Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Administration

The Department of Political Science and Public Administration has award-winning faculty and nationally ranked programs. The Gerald G. Fox MPA Program offers a NASPAA-accredited Master of Public Administration. U.S. News & World Report ranks the program as 12th in Nonprofit Management, 18th in Local Government Management, 19th in Budget and Finance, 32nd in Public Management, and 47th overall among all Public Affairs Programs. The program offers certificates in Emergency Management, Nonprofit Management, Urban Management and Policy, and Public Budgeting and Finance. The Department also offers a B.A. in Political Science, and minors in Political Science, Public Administration, and Security and Intelligence Studies. The Department is a core contributor to the interdisciplinary Public Policy Ph.D. Program. For additional information about our department, visit our website at https://politicalscience.charlotte.edu/. More information on the Gerald G. Fox MPA Program can be found here: https://mpa.charlotte.edu/.

As the largest and most academically diverse college at UNC Charlotte, the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences houses 14 departments, 13 interdisciplinary programs, and 7 applied centers. We offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs with extensive honors and early-entry options. The College plays a pivotal role in delivering on the university's goals in the areas of research excellence, student success and experience, and community engagement. Through their scholarship and teaching, the College's 350+ faculty members seek to deepen our understanding of complex problems and lead the university in interdisciplinary collaboration.

UNC Charlotte is an R-1 University, and the only research university in North Carolina's largest metropolitan area. As the second-largest institution in the UNC System, we transform lives, communities, and industries through accessible and affordable education, offering exemplary bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional programs. Our commitment to scholarship, innovation, and service drives our contributions to the ever-evolving needs of society. Through strategic partnerships and a focus on real-world applications, we prepare our graduates to excel in their careers and lead with purpose and integrity in a rapidly changing world.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte recognizes the differentiation of mission, goals, and objectives inherent in the diversity of disciplines represented by its colleges and departments. Thus, the Job Responsibilities and Essential Functions for Tenured and Tenure Track Faculty should be interpreted in the context of the related departmental and collegiate goals.
Teaching, Advising, Curriculum and Instructional Development - Faculty responsibilities and essential functions with respect to teaching may include but are not limited to: subject matter competence, course design, course presentation, advising and consultation, directing student research, curriculum and instructional development, and grading student work.
Scholarly Research, Creative, and Other Professional Activities - All tenured and tenure-track faculty are expected to participate in expanding the knowledge base of their academic field by conducting research or engaging in other creative activities as appropriate to the faculty member's discipline. Faculty responsibilities and essential functions with respect to research may include but are not limited to: research/creative activity that generates new knowledge and/or synthesizes and/or integrates existing knowledge, publication, an on-going agenda for research, scholarly, and creative activity, and are expected to seek extramural support for their work.
Service to University, the Public, and the Profession - All tenured and tenure-track faculty are expected to engage in a program of service appropriate to their discipline. Faculty responsibilities and essential functions with respect to service may include but are not limited to: service to the administration and governance of the University, public service, and service to the profession.

This position is subject to research-security screening. As part of the application, applicants must disclose, either in their CV or in a separate document submitted with the application, all current appointments or affiliations with foreign institutions or organizations, foreign research support, and ongoing research collaborations with foreign institutions, organizations, or their personnel. Before candidates advance to an on-campus interview, the university will review this information and other publicly available information for relationships involving institutions on the current Section 1286 list and any other applicable U.S. restricted-party lists. A disclosed or identified relationship does not automatically disqualify a candidate. As a condition of employment, a selected candidate must resolve any relationship the university determines would violate applicable law or sponsor requirements or materially impair the candidate's or the university's eligibility for federal funding.

To view the complete Job Responsibilities and Essential Functions for Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty document visit our website: https://facultyhandbooks.charlotte.edu/full-time-faculty-handbook/

The chosen candidate is expected to be able to teach in the MPA core curriculum and offer emergency management electives at the graduate and undergraduate levels. It is expected that this is a research-intensive position with a standard 2-2 course load.

UNC Charlotte gives primary consideration to the earned doctorate or terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline.

Required Qualifications: Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Public Administration, Political Science, Public Policy, or a related social science discipline with a substantive focus on topics in emergency management by the start date of the position. Candidates must have an active research agenda consistent with expectations of an R1 institution and evidence of teaching effectiveness.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration with a research and teaching focus in emergency management and related focus areas, including disaster governance, risk and security threat assessment and planning, homeland security, community resilience, crisis management, or emergency preparedness and response. The chosen candidate is expected to be able to teach in the MPA core curriculum and offer emergency management electives at the graduate and undergraduate levels. This nine-month, tenure-track appointment begins August 16, 2027. Salary is competitive. It is expected that this is a research-intensive position with a standard 2-2 course load.

Candidates must apply online at https://jobs.charlotte.edu to position #003109. Interested candidates should submit: a cover letter stating their interest in the position, a CV, a writing sample representative of their research, and contact information for three references. Letters of recommendation will only be requested for finalist candidates.

Applications received by November 20, 2026 are assured full consideration although recruitment will continue until the position is filled. For more information, please contact the chair of the search committee, Dr. Justin Stritch, at jstritch@charlotte.edu.

Finalists will be asked to discuss how their teaching practices engage, include, and eliminate barriers to learning for UNC Charlotte students, and how their educational approach helps increase the engagement and success of all students regardless of their entry pathway into the university.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. In keeping with this commitment, UNC Charlotte ensures that persons of any background are invited, included, and treated equally in the terms and conditions of employment.

The candidate chosen for this position will be subject to Criminal Background Check.

The candidate selected for this position will be required to submit their official transcripts of their highest degree upon hire.

For more information, please contact the chair of the search committee, Dr. Justin Stritch, at jstritch@charlotte.edu.