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
The Department of Sociology at the University of Michigan is one of the premier sociology departments in the world. The goals of the undergraduate program are to instruct students about the value of recognizing and understanding social difference, to help them acquire different ways of thinking about the world and to provide theoretical and empirical frameworks for understanding social institutions and processes of social change. A major hallmark of the department's curriculum is the opportunities we provide our students to connect their classroom work to practical experience.
The Department has developed a program for first-generation college students majoring in Sociology-- Sociology Opportunities for Undergraduate Leaders (SOUL). All program participants will be required to participate in a 2-credit core course each semester of their first year in the program (taught by this Lecturer). The core course is also based on research that finds that when first-generation students are provided with an educational experience designed to help them understand how their differences shape their experience in college (and in life), they are better able to overcome background-specific obstacles to success. In Sociology, we are uniquely positioned to provide this kind of educational experience, as one of the central orienting themes of the discipline is the study of the causes and consequences of inequality. The core class has been designed to situate students' individual experiences in a broader social context, emphasizing research and theory on social stratification and the unique challenges of class mobility. In the second semester of the program, students will also devote credit hours to working on a project for the BLI Capstone Experience. For more information, please take a look at the SOUL website - https://lsa.umich.edu/soc/undergraduates/SOUL.html.
The lecturer will teach one SOUL course (33.33%) and an additional Sociology course (33.33%) each semester based on departmental needs. This is not a tenure-track position. Criteria for renewal are classroom teaching, participation in curriculum development, program activities, and pedagogical research, with classroom teaching receiving the greatest weight.
Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
Responsibilities*
The position will teach two courses in Winter 2026. One course each semester will be Sociology 397/398 (Sociology Opportunities for Undergraduate Leaders). The instructor will continue to develop the academic curriculum for the program to support first-gen students in order to provide a sociological lens on issues of class stratification and social mobility. The second course each term will be assigned in consultation with the Associate Chair.
In addition to teaching responsibilities, the instructor will oversee any course Graduate Student Instructor(s), if applicable; hold office hours for students; do course planning and grading; and provide appropriate syllabus and course materials electronically.
Required Qualifications*
- Ph.D. in Sociology or a related field
- Demonstrated understanding of the research surrounding first-generation college students and successful interventions.
- Experience working with a variety of culturally and ethnically diverse populations.
- Experience with curriculum development and teaching courses in Sociology.
Desired Qualifications*
- Experience serving as an Instructor of Record for Sociology course(s) with excellent teaching evaluations.
- Experience with teaching courses devoted to supporting the development of first-generation college students utilizing successful interventions.
- The successful candidate must have cutting edge and contemporary knowledge and experience in research and teaching in the field.
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
This position is interdependent with the posting for the SOUL Director (Academic and/or Research Program Officer Associate) posting. Candidates must apply to both job postings to be considered for both positions. Effort for the Director of Sociology Opportunities for Undergraduate Leaders appointment is anticipated to be 33.33% during the 8-month academic year.
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.
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 opening has been filled. Appointment subject to final approval.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.