Department: Department of Environment and Sustainability
Position Status: Full-Time, Nine (9) Month Appointment
Directly Reports To: Chair of Department of Environment and Sustainability
Classification: Exempt
The Department of Environment and Sustainability in the Hurley School of Arts and Sciences at Catawba College is growing and welcomes applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor of Climate Science (tenure-track) beginning August, 2025 or January, 2026.
Candidates with strengths in Climate Science, with particular interest in (but not limited to) climate studies and/or modeling, atmospheric or ecological impacts of climate change, or climate-related ecosystem/ecological function/responses using any variety of data types, sets, and sizes, are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants for this position must have a completed doctorate degree in climate science, ecology, environmental/ecological modeling, sustainability, or a related field.
We are seeking candidates who demonstrate both synergy with existing teaching strengths and a commitment to promoting a culture of inclusive excellence. Preference will be given to candidates with college-level teaching experience. While teaching introductory and interdisciplinary upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses (graduate program in Sustainability under development) in the applicant’s areas of strength or interest will be the candidate’s primary responsibilities, Catawba expects the selected candidate to develop and maintain a program of scholarship involving our students as co-participants, in addition to advising and Catawba committee service.
Faculty in the three departments of Biology, Environment and Sustainability, and Chemistry and Biochemistry collaborate extensively, and the successful candidate will have opportunities to develop collaborative research and teaching endeavors with faculty throughout the natural sciences and beyond.
Teaching requirements are a combination of 12 contact hours of courses per semester, as well as independent studies and mentorship on an ad hoc basis. The successful candidate will have a promising record in undergraduate teaching or equivalent professional experience, a history of impactful climate science or closely related programs, student- and intern-centered directed mentorship, and evidence of teamwork as a part of a close-knit academic or professional program. Departmental responsibilities include collaborating on curriculum review and course creation, developing field experiences, advising and mentorship of students, and serving as a point of contact for interested student recruits, among others. College-wide service responsibilities generally include participation on one academic committee, on a rolling basis. The successful candidate will contribute to Catawba College’s community and culture through active participation in campus life beyond the classroom as a colleague and campus leader.
This successful candidate will serve as a member of a strategic cluster hire aimed at embedding environmental education and sustainability across Catawba College’s curriculum and co-curricular initiatives, this position will join a dynamic cohort of new campus thought leaders. Together, this interdisciplinary group will collaborate to develop innovative strategies that enhance students’ environmental and sustainability literacy, fostering a deeper understanding of these critical issues. In addition, the cohort will explore and implement opportunities to utilize the campus as a living learning laboratory, creating hands-on, experiential learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction and enrich the overall student experience. Through this collective effort, the cohort will help shape a more sustainable and environmentally conscious campus community.
Responsibilities
- Teach in the Department of Environment & Sustainability and work collaboratively across departments for relevant within-discipline and interdisciplinary course and program development.
- Teach graduate courses (that may be asynchronous-online or hybrid) in the applicant’s areas of strength and interest to support interdisciplinary graduate programs in development.
- Incorporate active learning strategies and effectively use instructional technology to support classroom instruction.
- Advise prospective, new, and current students regarding program planning, course selection and employment and postgraduate educational options.
- Ability and willingness to establish an effective scholarly agenda with student involvement.
Qualifications and Experience
- An earned doctorate degree in climate science, ecology, environmental/ecological modeling, sustainability, or a related field
- Experience using a variety of instructional strategies to engage students with diverse experiences
- A willingness to embrace working in an interdisciplinary atmosphere
- Opportunities to collaborate with The Center for the Environment and to engage in industry best practices pertaining to sustainability
To be considered, applicants must submit the documents below as a single PDF file to Dr. Jay Bolin, Dean of Natural Sciences, at employment@catawba.edu:
- A letter describing teaching and scholarly experiences and qualifications
- Curriculum Vita or Resume
- Statement of teaching philosophy & experience
- Statement of research interests, including how undergraduates can be incorporated into a climate research program at a small college
- Copy of unofficial transcripts for terminal degree(s)
- Names, addresses, emails, and telephone numbers of three professional references; references will not be contacted until candidates have successfully advanced through the initial stages of the selection process.
Review of applications will begin upon posting of this advertisement and will remain open until May 9, 2025.
About Catawba College:
Founded in 1851 in Newton, North Carolina, Catawba College was established by German pioneers. In 1890, Catawba became a coeducational institution. In 1925, the College moved to its current location in Salisbury, North Carolina, strategically located just 45 minutes from Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem and within two hours of the mountains and fours from the coast.
Catawba’s 276-acre wooded campus houses 41 buildings, including an 189-acre ecological preserve. Recognized as one of the best colleges in the South, Catawba offers 70 academic programs to about 1,300 students from 40 states and 26 countries. The College is home to 24 NCAA Division II athletic teams and features more than 40 student-led clubs and organizations. Nearly 90 full-time faculty and 200 full-time staff provide holistic student support.
Catawba received three transformational gifts in three years to its endowment, the most recent being a $200 million gift. This follows another $200 million gift in 2021 and a $42 million gift in 2022, pushing Catawba’s endowment to more than $580 million. The per-student endowment approaches $500,000, which is among the highest in the Southeast. The College is undergoing a time of significant development on campus, with multiple projects underway that align with their commitment to sustainability, community, and student experience. The Smokestack, a reclamation of the College’s old coal power plant, will be renovated according to Living Building Challenge stands and will provide an additional 10,000 square feet of student space. A new 150-bed residence hall is scheduled for completion in August 2026, and two additional residence halls are being renovated.
Catawba’s educational philosophy is rooted in a liberal arts foundation that emphasizes broad knowledge, intellectual and practical skills, and individual and social responsibility. The college’s mission is to provide “students an education rich in personal attention that blends the knowledge and competencies of liberal studies with career preparation,” enabling them to reach their highest potential and become responsible citizens. More information about Catawba College is located at catawba.edu.
Catawba College is an equal opportunity employer. As such, the College is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status, unless allowed by law and deemed necessary to the operation of the College. The College complies with all federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination.