Associate or Full Professor and Weigl Chair of Environment and Sustainability

The Environment and Sustainability Studies Program (ENVS) at Wake Forest University invites applications for an associate professor or full professor and Weigl Chair of Environment and Sustainability to begin July 1, 2022. The Environment and Sustainability Studies program values interdisciplinary approaches to research, teaching, and community engagement, and we place a premium on diverse perspectives of the environment. We seek a candidate with leadership experience and a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion. Successful applicants will have a robust research profile and evidence of exceptional teaching in the fields of environmental science, environmental studies, or sustainability studies.

We welcome  candidates whose research and pedagogy center on climate change, environmental science, environmental justice, indigenous peoples and the environment, environmental history, sustainability systems, environmental law and policy, ecology, conservation biology, environmental communication, environmental management, or other related fields. The Ph.D. can be in the natural or social sciences, humanities, or an interdisciplinary environmental field.

The ENVS program at Wake Forest has long served students who are passionate about environmental studies and environmental science, and it has brought together faculty from multiple disciplines across the College. Faculty and students in the ENVS program engage real world environmental problems, are committed to interdisciplinary collaboration, and pursue research agendas locally and abroad. With two new undergraduate majors recently added to our profile, this position offers the opportunity to build and direct a world class program.

As the Weigl Chair, teaching responsibilities for this position include two courses per semester, comprised of the ENVS Program’s introductory and advanced courses, upper-level electives in the faculty’s area of expertise, and major and minor advising. The position includes an initial three-year term as Program Director, with the possibility of reappointment. The directorship includes opportunities to collaborate with affiliated faculty on curriculum development and assessment.

The undergraduate Environment and Sustainability Studies program is an interdisciplinary partner with Wake Forest’s Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, the Graduate Program in Sustainability, and the Office of Sustainability, The Program for Leadership and Character, and the Interdisciplinary Humanities Program. We draw upon the collaboration of committed faculty from across the university, including the Undergraduate College, the Law School, the Medical School, the Business School, and the Graduate School. Further information about the Environment and Sustainability Program, including its majors and minors, can be found at env.wfu.edu

Application Instructions

Complete applications will include a cover letter that foregrounds why you want to lead the ENVS Program; a curriculum vitae; a statement of teaching philosophy; a statement of research interests; a statement explaining how your teaching, research and mentoring can support Wake Forest University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion; and the contact information for three confidential references. Materials should be submitted as one pdf at hr.wfu.edu/careers. Select candidates will be asked for additional materials. Though applications may be accepted until the position is filled, the initial review of applications will begin November 5, 2021. 

Please direct any questions about the position to the search committee chair, Dr. Eric Stottlemyer at stottlem@wfu.edu. Questions regarding the application submission should be directed to wakejobs@wfu.edu.

Founded in 1834, Wake Forest University is a private university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that combines a small (roughly 5,200 undergraduates) liberal arts collegiate university with 2,200 graduate students in school of arts and science, medicine, law, business, and divinity. The Environmental Program has both major and minor programs (https://env.wfu.edu/major-in-environment/). The quality of the teaching environment is outstanding, and our faculty combine commitment to that mission with nationally and internationally recognized leadership in research. Wake Forest ranks in the top 30 of all U.S. universities in U.S. News & World Report's Guide to America's Best Colleges and Universities. The University has a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world, as indicated by the motto “Pro Humanitate.” For quick facts about the University, go to http://www.wfu.edu/visitors/quickfacts.html.

Winston-Salem is part of the Piedmont Triad metropolitan region, which has a population of more than 1.5 million and is listed among the 35 best places to live in North America by Cities Ranked and Rated. Known as the “City of Art and Innovation,” Winston-Salem offers a vast array of arts experiences ranging from music venues to galleries to theatre and film festivals and an active biomedical research community. Ranked among the top 50 US cities for affordability on national survey, Winston-Salem is less than an hour from the Blue Ridge/Appalachian Mountains and less than 4 hours from the Atlantic Ocean. Other prominent universities are approximately 90 minutes away in the Research Triangle area.

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.