Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies

The Department of French and Francophone Studies at Bates College invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in French and Francophone Studies beginning July 1, 2027. We seek an outstanding scholar with strong commitments to excellent undergraduate teaching and mentorship in a liberal arts context. We seek a candidate with innovative approaches to Francophone diasporas, the ability to teach a variety of courses regardless of periodicity, genre or geographical preferences, and an interest in shaping the future of the department.

The position carries a standard five-course annual teaching load. The successful applicant should demonstrate native or near native fluency in French and will teach French language courses at all levels; offer a range of courses about Francophone literature, cinema, and culture; and teach seminars related to their specialty. We prefer applications from candidates whose research and teaching interests allow them to cross-list their courses with other departments and programs on campus in English. We seek outstanding teacher-scholars who have demonstrated success in innovative and inclusive pedagogy, nimbleness with course offerings across the Francophone world, and openness to new fields of inquiry. We welcome teaching and research approaches that engage in critical inquiry of gender, race, migration, colonialism and postcoloniality, urbanization, and/or environmental humanities. Faculty scholarship and creative work at Bates are robustly supported for all faculty by start-up packages, internal grants, and a well-staffed external grants office. Educational access and racial justice are central to Bates’ history and mission, and our faculty-led initiatives reflect this commitment.

Bates College is a small residential liberal arts college (1800 students) in Lewiston, Maine—a diverse and growing community, which has a long history of Francophone migration, both Quebecois beginning in the 19th century who came to work in the thriving mills, and more recent immigrants from Francophone African countries who have benefited from this heritage and revived its importance in the city. Community-engaged learning is thus broadly encouraged and supported by the Harward Center for Community Partnerships. Pedagogical development and innovation are further buttressed by our highly engaged Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning. Bates College is located roughly 45 minutes from Portland, the state’s largest city, 2 ½ hours north of Boston, and 4 ½ hours south of Montreal.

A PhD in French or Francophone Studies is required by the time of appointment.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $87,000 to $91,000, commensurate with rank, experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors.

Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2026. Applications should include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and letters of recommendation from three referees. We also ask for a one-page teaching statement that describes how the applicant meets Bates’ standards of excellence in terms of inclusive and innovative pedagogy, and a one-page research plan that speaks to the current and future promise of a candidate’s professional work. Bates students come from a diversity of educational and socioeconomic backgrounds, and we are committed to each student’s success. Thus, candidates may choose to share evidence of their skills and experience supporting a diverse student body in the teaching and/or research statements. We encourage applications from individuals from historically marginalized groups and from those who may have followed non-traditional pathways to higher education due to societal, economic, or academic circumstances. The search committee will request a writing sample and a syllabus for short-listed candidates. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and verification of degree.