Teaching Assistant Professor - General Psychology - 261100

Department: Psychology

About WCU:

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas 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 Americas 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 Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems 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-site in Cullowhee, NC.

The Psychology Department at Western Carolina University (WCU) invites applications for a 9-month Fixed-Term faculty position at the rank of Teaching Assistant Professor. Anticipated begin work date is August 2026.

The area of specialization is open, but the successful candidate will demonstrate prior experience with teaching undergraduate courses in psychology. Given that the primary focus of the position is on teaching, we are particularly interested in candidates who are student-centered, creative, energetic, and committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment for our students.

Examples of undergraduate courses that the faculty member may teach include, but is not limited to: General Psychology, Developmental Psychology (Childhood, Adolescence, Adult, or Lifespan), Abnormal psychology, and courses in the faculty members discipline. As a regional comprehensive university, we value engagement and mentoring of students.

As such, the faculty member is expected to advise undergraduates in the major. Additionally, most courses are offered in person, but integrate technology. Thus, prior experience with Learning Management Systems (e.g., Canvas) is helpful. The typical teaching load for Fixed Term faculty is 4/4 (fall/spring).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

Minimum Qualifications:

Doctoral degree in Psychology or closely related field; obtained by the date of employment.

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, list of three professional references with complete contact information, and unofficial transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the masters degree level and higher*.

For questions or additional information please contact Erin Myers at emmyers@email.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 masters degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.