Assistant Professor of Psychology - General

• 2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
• 2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.

Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.

Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.

WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary: The primary location of this position is on the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The Psychology Department at Western Carolina University (WCU) invites applications for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level. The projected begin work date is August 2027.

The typical teaching load for a tenure-track faculty is a 3-3 (Fall/Spring), consisting of both undergraduate and graduate courses. The area of expertise is open, but the successful candidate will show evidence of or potential for success in the teaching of general psychology, research methods, and courses in the faculty member's area of expertise. Based on department needs and faculty interest and expertise, opportunities to teach careers and issues, senior seminar, or a graduate course may also be available.

As a teacher-scholar, the successful faculty member is expected to maintain a program of meaningful disciplinary research that is engaging to both undergraduate and graduate students. Consistent with this expectation, willingness to supervise directed study courses (PSY 280/480/680), graduate thesis and dissertation research is important to this position. To support research, the psychology department has three dedicated spaces for research, including a lab with EEG equipment, as well as access to an undergraduate research participant (SONA) pool. Opportunities for collaboration within the department, college, and across the university are also encouraged and supported. Faculty in the department hold expertise in a wide range of subdisciplines within psychology, including but not limited to social psychology, developmental-, rural-, and clinical health psychology, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, human sexuality, and forensic psychology. Please see our faculty website for more information on faculty research areas and labs.

In terms of location within the university, the Psychology department is located in the College of Education and Allied Professions (CEAP). WCU is committed to the Boyer model of scholarship, stewardship of place, integrated learning, and engagement. The Psychology department is known for its engaged teaching. We pride ourselves in offering high impact practices and engagement with our surrounding community, including service learning opportunities, internships, and research collaboration. At the undergraduate level, the psychology major is one of the largest on campus, with approximately 600 students. The department is home also to three residential graduate programs in Health Service (PsyD), School (SSP), and Clinical (MA) psychology, respectively. In addition, the department contributes to the interdisciplinary minor in neuroscience. Applicants are encouraged to visit the WCU website (www.wcu.edu) and read more about the university's mission, vision, and core values.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in Psychology or closely related field from an accredited institution.
• ABD candidates will be considered with degree conferral by 8/1/2026.

Preferred Qualifications:

Position Type: Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants: Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include the following:

• letter of application,
• current CV,
• research statement
• teaching statement
• list of three professional references with complete contact information,
• unofficial transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the master's degree level and higher*
• optional materials (e.g., evidence of teaching effectiveness, a representative publication)

For questions or additional information please contact Dr. Alleyne Broomell at abroomell@wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your master's degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The master's degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.

AA/EOE

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

University Safety

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

To apply, please visit: https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/35606