Working Title: Academic Unit Head – Justice Studies (JMU Only)
State Role Title: N/A
Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty
Position Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime
College/Division: College of Arts and Letters
Department: 100516 - Justice Studies
Pay Band: N/A
Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience
Specify Range or Amount:
Is this a JMU only position? Yes. This is a JMU only recruitment, only current JMU employees are eligible to apply.
Is this a grant-funded position? No
Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No
Beginning Review Date: 10/18/2026
About JMU:
Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.
Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.
Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.
JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.
JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.
General Information:
The Department of Justice Studies at James Madison University invites applications for the position of Academic Unit Head (AUH) to begin July 1st, 2027. The position is a 12-month tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor with a teaching load of 1-1. The department has 13 full-time faculty members engaged in diverse research programs across numerous disciplines. Faculty are also highly engaged in professional service at the university, local, national, and international levels. Our faculty provide excellent and creative educational experiences for majors, minors, and students in other programs across campus, in large and small classroom settings, including courses that provide “hands-on” training in research methods, theory, and analysis.
The department is part of JMU’s College of Arts and Letters, which enrolls more than 3,100 undergraduate majors and about 150 graduate students across ten academic units. Home to several interdisciplinary centers and institutes, the college embraces the teacher-scholar model and encourages excellent applicants within our particular disciplines, as well as scholars and teachers eager to work across them.
Duties and Responsibilities:
We are a community committed to collegiality and justice. We seek a faculty advocate who is a collaborative and dynamic colleague with a strong and continuing record of research and teaching experience consistent with appointment at the level of advanced Associate or Full Professor at an R2 institution. The AUH should bring a broad understanding and appreciation for the scholarly interests of our faculty, which is reflected in our diverse research programs, teaching styles and formats, and service activities. The ideal applicant should also understand national trends that will shape the future of higher education. In light of recent national trends, we seek an AUH committed to supporting our department’s mission of providing our undergraduate majors and minors with theoretical and practical skills via the innovative integration of teaching, research, and service.
Qualifications:
Competitive candidates will have the following qualifications:
• A PhD in a relevant discipline;
• A track record of excellence in teaching, research, and service in the transdisciplinary field of Justice Studies, including mentoring in scholarly settings; developing or redesigning curricula; serving in leadership roles; and conducting scholarship;
• A commitment to collegiality, fairness, and transparency for all students, faculty, and staff;
• A commitment to working with department faculty and staff to support a vision that aligns with college and university goals;
• An interdisciplinary and collaborative leadership style, demonstrated by experience in developing and strengthening collaborative working relationships within and across units;
• A commitment to advocating for faculty/staff and securing resources on their behalf;
• Excellent management, interpersonal, and communication skills, especially when it comes to addressing multiple, competing priorities;
• A demonstrated capacity to sustain and enhance the trust, mutual respect, and care that characterizes our supportive work environment and culture of collegial self-governance.
Additional Posting Information:
Candidates should complete the application through the JMU career site and submit:
• A cover letter addressing qualifications and including a brief pedagogy statement on teaching effectiveness and justice-oriented teaching philosophy.
• A curriculum vitae.
• A brief statement presenting your vision for the Justice Studies Department over the next 3-5 years (submitted in the application portal under Other Document #1).
• The names and contact information for three references that we may contact later in the selection process.
For more information regarding the position, contact the search chair Michael Smith at smithmx@jmu.edu.
JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.
Conditions of Employment:
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
EEO Statement:
James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.
We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.
Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.
Reasonable Accommodation:
If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.