Willamette University, founded in 1842, is a nationally-renowned private university enrolling 2800 students across five colleges. Our historic campus, adjacent to the Oregon State Capitol, hosts a distinguished undergraduate liberal arts college in Salem, Oregon. Our downtown Portland campus is home to the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). We offer a wide range of professional graduate programs, including Oregon’s top-ranked MBA program, the Northwest’s oldest law school, as well as MA/MFA programs at PNCA and master’s degrees in data science and computer science.
Willamette University provides a high-value and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our Benefits Summary includes options for health, dental, life insurance, retirement, substantial paid time off, tuition and more. If you need assistance applying for a job or have any questions on recruitment at Willamette, please contact our HR Department, hr@willamette.edu or call us at 503-370-6210.
POSITION SUMMARY
Willamette University is seeking applications for the 2026-2027 Mark & Melody Teppola Presidential Distinguished Visiting Professorship. Without explicitly limiting applicants by rank or professional standing, this year’s endowed position is nonetheless intended to recognize and support the work of an especially distinguished early career teacher-scholar. The successful applicant will be appointed to a full-time 9-month position within the English Department and will teach three courses each semester currently projected to be: two sections of English 101W (an introductory level literature and writing course that serves the major and the university’s General Education program), and one 300-level topics course aimed at English majors and minors.
The successful applicant will have the freedom to determine the particular topic/focus of each of those classes in consultation with department faculty. Area of academic specialization is open: above all, we seek a dynamic, creative teacher-scholar who can reach and inspire undergraduate students of all backgrounds and whose research and scholarship will be nourished by time at Willamette working in a department that serves the university’s largest major in the humanities. The successful applicant will have completed the Ph.D. by August of 2026, will have experience teaching literature and writing at the undergraduate level, and will demonstrate a particularly distinguished early career record of publication.
For further information about the department’s curriculum, current faculty, and other features, please visit our website.
QUALIFICATIONS
PhD by August 2026.
Experience teaching and writing at the undergraduate level
Must be able to reside in or primarily work in Oregon by the first day of employment.
Typical Work Schedule: Classes typically meet one to three times per week. This is an in-person teaching position.
Salary: Commensurate with education and experience
To apply, please upload the following documents as part of your application materials in the "My Experience" section labeled “Resume”:
A letter of application describing your interest in and qualifications for the position
Curriculum vitae
A statement of teaching philosophy, including an explanation of how you guide students toward specific learning objectives
Review of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until this position is filled.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT:
All University positions require that candidates submit to a criminal conviction record check prior to hire. Conviction does not automatically preclude candidates from being hired. Nature of conviction will be considered relative to the duties of the position.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS:
Please read the following carefully before beginning the online application process. To be considered for employment at Willamette University, please complete our online employment application. Your application and all required attachments listed at the bottom of the page must be submitted for each individual job post that you are interested in applying. Once you submit your application you will not be able to edit your application.