Job Details

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is on the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The College of Business invites applications for a 9-month, fixed-term Instructor position in Economics or a related discipline beginning in August 2026. The successful candidate will bring areas of teaching and research that complement and integrate with those of existing faculty. Teaching responsibilities include residential and/or distance undergraduate classes in Economics. Teaching preferences include experience/interest in teaching microeconomics, macroeconomics, monetary policy, and/or international trade.

A successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to contribute to the Colleges mission of providing students with the skills needed to address contemporary business challenges. A demonstrated record of achievement in teaching at the college or university level is preferred. The expected teaching load is 24 semester hours per academic year. This position requires teaching face-to-face and/or on line courses, advising, and service activities as designated by the school director.

Maintaining an active research agenda resulting in publication in peer-reviewed journals or continued engagement in practice-related activities is required. Candidates should have a strong record or promise to contribute to students intellectual and practical lives and other School, College, University, and business community stakeholders. The successful candidate must meet the standards for qualifications per the Colleges Policy on Classification of Qualified Faculty. The AACSB requirements for academic qualifications mandate a minimum level of relevant research and publication to remain current in teaching.

Applicants must hold a masters degree in economics or a closely related field, with a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours in Economics from an AACSB-accredited institution. Applicants who are ABD in Economics or a related field, even if they do not yet hold a masters degree, are also eligible with degree conferral by August 1, 2026.

Ph.D. or ABD in Economics, or a terminal degree in a closely related business field from an AACSB-accredited institution, is preferred. ABO applicants with a scheduled dissertation defense and completion of all degree requirements on or before August 1, 2026, will be given strong consideration. Prior college-level teaching experience, particularly in undergraduate economics courses, is desirable.

Application materials must be submitted online. The review of applications will begin on or about February 16, 2026, and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include a cover letter, current curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts from highest degree earned* and a list references with full contact information.

For questions or additional information please contact Steve Ha at iha@email.wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state "Degree Awarded," "Degree Conferred," or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your masters degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as "Degree Awarded," "Degree Conferred," or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.