Western Washington University, with over 16,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

The Ethnic Studies Department at Western Washington University centers the histories, epistemologies and lived experiences of minoritized peoples and Indigenous Nations. Our approach is intersectional and transnational while highlighting the unique perspectives, contributions, and knowledges of Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and other minoritized communities. Our courses challenge systems of power and oppression, and advance liberation, emancipation, and self-determining future.

For more information about the department, see the website at https://chss.wwu.edu/ethnic-studies.

The Department of Ethnic Studies at Western Washington University is inviting applications for an Assistant Professor in Black Studies, beginning Fall 2026. We seek a community-engaged scholar whose teaching, research, and scholarship in Black Studies engage one or more of the following: Black transnational and diasporic studies; comparative race, ethnicity, social movements; well-being; and/or critical race theory. We are open to any discipline.

The successful applicant will be well qualified to teach introductory and advanced undergraduate courses in Black Studies and Ethnic Studies and will participate in the collaborative building of our new department. Additional responsibilities include standard quarter-system teaching assignment (2-2-2); exemplary teaching; active program of scholarly activity; service to the department, college, university, and profession through a range of activities. The successful candidate will be expected to fulfill teaching and mentoring responsibilities in ways that provide equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students and will offer a strong record of community-engaged scholarship and research ethics.

• PhD in Black Studies, Ethnic Studies, or other relevant field in the Humanities and/or Social Sciences or ABD at the time of application. If ABD, all degree requirements must be completed by June 15th of the first year of employment.
• A demonstrated ability to teach introductory and advanced theory and methods courses (undergraduate).
• A demonstrated research record that leads to publication in peer-reviewed journals and/or other forms of scholarly dissemination.
• A demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse students and cultivate learning environments that are equitable and inclusive of students with diverse social identities and backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse colleagues, including a demonstrated ability and commitment to healthy communication and collaborative work practices that are culturally-responsive and appropriate.

• A commitment to building a strong Ethnic Studies Department through curriculum development as well as demonstrated leadership.
• Additional expertise in Black culture, politics, and/or the Pacific Northwest
• Demonstrated commitment to collaborative and community-engaged research.

Salary

Commensurate with experience and qualifications. The anticipated starting salary range for assistant professor appointment, tenure-track is generally between $71,500 – $74,500, with placement within the position’s salary range being based on qualifications and professional experience. The entire salary range for the assistant professor position is $71,500 - $80,500, with the upper end of the salary range typically being achieved through collectively bargained salary adjustments. Relocation assistance may be available per University guidelines. Salary and Start-up funds are to be determined upon being offered the position.

Bargaining Unit

United Faculty of Western Washington

Application Instructions

To be considered for the position, application materials must be submitted via WWU’s PageUp, Western's online employment management system. Candidates should upload the following as part of a complete application: 1) a letter of application specifically addressing the qualifications; 2) a CV; 3) a separate statement addressing demonstrated ability and commitment to cultivating learning and working environments that are equitable and inclusive of students, faculty, and staff with diverse social identities and backgrounds; and evidencing commitment to fulfill teaching and mentoring responsibilities in ways that provide equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students; 4) evidence of successful teaching (e.g., philosophy on teaching, student evaluations, course materials, etc.); 5) sample publications (no more than two) 6) graduate transcripts; 7) the names and contact information of three professional references. Do not send letters of recommendation; three letters of recommendation will be required and these will be requested of candidates' referees via the PageUp system; and 8) If ABD, include verification of status from graduate school office, advisor, or department chair. Finalists may be asked for student course evaluations if they were not provided with the application. For questions regarding the position, application process, or department, contact the Department Manager at ethnic.studies@wwu.edu.

Applications review will begin on November 3, 2025; position remains open until filled.

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires and rehires, which includes a sexual misconduct background check.