Instructor or Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Otterbein University

Description

Otterbein University is seeking applicants for the position of tenure-track Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Religion. We invite applications from philosophers, scholars of religion, and interdisciplinary teacher-scholars with interests in Buddhism, Hinduism or other religious traditions of Asia. We seek candidates with a demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, who will contribute to the department’s efforts to enhance diversity and provide an inclusive learning environment for all.

Job Responsibilities

Teaching load is 3 - 4 which includes teaching courses in Applied and Theoretical Ethics, Religions of India, Buddhism, and other general education courses on topics in Asian philosophical and religious traditions. Candidates should be committed to increasing the diversity of our curriculum and student body. We seek candidates with evidence of success teaching undergraduates, a commitment to recruiting and retaining majors and minors in our department, a commitment to student-centered undergraduate teaching, and the ability to excite students about the study of philosophy and religion. New faculty are eligible for a reduced instructional workload during their first year to establish a research program, along with opportunities for ongoing professional development funding and support from our Center for Teaching and Learning.

Qualifications

Ph.D. in a relevant field of study by the start of appointment. Applicants should have an interest in decolonizing approaches to the study of religion and philosophy and a commitment to social justice-oriented approaches in the classroom. We seek applicants who will complement the existing strengths of our department in analytic philosophy and the Abrahamic religious traditions and who can teach courses in ethics as well as in Asian religious traditions. We are particularly interested in a teacher-scholar who takes a cultural approach to the study of the religions and philosophical traditions of Asia with teaching expertise that emphasizes such areas as the critical study of race, gender, sexuality, and social location. Preference will be given to candidates who have an interest and/or experience in working on interfaith efforts, both within and outside of the classroom.

Supplemental Information

When: This appointment begins August 2025.

Department: The Department is composed of three full-time faculty. One of the full-time faculty is trained in analytic philosophy, the second in religious studies, focusing on Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The successful applicant for this position will fill the third full-time faculty slot. The Department services one major in Philosophy and Religion and two minors (one in Religion, and one in Philosophy). The bulk of our teaching is to general education students (through the Integrative Studies Program) but we also are connected to the Legal Studies Minor, the Sustainability Studies Major, the Honors Program, and the minor in Race and Ethnic Studies. We are in the early stages of creating a program in pluralism and interfaith studies.

Otterbein University: Historically progressive. That is the hallmark of Otterbein University and those connected to this private university nestled in the picturesque, historic Uptown Westerville district in central Ohio and minutes away from Columbus, Ohio’s largest city. Otterbein has set the pace by providing an educational experience that is progressive, innovative, and inclusive. Students come from towns throughout Ohio, as well as many states and multiple countries, enriching the campus through their individual and collective diversity. As a university that educates students of various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, we strive for and value a diverse faculty and staff that reflects our student population and Franklin County. Otterbein has been selected as one of 23 universities across the US and the first in Ohio to host a Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Center. Otterbein will work with its own campus community as well as the Columbus City and Westerville City school districts to create positive narrative change about race; promote racial healing activities; and erase structural barriers to equity and opportunity. To learn more about Otterbein, visit www.otterbein.edu.

Where: Otterbein University is located in Westerville, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, and has received notable national designations, including two appearances on Money Magazine’s Top 100 list of America’s “Best Places to Live” and recognized as one of Forbes “America’s Friendliest Towns.” Westerville has a population of approximately 37,000 people and combines the beauty and convenience of a medium-sized community with the cultural, educational, and economic benefits of Columbus, the state capital; a thriving and diverse metropolitan area of 1.4 million people. Central Ohio is the fastest growing area in the state with stability provided by a diversified economy.

Application: Submit cover letter, curriculum vitae, three references - including contact information, and a teaching portfolio (including a teaching statement, areas of teaching interest, syllabi and teaching evaluations). As to syllabi, please include syllabi for a course in philosophical ethics as well as a course focusing on an Asian religious tradition, suitable for introductory students. Additionally, a diversity statement is also required, consisting of no more than one single-spaced page, addressing the following two questions: How has a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion informed your teaching, scholarship, and/or professional experience to date? How do you see yourself contributing to Otterbein’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Priority will be given to applications received by November 25, 2024.​

Otterbein considers diversity and inclusion as integral parts of the University’s achievement of excellence. We welcome applications from candidates from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education. Otterbein University is an EEO Employer.

Agency: Otterbein University

Address: Otterbein University, 1 South Grove St., Westerville, Ohio, 43081

Phone: 614-823-1805

Website: ​www.schooljobs.com/careers/otterbein