About the Department:

The mission of George Mason University’s Department of Philosophy is to educate its students to address key contemporary issues and enduring philosophical questions through a range of philosophical approaches, to foster critically engaged citizens, and to facilitate student and faculty research that advances the discipline and engages important matters of global and public concern.

We are a pluralistic department with expertise in the two main strands of modern western philosophy (the analytic and continental traditions), as well as in the history of philosophy, with a particular focus on ancient and modern. This is coupled with faculty specialization in ethics (including bioethics, environmental ethics, moral psychology, feminist ethics, and global health ethics), social and political philosophy, philosophy of law, philosophy of race and gender, and philosophy of science. Our combined expertise enables us to equip students with a range of methods and approaches with which to address key contemporary issues of social, public and global relevance. We offer a B.A. in Philosophy, as well as a B.A. in Philosophy with a concentration in Philosophy and Law and an interdisciplinary concentration in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, as well as a new minor in Ethics and AI, and an M.A. in Philosophy with a focus on Traditional and Contemporary Philosophy, as well as an M.A. with a concentration in Ethics and Public Affairs. We are committed to the value of philosophy beyond the classroom walls and providing our students with mentoring experiences including via GRA positions and OSCAR funded projects.

Our nationally recognized, award-winning faculty include 10 tenured or tenure-track professors and 4 term professors. Philosophy faculty contribute to Mason’s R1 status by publishing books and articles in top peer-reviewed journals in their field and with established academic presses. They regularly speak at national and international conferences and serve on the executive committees of professional organizations including the International Bioethics Association, the International Association for Environmental Philosophy, the Public Philosophy Network, and philoSOPHIA: a society for continental feminist philosophy. Some have research portfolios funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the National Institutes of Health, and private foundations, among other funding organizations, and many also have active affiliations with external federal or academic institutions and NGOs, including the U.S. Department of Energy, New America, the WHO, and NIH. Our faculty are distinctive for their success in translating philosophical oriented work.

The department is also home to the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy (IPPP). Originally chartered in 1976, and housed in the Department since 2011, the IPPP is the oldest research institution in the United States providing expertise on the normative dimensions of public policy, and one of the most influential.

About the Position:

The Chair will serve a four-year term, start date is August 25, 2025. The position is potentially renewable. The standard duties of a department chair are outlined in the Faculty Handbook, section 2.12: https://provost.gmu.edu/administration/policy.

Responsibilities:

The Chair reports to the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.  They will perform the following duties:

• Plans and monitors budgets;
• Schedules courses;
• Oversees and mentors faculty and staff including performance evaluation and P&T processes; and
• Collaborates productively with other University units. 

In addition, the ideal candidate will:

• Lead and facilitate curricular development at undergraduate and graduate levels, and support initiatives that provide students with exceptional learning experiences in philosophy and foster enrollment growth;
• Lead the 2025-26 Academic Review Process, to include collaborating with Philosophy faculty to review department and program goals as outlined in the 2018-19 Academic Program Review Self-Study Report, finalize the 2025 Self-study Report, and set an agenda for strategic goals and priorities for the next 5 years;
• Demonstrate commitment to all-inclusive excellence and to maintaining a professional and collegial work environment for faculty and staff alike; and
• Demonstrate an openness to innovation as well as a commitment to transparency.

Required Qualifications:

A competitive candidate will be a tenured faculty member at GMU and have the following characteristics:

• Serve as tenured faculty by time of appointment as Chair;
• PhD in Philosophy, or related field with a record of active engagement in philosophy;
• Ability to lead and enhance the mission and visibility of the Philosophy department and the and to liaise with the Director of the IPPP in support of its activities;
• Demonstrated leadership ability;
• Stated commitment to support and provide leadership on inclusivity and collegiality;
• Experience of peer mentoring in the context of a department, program or professional organization; and 
• A record of active scholarship and successful teaching.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in academic program administration;
• Record of success in collaborative and/or interdisciplinary endeavors;
• Experience with P&T committees, preferably in CHSS;
• Experience with academic administration, such as: enrollment management, academic scheduling, curricular development, and budgeting;
• Experience in mentoring and supporting professional development, particularly of Philosophy faculty or staff, for example: GTA/GRAs, pre-tenure or term faculty, or those seeking promotion; and
• Fundraising and/or Grant experience.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Philosophy Department Chair at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application.

Applicants must apply on-line at http://jobs.gmu.edu for position number WG1GMU to complete demographic information. Also, they should attach a CV and a 2-3 page cover letter expressing their qualifications, goals, and vision for the department.

Questions may be directed to: Search Committee Chair, Daniel Houser (dhouser@gmu.edu).

Review of applications will begin April 14, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

Posting Open Date: March 31, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  April 14, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes