Western Washington University, with over 15,000 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 Department of History at Western Washington University consists of eighteen tenured or tenure-track faculty whose courses serve a very active history major and make significant contributions to the university’s general education curriculum. History courses cover nearly every historical era and much of the globe. The department encourages its faculty to participate in interdisciplinary programs such as the Ray Wolpow Institute for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity, Canadian-American Studies, East Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and the Honors program. Faculty in the department provide high-quality courses that prepare majors and non-majors with skills in research, analysis, and writing. The department also houses a small but strong M.A. program in history. The history department supports Western’s identity as an institution that welcomes and embraces diversity and encourages applications from diverse candidates. The Department of History is in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. To learn more about the History Department, visit https://chss.wwu.edu/history.

The position includes teaching 6 in-person courses on the quarter system, including two lower-division surveys, History of the Holocaust, and three other courses in the candidate's specialty. Candidates are also expected to pursue research and publication in their area of interest.

• PhD or ABD at time of application in History or related field. If ABD, all degree requirements must be completed by June 15^th of the first year of employment (e.g., June 15, 2028).
• Specialization in Jewish history, with the ability to teach courses in Jewish history and the Holocaust
• 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.

• Ph.D preferred
• Demonstrated potential for effective teaching and high-quality scholarship

Salary

The starting salary range for assistant professor appointment, tenure-track is generally between $73,000-$78,500, 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 $73,000-$91,000, with the upper end of the salary range typically being achieved through collectively bargained salary adjustments.  

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the entire salary range provided above reflects the anticipated full salary range in the position at the given rank, with progression in ranks occurring as outlined in the University’s tenure and promotion process, per the collective bargaining agreement.

Relocation assistance maybe 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

A letter of application and curriculum vitae are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide contact information for three references. Please do not upload letters of recommendation; these will only be requested for semi-finalists, and the PageUp application system will send out requests for three letters of recommendation to the references you provide.

Required Supplemental Materials

Graduate transcript, a chapter- or article-length writing sample, sample syllabi for an introductory course in Jewish history as well as an upper-level course in Jewish history or the Holocaust.

Application review begins November 1, 2026; position is open until filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with applicable laws, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policies on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

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 Student Life at student.life@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.