The Department of Religion and Culture at Virginia Tech invites applications for a Visiting Assistant Professorship in Appalachian Studies. The initial appointment is for one year but is eligible for reappointment based on university need and available funding. The expected teaching load for this position is three courses per semester. We are looking for an excellent instructor to teach the interdisciplinary course “Introduction to Appalachian Studies” (about 50 students per section) to students from across all colleges of Virginia Tech. The successful candidate will also teach one or more of our other Appalachian Studies (APS) courses, such as Appalachian Communities, Issues in Appalachian Studies, The Cultural Politics of Music in Appalachia, and Faith and Superstition in Appalachia. The successful candidate will help build enrollment in the Appalachian Cultures and Environments minor, as well as the department’s two majors, Religion and Culture and Humanities for Public Service. While this is primarily a teaching position, the successful candidate should have an active research agenda that contributes to intellectual connections between Appalachian Studies and the wider Department. Ph.D., or evidence of completion by August 2025, is required.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in a humanities or social sciences field or discipline, or evidence of completion by August 2025
- Ability to teach Introduction to Appalachian Studies as suggested by a record of successful teaching in Appalachian Studies or related areas
- Active research program in the field of Appalachian Studies that complements research in the Department of Religion and Culture
- Ability to teach at least one of the following: Appalachian Communities, Issues in Appalachian Studies, The Cultural Politics of Music in Appalachia, or Faith and Superstition in Appalachia.
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated commitment to facilitating discussion in the undergraduate classroom
- Scholarly and pedagogical expertise in the social construction of Appalachia, as well as some of the following topics: Appalachian history, cultural production, religious expression, alterity, and current issues
- Record of competence and sensitivity in working with students and community members from a wide range of backgrounds and identities differing by, for example, geographic region of origin (e.g. Appalachia), religion, gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic class.
The Carnegie Foundation classifies Virginia Tech as a university with “very high research activity” and the Department of Religion and Culture also has a very strong record of excellence in teaching and research. A commitment to working effectively with a diverse campus population in support of Virginia Tech’s “Principles of Community” is required.
Candidates must apply online and provide a letter of application specifically addressing required and preferred qualifications, CV, unofficial graduate transcripts or list of graduate courses taken, and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin May 5, 2025. We hope to contact finalists for interviews by May 12, 2025, at which point we will request that three letters of recommendation be sent to us within 10 days. More information may be requested by the search committee as the search advances.
Inquiries may be directed to Ms. Karen Moore, Office Manager, Department of Religion and Culture, kwmoore@vt.edu, or Dr. Emily Satterwhite, Search Committee Chair, satterwhite@vt.edu, with the subject line “Appalachian Studies VAP search.”
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire accommodation, please contact Karen Moore at kwmoore@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
