Assistant Professor Anthropology

Position Summary:

The Department of History, Anthropology, and Political Science at Adams State University seeks a full-time, non-tenure track assistant professor of anthropology to begin in August 2025. We are seeking candidates who are comfortable working at a small state university in a rural setting. The chosen candidate should be a dynamic teacher with the versatility to teach core and elective courses in both the four-field anthropology undergraduate degree emphasis and the cultural resource management master’s degree program. We seek an energetic and enthusiastic individual who loves teaching, shares our dedication to excellence, and complements the existing department faculty. The successful applicant will join a diverse close-knit department that offers bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology, History, Political Science, and Social Studies Secondary Education, along with online master’s degrees in history and cultural resource management. We are primarily an institution focused on teaching excellence with a teaching load of 12 credit-hours each semester.

Mission of the Department of History, Anthropology, and Political Science:

The HAPS Department seeks to instill in students the skills of critical thinking and writing through a study of anthropology, history, philosophy, and political science. The department believes a robust education in these fields will provide students with a strong educational foundation from which they can contribute to their society.

We recognize that women and people of color are often less likely to apply to a position if they don’t match 100% of the job qualifications. Don’t let that be the reason you miss out on this opportunity! We encourage you to apply if you can demonstrate many of these skills and competencies. 

 Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Anthropology or closely related discipline.

• Experience teaching four-field undergraduate anthropology courses and graduate-level archaeology courses, including face-to-face and online delivery modalities.

• Experience in the field of cultural resource management.

• A strong focus on teaching.

• Demonstrates knowledge of, sensitivity to, and ability to work effectively with, the educational needs of individuals and groups with a diverse range of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities in a global environment

• Evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the racial, socioeconomic, academic, and cultural diversity of Adams State University’s student population, including students with different abilities (e.g., physical and or learning) as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices within the classroom.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research interests complementary to those of current faculty (i.e., geoarchaeology, human-environment interaction, hunter-gatherer archaeology, Paleoindian and/or Archaic periods)

• Ability or experience working with historically under-served and/or underrepresented populations, and first-generation college students.

• Ability or experience in the recruitment and/or retention of underrepresented students, including students of color.

• Commitment to professional development, scholarship, and service to the university and community.

• Demonstrated self-awareness of one's own cultural beliefs, perspectives, and privileges as a part of one's orientation towards teaching.

• Demonstrated decision-making that is informed by research, data, and theory and that leverages students' unique cultures, experiences, and background as strengths. 

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $52,716-$56,016  commensurate with experience and education.  In addition to salary, Adams State University offers a competitive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and retirement savings plans. For detailed benefits information please visit our Human Resources Benefits Page. 

Opportunities for supplemental contracts may be available. 

How to Apply: 

All interested candidates must submit application materials electronically through Adams State University’s Workday application portal.

Priority consideration will be given to completed applications received by 3/29/2025, position is open until filled.

 

Required Documents

Cover letter, curriculum vitae, teaching statement, diversity statement, graduate transcripts, and three references.

 

Completed applications should include the following:

• A detailed cover letter of application addressing teaching interest/experience as well as how professional interests and goals align with Adams vision and values. 

  • We encourage applicants to discuss their commitment to scholarly and/or creative excellence.

  • Additionally, we seek to learn how scholarly excellence is interwoven with their approach to service, teaching, mentoring, and affirming diverse perspectives.

• Teaching Statement: (include sample course syllabi) in addition to describing your approach to teaching in general, please address the following questions:

  • What do you feel are the best strategies for supporting students who have been historically marginalized in (enter discipline)? 

  • What role should faculty play in student success?

• Informed Response regarding Adam State’s Commitment to People, Place and Perspective.

  • People: An understanding of, and commitment to, the people who study, work, lead and help or have helped shape our university.              

  • Place: An understanding of our university's geographical and historical context within the San Luis Valley region and commitment to the unique opportunities and responsibilities that come with being part of this place.

  • Perspective: An understanding of the intersecting perspectives that define our university’s resilience, grit, strength, and innovation from being a low-income, first-generation, and Hispanic-serving, rural anchor university and commitment to intentionally supporting individuals who possess these characteristics.

  • Please address the following:

    • Your understanding of Adams State’s history, the people who occupy it, and the place in which it is located and how you will contribute to our unique university environment.

    • Articulate how your understanding of our location in the San Luis Valley, with its unique challenges, and its realities, such as scarce resources, rurality, the land and geography, and current and historical occupants will be manifested in your approach to teaching, research, and service.

    • References: name, job title, and contact information (email, phone).

• References: name, job title, and contact information (email, phone).

• Graduate transcripts (Copies accepted. Official transcripts required upon hire)

Questions about the position may be directed to Dr. Rich Loosbrock, rdloosbr@adams.edu

Disclosures:

In compliance with the Immigration Control Act of 1968 candidates for positions must provide proof of eligibility to work before an offer of employment can be made final.

About Us- Diversity & Inclusive Excellence

Adams State University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to protecting its funds, property and other assets. Well-informed hiring decisions contribute to this effort. Therefore, Adams State University has adopted a policy on background screening for its prospective, continuing, and returning employees as well as students in certain circumstances. Offers of employment will be contingent upon the completion of an acceptable background check. The information received in response to a background check will be treated as confidential to the extent provided for by law.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Adams State University (ASU) may be directed to ASU's Office of Equal Opportunity, Director Ana Guevara, and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education. Support resources for sexual misconduct, ASU's  sexual misconduct policies, contact information for the Adams State University's Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX, as well as a detailed  procedure for filing a grievance due to discrimination on the basis of sex may be found online at  https://www.adams.edu/administration/oeo/reporting-sexual-harassment/.  These  procedures also describe the University's response to reports and/or complaints of sex discrimination or sexual harassment.  

Adams State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Applications are sought from all qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, disability, and, as covered by law, veteran status. In addition, University policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation including transgender status and gender expression, marital status, and parental status.

Adams State University is dedicated to fostering Inclusive Excellence and especially encourages applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other historically underrepresented populations. Given the university’s mission and student body composition, the institution is committed to increasing the diversity of its professional staff and is actively seeking qualified applicants who have experiences, skills, and/or personal attributes that augment the perspectives of our current faculty and staff; we will give particular consideration to qualified applicants with experience in ethnically diverse settings or who possess varied language skills and have a record of successful experience in engaging diverse communities and student populations. Additional information about the university and the academic mission may be found at www.adams.edu/academics/

Salary : $52,716 - $56,016