Description
STETSON UNIVERSITY
College of Arts and Sciences
Position: Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Studies
Stetson University seeks a Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Studies. This is a full-time, nine-month position beginning in August 2026. Depending on departmental need and administrative approval, there may be a possibility of extending the position beyond one year. While candidates from any specialization within environmental science and studies will be considered, GIS must be a significant component of the candidate’s work. Candidates with experience and interest in departmental strengths and directions related to water resources and ecological engineering, urban planning, sustainable food systems, and environmental health will be given preference.
Responsibilities:
The annual teaching load is equivalent to four courses in each of the Fall and Spring semesters. The successful candidate will have the option for one of these courses to be an approved student-centered immersive experience (equivalent to one course) as part of the University's experiential, contemporary, and integrative learning initiative - Hatter Ready. These courses will include (1) the department’s GIS courses, (2) a course/courses in the candidate’s area of expertise that fulfill(s) major requirements, and (3) courses in our introductory environmental science and studies sequence. Depending on departmental need, teaching assignments may also include courses for the University’s General Education Curriculum. The ability to mentor undergraduate research, though not required, is desirable.
The Department:
Stetson’s Department of Environmental Science and Studies takes a rigorous, interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate liberal arts education. Depending on the successful candidate’s area of expertise, there may also be opportunities to contribute to the Sustainable Food Systems Program. Our program also has strong connections to Stetson’s Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience as well as the Public Health Program. Our faculty are committed scholars with strong publication records and specializations that include ecology, community sustainability, spatial modeling, conservation planning, wetland systems, paleoenvironmental analysis, alternative food networks, garden-based learning, neighborhood design and planning, and environmental health. Our program offers two majors, including a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. Many students in our program carry a minor in Sustainable Food Systems.
College of Arts and Sciences:
Stetson’s College of Arts and Sciences (https://www.stetson.edu/artsci/) is the largest and most diverse of the University’s colleges and schools; it includes the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, education, and creative arts. With nineteen academic departments and nine interdisciplinary programs, the College is the liberal arts core of the University. A great strength of the College is its faculty of approximately 140 full-time teacher-scholars. The College offers 31 undergraduate majors and 34 undergraduate minors; seven graduate degrees are offered in Education, Counselor Education, and Creative Writing. Every undergraduate major requires a senior research project, allowing students the opportunity to design and carry out independent research under faculty mentorship. Our academic programs are shaped by the values of social justice and civic responsibility. All of our courses and programs of study promote engaged learning, whereby students create connections between the classroom or lab and the local, regional, and global community. The academic programs of the College of Arts and Sciences prepare students to live significant lives, to interact with and positively affect the world around them.
The University:
Founded in 1883, Stetson University (http://www.stetson.edu) is a private, selective university comprised of a rich array of liberal arts and professional academic programs. Collectively, Stetson’s faculty works with nearly 3,800 students in undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The University’s historic main campus, located in DeLand, enrolls approximately 2,400 students in undergraduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, and the School of Music. Stetson University College of Law, Florida’s first law school, moved from the main campus to Gulfport in 1945, and, with the addition of the Tampa Law Center, serves approximately 1,000 students working full-time or part-time toward J.D. or LL.M. degrees. Graduate programs based at the main campus in DeLand include Business, Accounting, Education, Counseling, and Creative Writing, with Educational Leadership cohorts also offered at the Gulfport campus. Florida’s oldest private institution of higher learning, Stetson has regularly been ranked among the best regional universities in the Southeast and was the first private college in Florida to be granted a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Stetson University provides an inspiring education that engages students with rigorous academic and creative study grounded in liberal learning and promotes civic values of personal and social responsibility. Working closely with faculty and with one another, students cultivate abilities to explore issues deeply, think critically, reason empirically, speak persuasively, and connect ideas creatively. Firmly committed to inclusive excellence, our vibrant community of teacher-scholars nurtures the potential of individual students to lead lives of significance and prepares each to meet the challenges of shaping the future—locally, nationally, and globally.
The Community:
DeLand is a picturesque residential community of 38,000 located 20 miles west of Daytona Beach and 35 miles northeast of Orlando. The area offers extensive cultural as well as recreational activities.
Salary: Salary is competitive.
Starting Date: August 10, 2026
Application:
Applicants should supply the following materials for initial consideration as a single PDF file: 1) cover letter detailing how the applicant’s professional accomplishments and experiences meet the requirements of the position; 2) curriculum vitae; 3) teaching statement and evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., student evaluations of teaching, peer observation letters); 4) the names and contact information for three professional references who can provide letters of recommendation upon request. In the cover letter, candidates are encouraged to highlight skills and experiences that demonstrate a commitment to promoting inclusive academic environments and engaging across differences.
All information may be submitted electronically to Dr. Ben Tanner, Search Committee Chair at environmentalscience@stetson.edu with “VAP Application” in the subject line.
Review of applications will begin on January 12, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.
Stetson University is an Equal Opportunity Employer that affirms inclusive environments and engaging across differences as a core value of academic excellence at Stetson University. We are committed to achieving equal access in education, employment, and participation through the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty, staff, and students from a tapestry of diverse backgrounds, and to meaningful academic and intellectual transformation in curriculum, research and service. We are dedicated to actions and policies that foster a community in which individuals with various identities, cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints work together to create opportunities for engagement through rewarding and fulfilling careers and personal experiences in an increasingly diverse society and a globalized world. We encourage qualified candidates across all backgrounds and identities to apply for employment, including members of historically underrepresented groups. Stetson University is an EEO, ADA, ADEA, and GINA employer.
Requirements
Qualifications:
A Ph.D. (or terminal degree) awarded in a sustainability-related field by August, 2026 is preferred. ABD candidates and those with a master’s degree and three years of relevant work experience in an appropriate discipline will be considered. The successful candidate will have an active scholarly agenda and demonstrated excellence in teaching undergraduates.
