Description

The Department of Political Science seeks applicants for a 10-month, tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank to support the department’s Public Administration programs (Master’s and Doctoral). The selected candidate will be responsible for teaching courses in the candidate’s area of expertise, maintaining scholarly productivity, and participating in service at the department, college, and university levels. Those interested in serving as the DPA Program Coordinator are particularly encouraged to apply.

The Political Science Department is housed in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences which has more than 90 faculty (full-time and part-time) and half a dozen staff members committed to academic success across six academic departments and three interdisciplinary programs. The Political Science Department is home to four degree programs (Political Science B.A., Organizational Leadership B.S., master’s in Public Administration, and doctorate in Public Administration, D.P.A.), 15 full-time faculty, and more than 500 students. The department is a campus leader with applied research and experiential learning, and works closely with VSU’s Center for South Georgia Regional Impact. Our faculty are experts in their respective fields and boast an impressive record of supporting student success. Faculty teach online and in-person courses and scheduling varies based on departmental needs.   

Online application is required. For full consideration, completed applications must be submitted by November 10, 2025.  For more information contact Dr. Joseph Robbins, Head, via email at jwrobbins@valdosta.edu or phone 229-333-5771. 

Application materials should include: 

• CV
• Cover Letter
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Statement of current and future research
•  Transcripts (unofficial)
• List of three professional references (to include phone number and email address)

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Teaching, maintaining scholarly productivity, and participating in service at the department, college, and university levels. The standard teaching load is 3 courses per semester if a faculty member is only teaching graduate courses; otherwise, the standard teaching load is 4 courses per semester. Primary teaching responsibility will be in the Public Administration programs. The ideal candidate will teach courses in Nonprofit Management, Research Methods, and other courses relevant to the candidate's expertise. Course delivery is primarily on-line although F2F instruction will also be required. The position could have secondary teaching responsibilities in the undergraduate Political Science or Organizational Leadership programs. Opportunities to lead community-based research or applied research projects through the university's Center for South Georgia Regional Impact are also available.

Valdosta State University, founded in 1906, is a comprehensive university with a student enrollment of approximately 10,200. The city of Valdosta is located just north of the Florida state line on Interstate 75, is served by a regional airport, and is within a two-hour drive of Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida. For more information, visit https://www.valdosta.edu, and for more information about the community visit https://www.valdostachamber.com.    

Valdosta State University is an equal opportunity educational institution. It is not the intent of the institution to discriminate against any applicant for admission or any student or employee of the institution based on the age, sex, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation of the individual.

USG Core Values Statement 

The University System of Georgia is comprised of 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values are the foundation for all we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.      

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression, as stated in Board Policy 6.5, Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom, which can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, or closely related field by appointment date; 
• Teaching experience in Public Administration and/or Public Policy; 
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and learning as illustrated by a record of effective teaching appropriate to the applicant’s career stage; 
• Record of scholarship appropriate to rank and discipline.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Ability to teach Nonprofit Management, Research Methods, and other Public Administration courses;
• Experience teaching in and managing online programs; 
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative setting; 
• A record of mentoring students.