What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant, Associate, or Professor of French and African Francophone Studies position at Furman University?
Assistant, Associate, or Professor of French with a specialization in African Francophone Studies
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Furman University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Professor of African Francophone Studies to begin August 1, 2027. The successful candidate will join a thriving French program marked by rapid growth in majors, rich opportunities for experiential learning, and a strong commitment to teaching excellence. We seek an innovative, dynamic teacher-scholar to develop a curricular focus on the Francophone African world.
We are inviting candidates with expertise in Francophone Africa and/or the Francophone African Diaspora who will successfully engage students at all levels of French language courses as well as in a variety of advanced-level content courses within the French major. Area of specialization within African Francophone Studies is open and could include expertise in subfields such as ecocriticism, film, new media, digital humanities, cultural studies, gender and sexuality studies, race and ethnicity studies, or literature. Other subfields and topics are also welcomed.
The teaching load is five courses per year, which will include language classes at all levels. The successful candidate will become an integral part of both the French program and the department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Furman. They will be expected to develop courses in their area of expertise, be actively involved in co-curricular programming and French Language House supervision, play an active role in French program recruiting efforts, coordinate study abroad as needed, and teach first-year seminar courses. The successful candidate is also expected to maintain an active research agenda, advise, mentor, become an energetic contributor to The Furman Advantage (https://www.furman.edu/furman-advantage/) and undergraduate research, and participate in department/university service.
Qualified candidates must demonstrate a commitment to and excellence in undergraduate instruction at all levels as well as excellence in research, with a promising record of publications.
Qualifications include a Ph.D. in French and Francophone Studies, or a related field, expected by August 1, 2027. A minimum of two years of experience teaching at the university level is preferred. Native or near-native level language proficiency in French and English is required.
The position offers competitive salary and benefits.
The successful candidate will have the ability to work with students from diverse backgrounds and contribute to Furman’s commitment to expanding access and opportunity to Furman’s rich learning culture. Furman University is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community through excellence in teaching, mentorship, scholarship, and programming. We believe that cultural understanding, inclusiveness, and freedom of inquiry, thought, and discourse are essential components of a transformative undergraduate education. We advance these ideals with a liberal arts and sciences curriculum built on a substantial general education program, featuring traditional and innovative elements, and a robust portfolio of disciplinary and interdisciplinary major and minor areas of study. Additionally, we have established and continue to develop various initiatives, including historic projects, dialogue programs such as On Discourse and the Intergroup Dialogues Program, the Center for Interpersonal Connections, and four distinctive external facing institutes.
Application instructions:
Applicants should submit materials no later than November 1st, 2026, by following this link on the Furman University application portal: https://www.furman.edu/offices-services/human-resources/employment/.
Preliminary interviews will be conducted remotely via video conference. Applications received after November 1st will be reviewed on a rolling basis until November 20th. While we encourage excellent applicants to submit their completed materials at any point, we cannot guarantee full consideration of late applications.
Please upload all application materials as a single PDF in the following order: letter of interest, CV, statement of teaching philosophy, evidence of excellence in teaching (of no more than 10 pages), a writing sample of no more than 20 pages, and contact information for three references (at least one of which must be able to address the candidate’s teaching abilities). References will be contacted at later stages of the search for candidates who advance. The statement of teaching philosophy should describe your inclusive teaching and mentoring efforts, broadly conceived, and how your teaching and mentoring may contribute to a liberal arts and sciences community that aims, among other things, to “honor inquiry, promote diversity, [and] strive for equity” (FUture Focused). You may also discuss any relevant professional development, service contributions, or other experiences that have refined your skills or demonstrate your efforts in these areas.
Inquiries may be directed to Dr. Ronald J. Friis, Chair, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613.