Associate or Full Professor & Department Head - Literature and Languages

About this role

Job Title Associate or Full Professor & Department Head - Literature and Languages

Agency East Texas A&M University

Department Literature & Languages

Proposed Minimum Salary Commensurate

Job Location Commerce, Texas

Job Type Faculty

Job Description SUMMARY: East Texas A&M University invites nominations and applications for the position of Head of the Department of Literature and Languages. This senior leadership role includes a nine-month tenured faculty appointment with year-round administrative responsibilities. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for a vibrant and multifaceted department that includes doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate programs in English, Hispanic Studies, and Applied Linguistics, as well as specialized research laboratories, a student-run literary journal, and the university-wide Writing Program. The Head will champion excellence in teaching, research, and creative activity; support faculty and staff success; and foster partnerships that enhance the department’s visibility, impact, and engagement across the region.

Building on a strong foundation of nationally recognized faculty, robust graduate enrollment, and innovative academic programs, the next Head will have the opportunity to advance a shared vision for continued growth and distinction. With programs that enrich the educational experience of students across the university and a strong institutional commitment to the humanities and language studies, the department is well positioned for a leader who will strengthen collaboration, expand opportunities for students and faculty, and elevate the department’s regional and national profile.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Leadership & Program Development • Conduct a comprehensive review of the department's program portfolio within the first year to identify opportunities for innovation, strengthen course offerings, and enhance alignment with student interests and workforce needs • Lead the development and execution of a departmental strategic plan that aligns with the University’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, building a unified, forward-looking vision grounded in the full range of the department's strengths. • Advance a portfolio of academic programs that is distinctive, responsive, and well positioned to meet evolving student interests and workforce needs. • Lead the effort to reimagine the undergraduate Hispanic Studies curriculum to emphasize applied, industry-ready bilingualism—positioning graduates for careers that require authentic Spanish-English proficiency in business, healthcare, government, education, and community sectors. • Position the Writing Program and Writing Center as vital, university-wide assets, ensuring their strategic integration, instructional quality, and long-term sustainability across all delivery formats. • Ensure the department's robust and high-quality role in core curriculum delivery, providing foundational instruction in writing, communication, and language that supports students on their pathway to college-level success. • Lead curriculum development and program assessment in alignment with university standards, TSI-related policies, and professional expectations. • Champion cross-unit collaborations that expand the Department's public presence, including initiatives such as contributing faculty expertise, student programming, and content leadership to KETR, East Texas A&M's NPR affiliate, in partnership with other College units.

Program Integration & Faculty Leadership • Cultivate a strong, collaborative departmental community across all sub-disciplines (literary studies, linguistics, rhetoric, communication, Spanish, and digital humanities) by fostering shared governance, transparent decision-making, and a collective focus on strategic goals. • Support faculty productivity, professional development, and scholarly/creative activity across all program areas, championing research as a source of departmental distinction and student opportunity. • Manage faculty across multiple disciplinary areas, promoting a culture of collegiality, shared purpose, and academic excellence. • Guide faculty in the continued evolution of academic programs and curricula, fostering collaboration, innovation, and shared ownership of departmental priorities. • Foster alignment around strategic priorities and institutional initiatives through transparent communication, collaborative leadership, and thoughtful decision-making. • Ensure academic quality and program innovation at undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, with particular attention to the health of doctoral programs that depend on sustained mentorship and placement success. • Oversee faculty hiring, evaluation, promotion, and tenure processes in alignment with university policies.

Partnership & External Relations • Develop purposeful interdisciplinary collaborations across the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts (CHSSA) and with other colleges—particularly the College of Business, the College of Innovation and Design, and the College of Education—to extend the department's reach and relevance. • Build and maintain strong working relationships with the Dean, Provost, President, fellow department heads, donors, alumni, and community and industry partners. • Strengthen community, K-12, and industry partnerships, particularly in support of applied bilingualism initiatives, regional workforce development, and local high school dual-credit instruction. • Position the department as a regional leader at the intersection of language science and technology, leveraging specialized research enterprises like the Applied Linguistics Laboratory and the Semantic Artificial Intelligence and Creativity Laboratory (SAICL). • Activate and expand the alumni network across all program areas for mentorship, career connections, philanthropic support, and advancement. • Enhance department visibility and reputation through strategic communications, student publications

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