Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) - World Languages and Cultures

University of Wisconsin Stout•Whitewater, WI

About The Position

The Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Letters and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater seeks an Assistant Professor to teach professional Spanish and translation, including translation across languages, as well as Spanish language and grammar courses for second-language learners, heritage speakers, and mixed classrooms. The role supports the Spanish major and minor, Professional Spanish minor, Spanish BSE major and minor, and broader World Languages and Cultures curriculum. The position carries a 24-credit annual teaching load and emphasizes high-impact instruction, student success, research, and professional service. The approved standards for promotion and tenure at the time of the initial contract will apply unless the faculty member requests in writing to use subsequently revised standards. The anticipated course rotation includes Introduction to Spanish Translation, Translation and Interpretation in the World Languages, Spanish for the professions (such as Spanish for Business), Spanish Conversation, and Spanish language and grammar courses from levels 141 through 326 as departmental needs require. Faculty maintain at least five weekly student office hours during the academic year, document advising and mentoring in Navigate, respond professionally and promptly to inquiries, submit syllabi on time, and contribute to curriculum development. Professional Spanish courses are capped at 24 students, and faculty are expected to provide close, individualized support. Instructional materials and digital content must comply with Title II (ADA) accessibility requirements. The successful candidate will maintain an active scholarly agenda in translation studies, professional Spanish, Hispanic linguistics, Heritage Spanish, or a related area of Spanish studies; disseminate scholarship; and seek opportunities to involve undergraduates in research. Service includes departmental, college, and university participation; program assessment and development; professional and public service; and outreach aligned with the University Mission and Wisconsin Idea. The faculty member will lead development of a formal internship process and career-oriented programming, build campus collaborations that strengthen professional Spanish and student career pathways, advise students, support recruitment and retention, and attend at least one graduation ceremony each academic year. This is a tenure-track faculty appointment in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. The department offers programs in French, German, Japanese Studies, and Spanish, along with coursework in ASL and Arabic. Its Spanish program serves approximately 50 majors and 150 minors and includes literature, culture, language, heritage Spanish, and career-oriented professional Spanish offerings. The department is rebuilding translation offerings, including a course serving students across department languages, with attention to cultural brokering in the age of artificial intelligence. Well-qualified candidates can expect a minimum starting annual salary of $60,000, commensurate with education, related experience, and qualifications. UW System employees receive a comprehensive benefits package. The position is based at UW-Whitewater; the posting describes the university's main and Rock County campuses and its online and in-person programs but does not specify a workplace arrangement for this role.

Requirements

A terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent) in Spanish, translation studies, Hispanic linguistics, or a related discipline by the time of appointment.
ABD candidates may apply, but must complete the degree by the August 2027 contract start date; otherwise, they will be hired on a one-year contract with the understanding that the degree will be completed before January 2028, ahead of the first scheduled review.
Ability to interact respectfully with people from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
Willingness and ability to actively follow applicable safety rules and regulations, including necessary training and drills.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated excellence in university-level teaching.
Experience with Canvas.
A record of scholarly achievement.
Additional academic background in raciolinguistics; critical race studies or ethnic/Latinx studies; code-switching, Spanglish, or bilingualism; critical translation; or decolonial translation theory.
Expertise in translation and Spanish for the professions.
Experience navigating the changing artificial intelligence landscape as it applies to translation and language instruction.
Pedagogical expertise with heritage Spanish speakers and second-language learners, including the ability to teach mixed classrooms.
Experience with high-impact practices such as community-based learning, undergraduate research, internships, or travel study.
Interest in developing new professional Spanish courses and building partnerships with employers and other departments and colleges on campus.

Responsibilities

Deliver 24 credits of instruction per academic year in Spanish and World Languages and Cultures.
Teach translation coursework in Spanish and across languages, professional Spanish courses, Spanish Conversation, and Spanish language and grammar courses as departmental needs require.
Maintain at least five student office hours each week during the academic year and provide accessible student support and academic advising or mentoring.
Record advising and mentoring notes in Navigate.
Respond professionally and in a timely manner to student, colleague, and administrator inquiries through Navigate, Canvas, email, and telephone, generally within 24–48 business hours while on contract.
Submit course syllabi punctually at the start of each term and ensure they meet University and system-wide requirements.
Contribute to curriculum development, including new professional Spanish courses and support for the planned World Languages and Cultures major with French and German emphases.
Use the enrollment scale of professional Spanish courses to work closely and individually with students and support an engaged classroom community.
Select and develop instructional materials and digital course content that comply with Title II (ADA) accessibility requirements.
Maintain an active scholarly agenda in translation studies, professional Spanish, Hispanic linguistics, Heritage Spanish, or a related area of Spanish studies.
Disseminate research through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or professional exhibitions in accordance with department and college standards.
Seek opportunities to involve undergraduate students in research initiatives.
Participate in departmental, college, and university meetings and committee work, as well as professional and public service.
Contribute to program assessment and development and engage in outreach aligned with the University Mission Statement and Wisconsin Idea.
Lead development of a formal internship process and other career-oriented programming connecting students with regional employers.
Build campus collaborations, including with the College of Business and Economics, artificial intelligence programs, and other departments and disciplines, to strengthen professional Spanish offerings and student career pathways.
Carry a regular departmental advising load and support recruitment and retention in the Spanish and Professional Spanish programs.
Participate in at least one graduation ceremony each academic year.
Follow applicable safety rules and regulations, including required training and drills.