How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your CV. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Job Summary
This position is part of a larger research project intended to rethink how universities offer sexual misconduct prevention education. The project seeks to integrate sexual assault prevention work into the academic curriculum of the university. It involves the introduction of a half-semester (7-week) course during the first year of college jointly offered by the School of Social Work and Department of Sociology based on the sexual citizenship curriculum created by Columbia's Sexual Health Initiative to Foster Transformation (SHIFT).
Because the evidence base for thinking about sexual assault prevention in this way is so limited, the course will be introduced as part of a randomized experiment to assess the long-term impact of the class on undergraduate experiences with sex and sexual assault. First-year students will be randomly recruited and incentivized to take the course and will be surveyed every semester for the remainder of their time at Michigan. We will also survey an equal number of students in a control group who participate in the more conventional prevention programming at Michigan. The study is designed to measure whether there are any significant effects from teaching students about sexual citizenship and comprehensive sex education.
Because the course is linked to a larger research project, the syllabus and materials for all seven weeks have been developed and curated through collaboration among various experts in the field. The lecturer will be part of a teaching team that will include one to two other lecturers teaching the same material. Each class will include a weekly lecture and two discussion sessions. Peer facilitators trained by the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) will assist the lecturer with discussions.
This position is not tenure-track. The criteria for renewal include classroom teaching, participation in curriculum development, and involvement in program activities, with the greatest emphasis on classroom teaching.
Mission Statement
- Creating a work environment in which people treat each other with respect and dignity, regardless of roles, responsibilities, or differences.
- Providing support, direction, and resources enables us to accomplish the responsibilities of our jobs and reach the goals that are set for professional and personal growth.
Course Description
The syllabus provides students with a comprehensive understanding of sexual citizenship, emphasizing the intersections of power, identity, and social responsibility. Students will critically analyze how sexual norms, policies, and practices shape individual and collective experiences and will explore strategies to reduce sexual misconduct on college campuses while fostering healthy relationships and informed sexual agency.
Throughout the course, students will examine key dimensions of sexual citizenship, including sexual projects, consent, institutional policies, and social geographies of sex. They will critically analyze factors influencing campus sexual misconduct, such as gender, sexuality, race, culture, and power dynamics. Students will engage with contemporary research on sexual ethics, comprehensive sex education, and community-based interventions.
The course strongly emphasizes community action and social change. Students will engage in collaborative projects designed to create safer, more inclusive environments on college campuses. They will examine strategies for addressing the root causes of sexual violence, develop practical skills for bystander intervention, and participate in discussions about restorative justice approaches for survivors and communities.
Additionally, the course will foster an understanding of intersectionality in sexual health and rights, considering the experiences of marginalized communities and advocating for equity and inclusion. Students will analyze how systems of oppression shape sexual experiences and access to resources, emphasizing advocacy and policy change as mechanisms for social transformation.
By the end of the course, students will have the knowledge, skills, and motivation to actively contribute to reducing sexual misconduct, fostering healthy relationships, and promoting sexual citizenship in their communities and beyond.
Responsibilities*
The position, developed in consultation with the Sexual Citizen project team, will teach three half-semester courses in the first seven weeks and three half-semester courses in the second seven weeks of Fall 2025, with the same teaching assignment in the Winter of 2026. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, the instructor will oversee SAPAC Peer Facilitators involved in the course; hold office hours for students; conduct course planning and grading; and provide the appropriate syllabus and course materials electronically.
Required Qualifications*
- Ph.D. in Sociology, Women/Gender Studies or related field; or M.S.W. or other graduate-level degree in Sociology, Women/Gender studies, or another mental health or medical-related professional degree.
- Experience teaching courses on Sexual Citizenship, Sociology of Gender and Sexuality, sex education, relationship and sexual violence prevention, sexuality and healthy relationships and related subjects.
- The successful candidate must have cutting-edge and contemporary knowledge and experience in research and teaching in the field.
Desired Qualifications*
- American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) Certification .
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
Salary is expected to be $59,000, reflecting 100% effort for 8 months.
Union Affiliation
This position is covered under the collective bargaining agreement between the U-M and the Lecturers Employee Organization, AFL-CIO, which contains and settles all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to do so. The checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
The application deadline will be June 1, 2025.
Selection Process
Review of candidates will continue until the position is filled. Only complete application packets will be reviewed. The hiring decision will be announced within fourteen (14) days after the opening has been filled. Appointment is subject to final approval.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.