Assistant Professor of Sustainability (Tenure-Track) at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Job Description:

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies in the College of Science and Engineering at Central Michigan University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Sustainability beginning August 2025. The successful applicant will be committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service and will provide mentoring for students in the award-winning Central Sustainability program. Central Sustainability is housed in the Department and serves as Central Michigan University's student-led Office of Sustainability, where emerging student leaders develop solutions for sustainability policy, practice, and programs on campus and through community partnerships.

We are looking for a colleague who embraces a holistic and systems-based approach to sustainability, understanding the importance of integrating both natural and social sciences to creatively implement sustainable solutions.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to teach at all undergraduate levels in the Department's Sustainability, Environment, and Society Major. While there are opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary graduate education, teaching, research, and mentoring are focused on undergraduate students, offering a rewarding opportunity to shape the next generation of sustainability leaders.

Areas of research and teaching specialization may include but are not limited to: 1) sustainability policy and management, 2) applied sustainability solutions for communities, 3) environmental justice and social vulnerability, 4) climate change impacts, resilience, and/or adaptation, 5) expertise in energy, waste, food, water, transportation, or other sustainability areas. We encourage candidates from diverse research backgrounds; however, the successful candidate is expected to have an appreciation for the Department's breadth of programs in Geography, GIS, Planning, and Sustainability and the geographic tradition of cross-disciplinary approaches and collaboration.

Required Qualifications:

- A doctoral degree in geography, sustainability, environmental studies, planning, or relevant fields (must be completed prior to the start date).

-Strong verbal and written communication skills.

-Demonstrated or strong potential for undergraduate teaching and mentorship.

-Commitment to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging in the workplace.

-The ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience as the instructor of record.

Track record of research, particularly projects that involve collaboration with students or community groups.

Demonstrated use of cross-disciplinary approaches to address sustainability challenges.

Potential to develop externally funded projects, including research initiatives or community engagement efforts.

Interest in developing partnerships with local governments, community organizations, or private sectors.

Central Michigan University is an NSF ADVANCE Institution, committed to increasing the advancement and representation of women and other people from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM fields. In seeing diversity as a strength, we encourage you to apply if you are enthusiastic about this opportunity, but you feel you may not meet all the preferred qualifications. Similarly, given that Geography, Environmental Studies, and Sustainability are integrative fields, we believe that diverse perspectives enhance our teaching.

The CMU Department of Geography and Environmental Studies is within the College of Science and Engineering with undergraduate majors in Geography, with two concentrations: 1) Geographic Information Science and 2) Urban and Community Planning, and a major in Sustainability, Environment, and Society (rename effective Fall, 2025).

The Department has approximately 70 majors, 70 minors, and 20 students in undergraduate certificate programs. Facilities include standard, active learning, and computer lab classrooms, soils lab, student lounge, map library, the Michigan Geographic Alliance Office, and the Central Sustainability Office. The Department is recognized across campus and the State of Michigan for innovative teaching, a student-centered and inclusive culture, excellence in GIScience, and reciprocal academic partnerships with state and local communities. With an array of possibilities to collaborate around campus and with community partners, many faculty also participate in the Institute for Great Lakes Research and teach at the CMU Biological Station on Beaver Island. Additional information about the Department may be found on the department website at https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/college-science-engineering/departments-schools/geography-and-environmental-studies. Additional information about Central Sustainability may be found at https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/college-science-engineering/central-sustainability.

Submit an on-line application at https://www.jobs.cmich.edu/postings/41651 to be considered for this position. Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Matthew Liesch, Department Chairperson. Applications must include a CV, cover letter, statement of teaching philosophy, statement of research including your philosophy on mentoring undergraduate students, evidence of teaching effectiveness, contact information for three references, and copies of academic transcripts. As part of the cover letter, we invite candidates to describe their experiences engaging a diverse student body. Reference checks will occur for finalists. You must submit an online application to be considered as an applicant for this position. Position will be open until filled, with priority given to applications submitted by December 2, 2024.

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master's, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 men's and women's Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPAof 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It's part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state's largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions - Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more - are within easy reach of the city's central location in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity and provide equal opportunity within its community. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sexbased stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight (see https://www.cmich.edu/offices-departments/OCRIE).

If you wish to see "EEO is the Law" posters, please click here.

CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU's Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education's Assistant Secretary, or both.

CMU's Title IX Coordinator can be reached at:

Phone: 989-774-3253

Office: 103 E. Preston St.

Bovee University Center, suite 306

Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

Email: titleix@cmich.edu

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