Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Economics - Denver, United States - University of Denver

Description

The Economics Department at the University of Denver (DU) currently has seven tenure-line faculty and three teaching-line faculty. It is strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, which is in full accord with the value that DU places on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). As reflected in both their instructions and research, our faculty have a broader view of what economics is about than is found in the average Economics program in the US. We encourage students not to take in received knowledge as the truth but to examine it and question it. The Department thus offers a curriculum that emphasizes the understanding of the social apparatus which governs the production and distribution of goods and services, and of how economic theories have developed over time to address various topics covered in Economics. We present alternative perspectives on the historical and present-day relevance of our material, employing more primary sources and larger reading assignments than one finds in the typical US economics curriculum. Our approach lends itself readily to emphasizing the importance of writing and critical thinking beyond the rote acquisition of quantitative skills.

The Department of Economics seeks to hire a half-time Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor (VTAP; non-tenure-track) who will start September 1, 2024. A half-time VTAP appointment requires teaching four (4) courses spread across three 10-week quarters during the regular academic year (autumn, winter, and spring). Candidates should hold a PhD in Economics or a related discipline. To fill this position, we are seeking a heterodox economist who shows excellent ability in teaching and has expertise in international economics / trade. Specifically, we are seeking a candidate who can cover an upper-division undergraduate- / graduate-level (MA) course on "International Trade Theory & Policy" and/or "Economic Development." The candidate we hire will also teach more than one section of our introductory course "Economics: A Critical Introduction," which requires familiarity with economic history, the history of economic thought, philosophy of social science, and heterodox as well as mainstream perspectives on economic theory and policy. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to integrate content that addresses different experiences across diverse populations, and pedagogical practices that foster equity and inclusion of students from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities.

The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and Department of Economics are strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, which is in full accord with the value that DU places on its commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. Candidates must demonstrate ability to integrate content and issues relating to, and to work effectively with, ethnically/racially diverse populations.

Position Summary

This is a visiting (temporary, non-tenure-track) benefitted position for the 2024/25 Academic Year. The successful candidate is expected to start teaching September 9, 2024. Courses are typically taught in person, but teaching some courses online may be an option for the right candidate. A PhD and experience doing research in the areas of international trade and/or economic development is preferred. Candidates with a Master's degree in Economics and compensating policy / research experience will be considered.

The ideal candidate demonstrates experience and versatility in inclusive pedagogy. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to diversity, equity and inclusion through their teaching.

Salary: Half-time appointment $25,000

Essential Functions

• Start teaching Sept. 9, 2024
• Teach a total of four in-person courses, including multiple sections of "Economics: A critical introduction" (ECON 1020), across fall, winter, and spring quarters AY24/25
• Use the Canvas course management system for core functions, including maintaining an up-to-date syllabus, course schedule, and gradebook

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrate excellent ability in teaching elective courses for undergraduate and MA students
• Demonstrate excellent teaching ability in our introductory courses
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate content that addresses different experiences across diverse populations, and pedagogical practices that foster equity and inclusion of students from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities
• Willingness to contribute to DEI through teaching

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Economics plus 3-5 years of relevant professional experience
• At least one year of experience teaching as primary instructor at the college level, including having taught either a class on international trade or international economics as the primary instructor
• Exposure to the history of economic thought and heterodox economic perspectives

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Economics or a related discipline with a focus in research in international trade, international economics, and/or economic development
• Experience teaching multiple Economics courses as a primary instructor at the college level
• Experience teaching "International Trade" or "Economic Development" at the advanced undergraduate or graduate (MA) level, or commensurate research experience in these fields
• Evidence of effective teaching
• Evidence of engagement with the history of economic thought and heterodox economic perspectives in teaching economics
• Evidence of contributions to the advancement of DEI through teaching and service
• Ability to teach in-person on the Denver campus
• Experience using the Canvas course management system

Work Schedule

The appointment will be for the 2024/25 academic year starting Sept. 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025. While the University's administrative offices are open Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar).

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) May 31, 2024

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range:
Half-time appointment $25,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate's sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter, including a clear statement about your familiarity with heterodox / non-mainstream ideas in economics
3. Teaching Statement that must address how you support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in your teaching
4. Materials that show evidence of success in teaching (e.g., summary of student evaluations, sample syllabi, etc.)
5. Contact information for three references who can speak to your ability to teach or can provide a letter of recommendation upon request

The University of Denver recognizes that its success in being a great university dedicated to the public good depends greatly on how well it engages, supports, and champions the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. As part of our intentionality in recruiting and retaining faculty from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities, including those from communities of color, with diverse gender and sexual identities, first-generation college graduates, or with disabilities, new faculty will have the opportunity to choose to participate in a pilot University-wide initiative. This initiative will connect new colleagues in a cohort, building community across units with supportive programming led by the Office of the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs in collaboration with the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and each faculty participant's academic unit. To learn more about the University of Denver's commitments and work in support of DEI and J, please visit: For more information about this program or if you have any questions, please email and/or visit

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non-Discrimination-Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.

Advertised: April 22, 2024
Applications close: May 31, 2024