Working Title: Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Anthropology

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Arts and Letters

Department: 100034 - Sociology and Anthropology Department

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 10/15/2025

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at James Madison University invites applications for a tenure-track position in anthropological archaeology at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin August 2026. We seek a scholar-teacher committed to public engagement, student participation in research, and student professionalization. The ideal candidate will complement, rather than duplicate, existing departmental strengths and make active use of campus lab spaces and facilities to provide hands-on learning opportunities. Preferred qualifications include experience in the archaeology and/or historical archaeology of the eastern United States and a demonstrated commitment towards engaging multiple stakeholders.

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology is a collegial body of 23 full-time faculty, 13 in Sociology and 10 in Anthropology. The Anthropology program is committed to four-field undergraduate teaching. Our faculty are active scholars at the national and international level and are dedicated to excellence in undergraduate education.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Teaching duties include introductory and upper-level courses in archaeology, including regional and topical courses related to the successful candidate’s areas of specialization.

Qualifications:

A Ph.D. by time of appointment is preferred. Candidates must demonstrate their potential to teach in both small and large classroom settings and to maintain active scholarly research programs. We are especially interested in candidates who can provide regular on-campus laboratory and geographically accessible field experiences.

Additional Posting Information:

Candidates will complete a faculty application and submit a sample of scholarly writing (up to 35 pages--Other Document #1), a curriculum vitae, and a cover letter. The cover letter should include a discussion of the candidate's research interests and plans, teaching philosophy, and teaching experience.

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

For more information regarding the position contact the search chair, Dr. Julie Solometo (solomejp@jmu.edu).

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.