Term Assistant Professor

Department: College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Psychology

Classification: 9-month Instructional Faculty

Job Category: Instructional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Department of Psychology (https://psychology.gmu.edu/) has a diverse student body of over 1,500 undergraduate majors and over 350 graduate students, many of whom are first generation college students. We are one of the largest departments in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, which is the largest academic unit at George Mason. The Department has over 50 faculty members, including 9 instructional, non-tenure-track faculty positions. Non-tenure-track instructional faculty are vital to the department in their support of its instructional mission. They are expected to be fully familiar with research but are not expected to be research productive. Non-tenure-track faculty are fully integrated in the department, with full voting rights commensurate with rank and status and with similar access to resources, such as travel funds and professional development opportunities, as tenure-track faculty. More broadly, George Mason is committed to supporting the career development of all faculty (https://faculty.gmu.edu/), with a specific emphasis on non-tenure-track faculty (https://provost.gmu.edu/faculty-matters/term-faculty-information).

Our department is guided by three primary aims. First, the department fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels in our department and, more broadly, in our field. This mission is facilitated by our location in one of the most diverse regions of the country and by George Mason’s status as the most diverse university in Virginia (https://www2.gmu.edu/about-mason/diversity-mason) and one of the 20 most diverse public universities in the United States (https://www2.gmu.edu/news/588496). Second, in line with George Mason’s Carnegie classification as a Research I university, our department conducts research of consequence. In our undergraduate program, we emphasize empirical research as the basis of knowledge in our field and have a thriving Undergraduate Honors Program. Third, we focus strongly on our training of students across all five of our graduate programs (applied developmental psychology, clinical psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, and human factors and applied cognition). Faculty are highly dedicated to the success of our graduate students, and our programs’ rankings continue to rise.

About the Position:

Teaches undergraduate courses in the psychology department and engages student learning, both in-person and online. Serves as a formal academic advisor. Supports expansion of the undergraduate curriculum that improves the preparation of undergraduate students for careers in fields related to psychology, primarily through the creation of experiential learning opportunities. Trains and oversees graduate student advisors. Works with community partners to develop internships and other opportunities for experiential learning. Provides some summer advising and summer orientation coverage.

Responsibilities:

• Teaches undergraduate courses in the psychology department and engages student learning, both in-person and online;
• Directly serves as a formal academic advisor to a large undergraduate student body. The academic advising duties include: evaluating student progress towards degree completion, assisting students with course selection/registration, participation in orientation sessions for new students and transfer students, advising students about the graduate school application process, and the training and supervision of graduate student advisors;
• Supports expansion of the undergraduate curriculum that improves the preparation of undergraduate students for careers in fields related to psychology, primarily through the creation of experiential learning opportunities;
• Works with community partners to develop internships and other opportunities for experiential learning that prepare students for careers in psychology or related fields; and
• Provides some summer advising and summer orientation coverage.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Psychology or a related field;
• A demonstrated commitment to the education of a diverse undergraduate student body;
• A strong interest in advising undergraduate students; and
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain partnerships with community organizations who can provide experiential learning opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in psychology or a related field;
• Experience with teaching both in-person and online undergraduate courses;
• Prior advising experience;
• Research productivity, especially research related to academic advising and/or student success; and
• An interest in contributing to a culturally inclusive environment, in support of a highly diverse student body.

Instructions to Applicants:

Candidates who have qualifying degrees conferred before the start of Fall 2024 classes will be considered eligible for this posting.

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Term Assistant Professor at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide the following required documents: (a) cover letter, (b) a vita, (c) a clinical and teaching statement. As applicable, candidates should comment on their prior experience in and/or future plans to support a diverse student body in their work, on their clinical experience and expertise, and on their competence in providing clinical services to a diverse clientele. In addition, three names of potential references should be submitted.

Posting Open Date: February 28, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by: April 1, 2024

Open Until Filled?:  Yes