Lecturer, Political Science

Job Purpose:

The Department of Political Science at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA invites applications for a full-time, nine-month, non-tenure-track Lecturer position in Comparative Politics, with a specialization in Latin America, beginning August 16, 2027. This position is renewable annually, subject to satisfactory performance review and continuing curricular and institutional need.

Gonzaga University is committed to pursuing excellence in teaching by creating engaging, inclusive learning environments for undergraduate students, and we are seeking a colleague who shares that commitment. The successful candidate will teach a mixture of introductory-level Comparative Politics courses, upper-division courses on Latin American politics, and additional courses informed by the candidate's areas of expertise and the department's curricular needs. The standard teaching load is 4/4 (generally five unique course preparations per year), entirely at the undergraduate level. We seek candidates who bring an active commitment to undergraduate teaching and mentorship, and who are drawn to Gonzaga's Jesuit, Catholic, and humanistic mission of educating the whole person.

About Gonzaga University and Spokane, Washington
Founded in 1887, Gonzaga is a private, liberal arts institution located in Spokane, WA. Gonzaga’s mission reflects its Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic identity. The Department of Political Science awards the BA degree and enjoys a growing enrollment of politically involved social justice-minded students. Our average class size is under 25, enabling our faculty to invest in engaged pedagogy and transformational teaching. Gonzaga has been ranked in the top 20 for excellence in undergraduate teaching among National Universities by US News and World Report.

Gonzaga’s 152-acre campus sits along the Spokane River within walking distance of downtown Spokane, on the ancestral homelands of the Spokane Tribe of Indians. Spokane is the second largest city in Washington and pairs urban advantages, including an international airport, a vibrant arts community, and a range of exciting restaurants, with easy access to mountains, rivers, and lakes. Located on the east side of Washington State, Spokane offers many options for outdoor enjoyment including hiking, boating and fishing, and several ski resorts within driving distance.

For more information on our mission, please visit: https://www.gonzaga.edu/about/our-mission-jesuit-values/mission-statement

Essential Functions:

• Teach the equivalent of 24 credits per academic year. The successful candidate will typically teach two sections of the department’s introductory course in comparative politics each semester and regularly offer our upper division survey of Latin American Politics and another course grounded in this region. The remaining teaching portfolio will be rounded out by additional courses required for the political science major and minor, along with courses aligned with the successful candidate's areas of expertise. 
• Support the department, university, community and discipline through service and other forms of academic citizenship.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Political Science or international equivalent (ABD will be considered if the degree will be conferred by July 31, 2027)
• Demonstrated specialization in Comparative Politics with a regional focus on Latin America
• Evidence of effectiveness in teaching undergraduate students from a variety of backgrounds, identities, and experiences, including those historically marginalized in higher education. Prior experience as an instructor of record is preferred but not required.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to Gonzaga's mission, including its emphasis on cura personalis (care for the whole person) and educating students for lives of leadership, justice, and service.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated expertise, ability, and willingness to teach in one or more of the following: comparative populist or other social movements; comparative electoral systems or party politics; decoloniality; migration and border politics; indigenous politics; comparative political economy; or other issues centering the experiences of the Global South.
• Ability and willingness to teach an introductory course on political inquiry and analysis as coverage needs arise.
• Ability and willingness to teach occasional courses in other subfields (e.g., International Relations, American Politics, Political Theory) as departmental needs require.
• Experience or interest in contributing to an interdisciplinary International Studies program.
• Experience advising and mentoring undergraduate students, and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a teaching-oriented department.

Educational Requirement:

Terminal Degree

Physical & On-Campus Requirements:

In-Office Presence - Ability to work on-site in typical office setting and participate in in-person meetings with colleagues: 5 days/week

Standing/Sitting - Ability to remain in a stationary position for a prolonged period: Often (50%-75% of time)

Walking - Ability to move about on foot to accomplish tasks: Rarely (1%-49% of time)

Lifting/Carrying - Ability to move or transport objects up to a specified weight: Rarely (1%-49% of time)

Attention to Detail - Ability to focus on detailed tasks for extended periods: Daily (>75% of time)

Problem-Solving - Ability to identify and resolve issues effectively: Daily (>75% of time)