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

Universities of Wisconsin•Whitewater, WI

4d•$60,000

About The Position

The Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Letters and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor. The position has a 24-credit annual teaching load and emphasizes high-impact instruction, student success, research, and professional service. The successful candidate will 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. Courses support the Spanish major and minor, Professional Spanish minor, Spanish BSE major and minor, and the broader World Languages and Cultures curriculum. The approved promotion and tenure standards in effect at the time of the initial contract will apply, although faculty may request in writing that revised standards be applied. Teaching responsibilities include an anticipated rotation of Spanish translation, translation and interpretation across languages, Spanish for the professions, Spanish conversation, and Spanish grammar and language courses from levels 141 through 326 as departmental needs require. The faculty member will maintain at least five consistent student office hours weekly during the academic year, advise and mentor students using Navigate, communicate professionally and promptly, submit compliant course syllabi on time, develop curriculum, and use accessible instructional materials. Professional Spanish classes are capped at 24 students, with an expectation of close, individualized student support. The position requires an active scholarly agenda in translation studies, professional Spanish, Hispanic linguistics, Heritage Spanish, or a related area of Spanish studies; dissemination of scholarship; and efforts to involve undergraduate students in research. Service includes departmental, college, and university participation; professional and public service; program assessment and development; outreach aligned with the University Mission and Wisconsin Idea; advising and student recruitment and retention; and participation in at least one graduation ceremony each academic year. The faculty member will lead development of a formal internship process and career-oriented programming, and build campus and employer collaborations to strengthen professional Spanish and student career pathways. The department offers programs in French, German, Japanese Studies, and Spanish, and coursework in ASL and Arabic. Its Spanish program includes literature, culture, and language curricula for second-language and heritage learners, along with career-oriented professional Spanish coursework. Faculty collaborate with Latinx Studies, Community-Based Learning, and Study Abroad, and are rebuilding translation offerings with attention to cultural brokering in the context of artificial intelligence. The minimum starting annual salary for well-qualified candidates is $60,000, commensurate with education, related experience, and qualifications. The position is based at UW-Whitewater. The contract is expected to start in August 2027. ABD candidates may apply but must complete the degree by the 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 and the first scheduled review.

Requirements

Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent terminal degree in Spanish, translation studies, Hispanic linguistics, or a related discipline by the time of appointment. ABD candidates may apply, subject to the stated degree-completion deadlines and contract terms.
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 teaching 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.

Responsibilities

Teach 24 credits per academic year in Spanish and World Languages and Cultures, including translation, Spanish for the professions, Spanish conversation, and Spanish language and grammar courses as departmental needs require.
Maintain at least five consistent student office hours each week during the academic year.
Advise and mentor students, recording 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; use Outlook's out-of-office feature when off contract.
Submit course syllabi punctually and ensure they meet University and system-wide requirements.
Contribute to curriculum development, including new professional Spanish courses and support for the planned WLC major with French and German emphases.
Use the capped enrollment of professional Spanish courses to provide close, individualized student support and build an engaged classroom community.
Select and develop instructional materials and digital course content that meet 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, and in 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 that strengthen professional Spanish offerings and student career pathways.
Carry a regular departmental advising load and support recruitment and retention in Spanish and Professional Spanish programs.
Participate in at least one graduation ceremony each academic year.