Tenure Track Faculty in Finance

Western Colorado University • Gunnison, CO

1d • $95,000 - $120,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Western Colorado University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in Finance in the School of Business. We seek a dynamic teacher-scholar who is committed to excellent undergraduate teaching, student-centered learning, professional preparation, and applied, career-connected education. This is an in-person, on-campus position on Western’s vibrant residential campus in Gunnison, Colorado.

Finance is central to business education and to understanding how organizations, industries, and economies create, allocate, and sustain value. At Western, finance connects across our curriculum and distinctive areas of study—from the experience economy and energy industry to economics, entrepreneurship, real estate, and the broader business disciplines—providing students with the financial knowledge and analytical capabilities essential to informed decision-making and effective leadership.

The successful candidate will join the School of Business at an exciting time of growth and innovation and will contribute broadly to finance education across our programs. An important component of this growth is the development of a new Certified Financial Planner (CFP) educational pathway designed to prepare students for careers in financial planning and related financial services fields.

We especially welcome candidates who can contribute expertise in areas such as financial planning, investments, portfolio management, retirement planning, insurance, estate planning, taxation, personal finance, corporate finance, or related areas of finance.

The standard teaching load is 24 credit hours per academic year. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate finance courses and other courses aligned with their expertise and School needs. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to collaborate with School of Business faculty and external partners in the development and implementation of Western’s new CFP curriculum and its alignment with CFP Board educational requirements.

Western values faculty who connect classroom learning with professional practice. The successful candidate will have opportunities to engage students through applied learning experiences such as internships, investment and financial analysis projects, community-based learning, research, case competitions, industry partnerships, and other career-connected learning opportunities. Faculty may also participate in Western’s innovative Western Watershed General Education program and First-Year Seminar Headwaters courses.

The School of Business serves more than 325 students across its majors and minors. Students can earn degrees in Business Administration and Economics, with emphases including energy management, finance, management, and marketing. Our programs combine rigorous academic preparation with applied learning, close faculty mentorship, industry engagement, and opportunities for students to bridge theory and practice.

The School is expanding opportunities in finance through curricular innovation, professional and industry partnerships, community engagement, and applied learning. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help shape this growth and contribute to preparing students for careers across financial planning, investment management, banking, corporate finance, entrepreneurship, and other areas in which financial knowledge and decision-making are essential.

Western supports its faculty by fostering a collaborative and innovative academic community. Our Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) engages faculty, staff, and administrators in cross-campus initiatives designed to strengthen teaching and learning through diverse expertise, innovation, and continuous improvement. The Professional Activity Fund (PAF) provides financial support for faculty engaged in research, conference participation, grant writing, professional development, and other scholarly or creative activities, with three application opportunities each year.

Western’s faculty are teacher-scholars who contribute meaningfully to their disciplines, the University, our community, and beyond. We seek candidates who will actively support Western’s institutional mission and strategic priorities, including:
Delivering rigorous, engaging, and student-centered undergraduate education
Participating in Western’s innovative Western Watershed General Education program
Promoting student success, wellness, inclusion, and belonging
Collaborating within and across disciplines to grow enrollment and deepen student engagement
Expanding applied and career-connected learning and professional pathways
Building relationships with employers, alumni, industry partners, and professional organizations
Contributing through teaching, scholarship, advising, service, and engagement to the continued growth of the School of Business

Requirements

• A Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Finance, Financial Planning, Business Administration with a finance concentration, or a closely related field is required. ABD candidates will be considered for appointment, with completion of the terminal degree required for tenure.
• A commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching and student-centered education
• Academic preparation to teach finance and related courses at the undergraduate level
• Potential for continued scholarship, research, professional engagement, or other scholarly activity appropriate to the discipline
• A commitment to advising, mentoring, and supporting students from a broad range of backgrounds and educational experiences
• An ability to integrate technology and contemporary financial tools into instruction
• An ability and willingness to teach in multiple instructional modalities, including in-person, online, and hybrid formats
• A willingness to contribute to university and professional service
• Collegiality, collaboration, and professional flexibility

Nice To Haves

• Teaching and/or professional expertise in one or more areas of finance, including investments, corporate finance, financial planning, portfolio management, personal finance, banking, real estate finance, or related fields
• Professional or industry experience that strengthens the connection between finance education and contemporary business practice
• Experience developing innovative courses, curricula, certificates, academic programs, or interdisciplinary learning opportunities
• Experience building partnerships with financial institutions, businesses, professional organizations, employers, alumni, or community organizations
• Experience incorporating applied learning, financial technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, simulations, case studies, or industry projects into finance education
• A record of engaging students in internships, research, professional development, competitions, community-based learning, or other career-connected experiences
• Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) certification or another relevant professional finance credential

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate finance courses and other courses aligned with their expertise and School needs.
• Collaborate with School of Business faculty and external partners in the development and implementation of Western’s new CFP curriculum and its alignment with CFP Board educational requirements.
• Engage students through applied learning experiences such as internships, investment and financial analysis projects, community-based learning, research, case competitions, industry partnerships, and other career-connected learning opportunities.
• Participate in Western’s innovative Western Watershed General Education program and First-Year Seminar Headwaters courses.
• Contribute to university and professional service.
• Advise, mentor, and support students from a broad range of backgrounds and educational experiences.
• Integrate technology and contemporary financial tools into instruction.
• Teach in multiple instructional modalities, including in-person, online, and hybrid formats.
• Contribute to the continued growth of the School of Business through teaching, scholarship, advising, service, and engagement.

Benefits

• Shared premiums for comprehensive health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Retirement benefits
• Life insurance
• Additional insurance options
• Free tuition for eligible dependents enrolled full-time in undergraduate programs for up to four years (after one year of employment)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree