"Assistant Professor of Psychology (Social Psychology)"

Assistant Professor of Psychology (Social Psychology)

Company: Stetson University

Job Location: DeLand, Florida

Category: Psychology

Type: Full-Time

POSITION:

The Department of Psychology at Stetson University is accepting applications for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track assistant professor position to begin August 2026.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will possess a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and mentoring at a liberal arts and sciences institution and will be expected to establish a productive research program that incorporates undergraduate students as collaborators. Although the specific area of research expertise is open, the successful candidate will have a strong background in research design and statistical analyses as evidenced by their scholarship and/or teaching. Required qualifications include a Ph.D. in Social Psychology (or very closely related field), which is completed prior to the start date, evidence of effective college teaching, of successful supervision of undergraduate student research, and of scholarship productivity. We are especially interested in and encourage applications from candidates who are committed to scientific objectivity, cultural and intellectual diversity, and to enhancing opportunities for all students.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The annual teaching load includes five regular courses and one student-centered immersive experience (equivalent to one course) as a part of the University's experiential, contemporary, and integrative learning initiative - Hatter Ready. Courses will include Social Psychology, Research Methods & Proposal, Senior Project, and courses related to the candidate's area of expertise, which should complement and diversify our current departmental course offerings and/or Stetson's general education curriculum. The candidate is expected to develop and maintain a program of excellent empirical research and engage diverse psychology undergraduates in that research. Service responsibilities (including student advising) are limited initially but will evolve into activities that support the Department, College of Arts & Sciences, and the University mission to a greater extent.

For more information on our expectations in teaching and scholarship and our support for faculty development, please see the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs website.

THE DEPARTMENT:

The Department of Psychology currently consists of 9 full-time faculty members. We are a collegial group of scholars with a broad range of research interests and expertise who are strongly committed to effective teaching and to working with students in a mentoring capacity. Psychology is regularly one of the largest majors across campus. There is a strong sense of community and support within the Department, and we offer a solid foundation to students seeking to pursue graduate work in psychology and to those planning graduate or professional education in various other areas. Our majors frequently serve as co-authors on peer-reviewed publications and win awards for their research at the annual convention of the Southeastern Psychological Association (S.E.P.A.), Stetson Showcase (a daylong research symposium on Stetson's campus), and other venues.

THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES:

Stetson's College of Arts and Sciences (http://www.stetson.edu/portal/artsci/) is the largest and most diverse of the University's colleges and schools; it includes the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, education, and creative arts. With nineteen academic departments and nine interdisciplinary programs, the College is the liberal arts core of the University. A great strength of the College is its faculty of approximately 140 full-time teacher-scholars. The College offers 31 undergraduate majors and 34 undergraduate minors; seven graduate degrees are offered in Education, Counselor Education, and Creative Writing. Every undergraduate major requires a senior research project, allowing students the opportunity to design and carry out independent research under faculty mentorship. Our academic programs are shaped by the values of social justice and civic responsibility. All of our courses and programs of study promote engaged learning, whereby students create connections between the classroom or lab and the local, regional, and global community. The academic programs of the College of Arts and Sciences prepare students to live significant lives, to interact with and positively affect the world around them.

THE UNIVERSITY:

Founded in 1883, Stetson University (http://www.stetson.edu) is a private, selective university comprised of a rich array of liberal arts and professional academic programs. Collectively, Stetson's faculty works with approximately 3,800 students in undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The University's historic main campus, located in DeLand, enrolls approximately 2,400 students in undergraduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, and the School of Music. Stetson University College of Law, Florida's first law school, moved from the main campus to Gulfport in 1945, and, with the addition of the Tampa Law Center, serves approximately 1,000 students working full-time or part-time toward J.D. or LL.M. degrees. Graduate programs based at the main campus in DeLand include Business, Accounting, Education, Counseling, and Creative Writing, with Educational Leadership cohorts also offered at the Gulfport campus. Florida's oldest private institution of higher learning, Stetson has regularly been ranked among the best regional universities in the Southeast and was the first private college in Florida to be granted a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Stetson University provides an inspiring education that engages students with rigorous academic and creative study grounded in liberal learning and promotes civic values of personal and social responsibility. Working closely with faculty and with one another, students cultivate abilities to explore issues deeply, think critically, reason empirically, speak persuasively, and connect ideas creatively. Firmly committed to inclusive excellence, our vibrant community of teacher-scholars nurtures the potential of individual students to lead lives of significance and prepares each to meet the challenges of shaping the future-locally, nationally, and globally.

THE COMMUNITY:

DeLand is a picturesque residential community of 38,000 located 20 miles west of Daytona Beach and 35 miles northeast of Orlando. The area offers extensive cultural as well as recreational activities.

SALARY:

Salary is competitive.

STARTING DATE:

August 10, 2026

APPLICATION:

For initial consideration, applicants must send the following materials: (1) a cover letter, which summarizes interest in the position, describes teaching and research interests, and addresses qualifications for the position, (2) a detailed curriculum vitae, (3) evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., student and/or peer evaluations), and (4) the names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three professional references. In the cover letter, candidates are encouraged to highlight skills and experiences that demonstrate a commitment to promoting inclusive academic environments and engaging across differences.

All application materials may be submitted electronically to psychologydept@stetson.edu. Any questions may be directed to Dr. Sarah Garcia-Beaumier, Ph.D., at slgarcia@stetson.edu.

Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.