"Assistant or Associate Professor of Philosophy"

Western Michigan University invites applications for an academic year, tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to teaching excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate level and the potential to publish in leading journals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Philosophy, received from an accredited institution by the time of appointment or completed within one year of appointment.
• Area of Specialization (AOS): Ethics.
• Candidates will provide evidence of, or demonstrate potential for, successful teaching.

Preferred Qualifications

• Area of Competence (AOC): History of Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, or Metaphysics.
• Candidates demonstrate interest and ability to support the academic success of undergraduate and graduate students.

Successful candidates must be willing to contribute to the College’s strategic plan, including a commitment to inclusivity, scholarly and teaching excellence (https://wmich.edu/arts-sciences/about/planning).

Major Responsibilities

Area of Specialization (AOS): Ethics. Area of Competence (AOC): History of Modern Philosophy, or Philosophy of Mind, or Metaphysics. The department expects that the successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in ethics and in their areas of competence, as well as graduate seminars in their AOS/AOC. The successful candidate is expected to maintain an active research program and contribute to department and university service. The normal teaching load is two courses per semester based on research performance.

Compensation

The compensation is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. WMU offers excellent benefits including Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance and retirement contributions to TIAA. Opportunities for summer teaching exist to generate additional compensation.

Expected Start Date

August 2026.

Application Deadline

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Preliminary interviews should begin January 2026.

Required application documents

Online applications should include a letter describing qualifications, accomplishments, and professional experiences related to the position; three letters of recommendation; unofficial transcripts; curriculum vitae; writing sample; and, if available, teaching evaluations. Letters of recommendation should be sent to phil-info@wmich.edu.

The University

Western Michigan University (WMU), located in Southwest Michigan, is a vibrant, nationally recognized student-centered research institution with an enrollment of nearly 18,000. WMU delivers high-quality undergraduate instruction, has a strong graduate division, and fosters significant research activities. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies WMU as a doctoral university and one of just 185 public universities in the nation conducting research at a high level. WMU is actively working to create more inclusive and equitable structures for hiring, teaching, and research. In 2021, WMU received a $550 million multi-year gift that will, in part, fund projects and initiatives to break down historic inequities. The donation represents the largest gift to a public higher education institution in U.S. history. INSIGHT into Diversity has honored WMU for its commitment to diversity and inclusion (awards in 2018 and 2020). Military Times ranks WMU among the best institutions for veterans. WMU operates the nation’s largest and most comprehensive collegiate support program for former foster-care youth (Seita Scholars) that has become an international model for supporting foster-care youth in higher education.

The College

The College of Arts and Sciences represents the foundation of learning and the academic heart of WMU. As articulated in the College of Arts and Sciences strategic plan, we are committed to fostering a community of diverse, inclusive, equitable, and globally engaged scholars, learners, and leaders. We favor candidates who can contribute to the College’s distinctive educational objectives, which promote interdisciplinary perspectives, intercultural understanding, and concern with social responsibility and the ethical implications of knowledge and action. With 22 departments and interdisciplinary schools and institutes, WMU’s largest college offers a broad range of learning opportunities and career paths for our students. CAS students are among the very top students in the country, having received very competitive awards including Goldwater Fellowships, Udall Scholarships, Boren Fellowships, and Fulbright awards, among others.

The Department

WMU’s Department of Philosophy (www.wmich.edu/philosophy) is broadly analytic in focus, with two undergraduate majors and a highly regarded M.A. program with a long history of excellent placement into Ph.D. programs. Our faculty are recognized for their research, publications, and grants. We host an annual Medical Humanities Conference, bringing scholars together from a wide variety of disciplines and institutions. Members of our department created, and now, as employees of WMU outside the department (in the University Center for Humanities), administer credit-bearing and credential-conferring programming for incarcerated students at a nearby prison, in close partnership with the Michigan Department of Corrections. The department is committed to the University’s strategic emphasis on inclusive excellence. We strongly encourage applications from candidates in underrepresented groups.

Kalamazoo

With a population of 260,000, Kalamazoo County is strong in life sciences/biotech and supports two major medical centers. Natural beauty abounds in its many parks, accessible by hiking and biking trails. The city hosts the Gilmore Foundation that brings internationally renowned keyboard artists to Kalamazoo, while its numerous theaters are part of a vibrant arts scene. The community offers an array of cultural events, entertainment, and all-season recreation. By car, Chicago and Detroit are each 2½ hours away by car, and the beaches of Lake Michigan are 45 minutes away. Ethnically diverse, the city of Kalamazoo has an African-American population greater than 20% and Latinx population of about 8%, with sizeable immigrant populations from Germany, Latvia, and the Middle East. The Kalamazoo Promise funds all city high school graduates for up to 100% of tuition and mandatory fees associated with four years of education at all Michigan public universities (and select private colleges) or vocational training in skilled trades. The City of Kalamazoo is committed to the elimination of generational poverty through its Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo initiative which receives budgetary support from the local Kalamazoo Foundation for Excellence.