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Lexington is 40 minutes from Staunton (home of the American Shakespeare Center), one hour from Charlottesville, VA, and three hours southwest of Washington, D.C.

A Ph.D. in a relevant field and demonstrated teaching effectiveness are required.

The university requires employees to become fully vaccinated for COVID-19, with one booster. New employees must provide proof of at least their first shot prior to the first day of employment. Individuals may seek a medical or a religious exemption to the vaccination requirement.

To be considered, applicants should submit the following materials through the Interfolio portal at http://apply.interfolio.com/111328. (Please note: We value application materials that model the approaches you would encourage in a business communication/writing course):

• Letter of Application (summarizing your teaching interests and experience, your interest in a liberal arts environment, any scholarly contributions or plans that positively impact your teaching, and demonstrating the ability to work with a diverse student population)
• CV
• Diversity Statement (no more than one page, explaining any relevant experiences and commitments to diversity)
• Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness (including a teaching statement, representative syllabi, list of courses taught, and course evaluations. Please note: “Selected comments” are not considered a substitute for full course evaluations)
• Name and contact information for three professional references

Application review begins September 19th and will continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

If you have questions about the position, please contact Prof. Jeff Schatten, chair of the search committee at schattenj@wlu.edu.