Job Details

Visiting Faculty of Philosophy (2026)

Position Number: 7076353
Location: Allendale, MI
Position Type: Liberal Arts - Philosophy

Visiting Faculty of Philosophy (2026)

Allendale, MI
Full Time
R104329

Summary: The Department of Philosophy at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan is accepting applications for at least 1, one-year visiting faculty position(s) for 2026-27. Such appointments may be renewed for up to three years, depending on satisfactory performance and continued teaching needs of the department. Benefits include medical insurance, life insurance, and tuition reduction for spouses and dependents. Contract begins August 6, 2026. Individuals from all backgrounds, including underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates must be able to effectively engage with students, colleagues, and community members with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

Required Qualifications and Education:

Ph.D. or ABD (with defense scheduled in 2026-27) in Philosophy with solid grounding in history of philosophy and commitment to excellent teaching and the tradition of liberal education. Candidates must be able to teach across the introductory philosophy curriculum including Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics, and Logic. Candidates should also show evidence of teaching excellence;
AOS/AOC: Open.
Experience with, demonstrated understanding of, or interest in inclusive pedagogy broadly understood: teaching in ways that capitalize on the strengths and limitations of traditional academic settings to help students of different viewpoints, cultures, and backgrounds realize their potential.
Individuals from all backgrounds, including from underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates must be able to effectively engage with students, colleagues, and community members with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, such as the ability to interact with others with respect and empathy.

Preferred Qualifications and Education:

We have additional teaching needs in professional ethics, philosophy of work, aesthetics, philosophy/ethics of health, and philosophy of digital/social media-all at the introductory level. The Department's course offerings can be found here.

Responsibilities: Four (4) courses per semester, undergraduate. Teaching modality is in-person face-to-face only. Summer teaching is possible.

Salary/Benefits

The salary is $50,000. The university offers an excellent comprehensive package that includes health plans, life insurance, tuition waiver, adoption resources, wellness coaching, and free access to campus fitness facilities, effective on date of hire. Family and childcare options on and off-campus are also available.

Department/College: The Philosophy Department consists of 20 faculty. It aims to set a standard of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service in the University and the community that is centered on the fundamental intellectual and practical value of philosophy as a discipline. We aspire to develop students' abilities to question and wonder as well as their skills in careful thinking, critical judgment, and oral and written communication. We foster a diverse community of inquiry through the study of philosophy and its methods in different historical periods, cultural contexts, and intellectual traditions. Our faculty represent a broad area of philosophical traditions, expertise, and approaches that we are committed to sharing with our c. 40 majors and c. 100 minors, as well as with the more than 1000 students we teach each semester from across the university. The Department values extra-curricular opportunities such as Philosophy Club, Ethics Bowl, and Philosophy Colloquium and has collaborations with other disciplines at the university and partners within the broader community.

College: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the largest college at GVSU, offering over 50 bachelor's degrees and a growing number of advanced degrees in the natural and mathematical sciences, the fine arts and humanities, and the social sciences. CLAS is a student-centered and diverse learning community that engages in critical inquiry, extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life. Our faculty are active teacher-scholars committed to equitable, inclusive, career-connected, and community-engaged liberal arts and sciences education. There are many opportunities for collaboration within CLAS and across a broad group of partners on and off campus. We are interested in attracting a cohort of new faculty committed to these core values as we seek to foster a community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive together.

University: Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is a public comprehensive institution located in West Michigan with campuses in Allendale, downtown Grand Rapids, and Holland, plus centers in Detroit, Muskegon and Traverse City. The University attracts approximately 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students with high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities, and has been nationally recognized for innovativeness and its contribution to students' social mobility. The greater Grand Rapids metropolitan area has a population of around one million people, is affordable, and offers rich cultural amenities. Grand Valley is located within easy driving distance of Chicago, Detroit, Lake Michigan beaches, and many other superb summer and winter recreational venues. Information can be found at Community Resources - Human Resources - Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu). Grand Valley is highly rated for safety, sustainability, and veteran and LGBTQ friendliness, and is committed to supporting employees and their families in work-life balance. The university seeks to create an inclusive and diverse environment for faculty and students while promoting enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and service.

How to Apply: Apply online at GVSU Careers. To be considered for the position, applicants must upload the following items to the online application:

(1) A cover letter addressing your qualifications and motivation to teach at GVSU;

(2) Curriculum Vitae & transcript (this can be unofficial);

(3) Teaching philosophy statement & evidence of teaching excellence;

(4) Research statement;

(5) Sample of completed or in-progress research work;

In addition, applicants should submit

(6) 3 confidential letters of recommendation. These last should be sent to phidept@gvsu.edu.

The online application will allow you to attach these documents electronically. Please use descriptive file names (e.g. "cover_letter_candidatelastname"). Note that it is possible to upload at most five individual files to the online application, in the same file location. The files combined cannot exceed 5MB. Submitting all materials combined in a single file is also acceptable.

Applicants selected for interviews will be required to submit official transcripts prior to the interview.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

If you need technical assistance, email Human Resources at hro@gvsu.edu. Email questions about the position Email questions about the position to: Prof. Andrew Spear, Chair, speara@gvsu.edu.

Application Deadline: The review process will begin on May 5, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University thereafter.

Allendale, Michigan 49401 - (616) 331-5000

For more information about Grand Valley, see our website at www.gvsu.edu

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. See www.gvsu.edu/equalopportunity/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State).

Grand Valley State University is an Antidiscrimination/Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. University policy extends protections to additional identities.

To apply, visit https://gvsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/job/Allendale-MI/Visiting-Faculty-of-Philosophy--2026-_R104329