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Job Title:
Tocqueville Center Assistant Director and Assistant Professor of Classical
Liberal Thought
Job Family:
Furman Faculty
Full-Time/Part-Time:
Full time
Pay Type:
Salary
Department:
Tocqueville Center
Job Summary:
The Tocqueville Center at Furman University invites applications for the
position of Assistant/Associate Director, with a tenure-track appointment at the
rank of Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in Classical Liberal Thought,
beginning August 1, 2027. We seek candidates with expertise in the history of
liberal thought, particularly focusing on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century
British, French, and American Enlightenment thinkers.
Job Description:
The successful candidate will teach four courses per academic year, including
both introductory and upper-level offerings, and will carry out administrative
responsibilities at the Tocqueville Center. These duties include student
programming and mentorship, event coordination, and media outreach. Furman
University is a selective private liberal arts and sciences college. Furman
professors are exceptional teacher-scholars who mentor undergraduate students
within a campus community that values and encourages diverse ideas and
perspectives.
A Ph.D. in Political Thought or a related field is required by August 1, 2027.
Applicants should submit the following documents as a single PDF in the order
listed: a letter of interest, C.V., statement of teaching philosophy, and
complete contact information for three references. The statement of teaching
philosophy should describe your inclusive teaching and mentoring efforts,
broadly conceived, and how your teaching and mentoring may contribute to a
liberal arts and sciences community that aims, among other things, to “honor
inquiry, promote diversity, [and] strive for equity” (FUture Focused). You may
also discuss any relevant professional development, service contributions, or
other experiences that have refined your skills or demonstrate your efforts in
these areas. In addition, please include teaching evaluations (if available),
sample syllabi (if available), and at least one writing sample (preferably
single-authored). Additional materials may be requested at later stages of the
search process for candidates who advance.
The Tocqueville Center for the Study of Democracy and Society
[https://www.furman.edu/academics/tocqueville-program/] promotes the core
principles of a free society—individual liberty, limited government, and freedom
of speech—through rigorous academic inquiry. Established in 2008 as a program
within the Department of Politics and International Affairs, the Center has
since grown into an independent academic unit, gaining greater autonomy,
interdisciplinary scope, and programmatic flexibility.
This transition has allowed the Center to expand its influence across campus and
disciplines. It plays a central role in fostering viewpoint diversity and
scholarly engagement, most visibly through its prominent speaker series.
The Tocqueville Fellows Program, a fully endowed, interdisciplinary initiative,
supports 25 undergraduate students who engage year-round with visiting scholars
and classic texts in intimate seminar settings. The Center’s recent elevation
reflects the strong backing of Furman’s president and Board of Trustees and
affirms the university’s commitment to increasing its national impact.
For more information, consult the Center’s website at:
https://www.furman.edu/academics/tocqueville-program/
[https://www.furman.edu/academics/tocqueville-program/]
Furman University is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community
through excellence in teaching, mentorship, and programming. We believe that
cultural understanding, inclusiveness, and freedom of inquiry, thought, and
discourse are essential components of a transformative undergraduate education.
We advance these ideals with a liberal arts and sciences curriculum built on a
substantial general education program, featuring traditional and innovative
elements, and a robust portfolio of disciplinary and interdisciplinary major and
minor areas of study. Additionally, we have established and continue to develop
various initiatives, including historic projects, dialogue programs such as On
Discourse and the Intergroup Dialogues Program, the Center for Interpersonal
Connections, and four distinctive external-facing institutes.
The successful candidate will have the ability to work with students from
diverse backgrounds and contribute to Furman’s commitment to expanding access
and opportunity to Furman’s rich learning culture.
Furman is located in Greenville, South Carolina, one of the fastest-growing
cities in the Southeast and consistently ranked among “America's Ten Best”
by Forbes. The city boasts a vibrant downtown with top-tier restaurants, parks,
shops, museums, galleries, music venues, and theaters. It also features an
extensive network of nonprofits, international corporations, and excellent
public and private schools. The surrounding region offers abundant outdoor
recreation, including lakes, rivers, and mountains.
Greenville is just 2½ hours from Atlanta, 1½ hours from Charlotte, and one hour
from Asheville, North Carolina. A 20-mile bike and pedestrian trail connects
Furman’s campus to downtown Greenville and to the nearby town of Travelers
Rest—named one of “America's Coolest Small Towns.” The newly
renovated Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, located just 25 minutes
from campus, offers daily service to major cities.
Review of applications will begin on October 2nd and continue until the position
is filled.
Questions may be directed to the search committee co-chairs:
* Professor Brent Nelsen: brent.nelsen@furman.edu
* Professor David Fink: david.fink@furman.edu
Education Requirements:
Doctorate: Political Science (Required)
Certification Requirements:
Job Posting End Date (if date is blank, posting is open ended):