University of the Ozarks invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Religion position, beginning in August 2027. Candidates should be ABD or have earned a Ph.D. in Religion by the start of fall classes in August 2027. Candidates with a master’s degree and a record of teaching excellence will be considered. The ideal applicant will work as part of a strong team supporting students in our Religion major and minor, as well as in our new Rural Church Leadership minor. We seek a…
teacher-scholar whose work will strengthen the Religion program while contributing significantly to the University’s growing commitments to community engagement, rural vitality, and the preparation of students for leadership in churches and other community-serving organizations.
The position will have a distinctive connection to the Town Square Collaborative, an interdisciplinary initiative that brings the University’s resources into partnership with rural communities, congregations, and community organizations. Working with colleagues and external partners, the successful candidate will help develop educational experiences that prepare students for the challenges facing rural communities and to exercise thoughtful, ethical, and collaborative leadership within them.
Primary responsibilities include teaching courses focused on Religion. Candidates who can teach some or all of the following will be given preference: Bible in American Culture, Introduction to Theology, Asian Philosophies and Religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and Approaches to the study of Religion. The teaching load for the position is 24 credits per academic year.
University of the Ozarks values personal attention and collegiality; thus, familiarity with and understanding of a small, residential campus are highly desirable. Candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in working with a culturally diverse student body. Excellent communication skills and support of the University's mission are also required.
About U of O: Ranked in the Top 10 of Southern region comprehensive baccalaureate institutions by U. S. News & World Report, University of the Ozarks is a Presbyterian-related institution that blends the liberal arts and professional preparation in a student-centered environment emphasizing quality teaching and student learning. The University serves approximately 800 undergraduate students on a beautiful campus in Clarksville, Arkansas, located along Interstate-40 approximately 90 miles northwest of Little Rock, and nestled between the Arkansas River and the Ozark Mountains. The University serves students from diverse religious, cultural, educational and economic backgrounds and welcomes students from throughout the U.S. and from more than 20 countries around the world. Knowing that diversity contributes to academic excellence and rich and rewarding communities, Ozarks is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff and student body. The University is especially interested in applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences and those with a successful record of teaching and working with diverse students, including historically underrepresented minority students and other underserved populations. Recent campaigns have enhanced facilities, academic programs and other campus initiatives. For more information about University of the Ozarks, visit www.ozarks.edu.
Application Procedures: Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the search is completed. Please send a letter of application; vita; statement of teaching philosophy; diversity statement; and three current letters of reference, at least one of which addresses teaching ability, to: humanresources@ozarks.edu