Job Description

Associate or Full Professor & Department Head - Literature and Languages

Agency

East Texas A&M University

Department

Literature & Languages

Commensurate

Commerce, Texas

Faculty

East Texas A&M University invites nominations and applications for the position of Head of the Department of Literature and Languages. This senior leadership role includes a nine-month tenured faculty appointment with year-round administrative responsibilities. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for a vibrant and multifaceted department that includes doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate programs in English, Hispanic Studies, and Applied Linguistics, as well as specialized research laboratories, a student-run literary journal, and the university-wide Writing Program. The Head will champion excellence in teaching, research, and creative activity; support faculty and staff success; and foster partnerships that enhance the department’s visibility, impact, and engagement across the region.

Building on a strong foundation of nationally recognized faculty, robust graduate enrollment, and innovative academic programs, the next Head will have the opportunity to advance a shared vision for continued growth and distinction. With programs that enrich the educational experience of students across the university and a strong institutional commitment to the humanities and language studies, the department is well positioned for a leader who will strengthen collaboration, expand opportunities for students and faculty, and elevate the department’s regional and national profile.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the department's program portfolio within the first year to identify opportunities for innovation, strengthen course offerings, and enhance alignment with student interests and workforce needs
• Lead the development and execution of a departmental strategic plan that aligns with the University’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, building a unified, forward-looking vision grounded in the full range of the department's strengths.
• Advance a portfolio of academic programs that is distinctive, responsive, and well positioned to meet evolving student interests and workforce needs.
• Lead the effort to reimagine the undergraduate Hispanic Studies curriculum to emphasize applied, industry-ready bilingualism—positioning graduates for careers that require authentic Spanish-English proficiency in business, healthcare, government, education, and community sectors.
• Position the Writing Program and Writing Center as vital, university-wide assets, ensuring their strategic integration, instructional quality, and long-term sustainability across all delivery formats.
• Ensure the department's robust and high-quality role in core curriculum delivery, providing foundational instruction in writing, communication, and language that supports students on their pathway to college-level success.
• Lead curriculum development and program assessment in alignment with university standards, TSI-related policies, and professional expectations.
• Champion cross-unit collaborations that expand the Department's public presence, including initiatives such as contributing faculty expertise, student programming, and content leadership to KETR, East Texas A&M's NPR affiliate, in partnership with other College units.

Program Integration & Faculty Leadership

• Cultivate a strong, collaborative departmental community across all sub-disciplines (literary studies, linguistics, rhetoric, communication, Spanish, and digital humanities) by fostering shared governance, transparent decision-making, and a collective focus on strategic goals.
• Support faculty productivity, professional development, and scholarly/creative activity across all program areas, championing research as a source of departmental distinction and student opportunity.
• Manage faculty across multiple disciplinary areas, promoting a culture of collegiality, shared purpose, and academic excellence.
• Guide faculty in the continued evolution of academic programs and curricula, fostering collaboration, innovation, and shared ownership of departmental priorities.
• Foster alignment around strategic priorities and institutional initiatives through transparent communication, collaborative leadership, and thoughtful decision-making.
• Ensure academic quality and program innovation at undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, with particular attention to the health of doctoral programs that depend on sustained mentorship and placement success.
• Oversee faculty hiring, evaluation, promotion, and tenure processes in alignment with university policies.

Partnership & External Relations

• Develop purposeful interdisciplinary collaborations across the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts (CHSSA) and with other colleges—particularly the College of Business, the College of Innovation and Design, and the College of Education—to extend the department's reach and relevance.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with the Dean, Provost, President, fellow department heads, donors, alumni, and community and industry partners.
• Strengthen community, K-12, and industry partnerships, particularly in support of applied bilingualism initiatives, regional workforce development, and local high school dual-credit instruction.
• Position the department as a regional leader at the intersection of language science and technology, leveraging specialized research enterprises like the Applied Linguistics Laboratory and the Semantic Artificial Intelligence and Creativity Laboratory (SAICL).
• Activate and expand the alumni network across all program areas for mentorship, career connections, philanthropic support, and advancement.
• Enhance department visibility and reputation through strategic communications, student publications (such as The Mayo Review), research disclosures, and professional media engagement.
• Pursue external funding opportunities through corporate, individual, and foundation donor cultivation, as well as competitive grant writing.

Financial & Operational Management

• Manage the department budget strategically, developing and implementing a sustainable financial model that supports faculty excellence, graduate student funding, and program innovation across an expanded portfolio.
• Make data-informed decisions about resource allocation, graduate assistantship strategies, course staffing, and program investments to support departmental priorities and long-term growth.
• Implement transparent budget processes that engage faculty and help them understand the department's financial planning, resource allocation, and growth priorities.
• Oversee facilities, specialized research laboratories, and academic infrastructure housed in David Talbot Hall of Languages and applicable DFW-area sites.
• Maintain and enhance the department's physical and digital infrastructure in coordination with university facilities and information technology.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, state educational frameworks, and applicable academic accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate curriculum, scheduling, and faculty assignments across in-person, online, hybrid, and DFW site delivery formats.

Student Success & Enrollment Management

• Develop and implement strategic pathways that strengthen enrollment across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs while promoting student success and timely degree completion.
• Develop, staff, and sustain purposeful coursework and support structures that help students achieve Texas Success Initiative (TSI) certification and build a strong foundation for academic success.
• Strengthen and expand dual-credit offerings in partnership with regional high schools, creating seamless pathways to higher education and extending the department's impact across the region.
• Support student professional development and placement success through specialized laboratory research, graduate assistantships, student-run publications, internships, and industry connections.
• Oversee academic advising processes to ensure undergraduate and graduate students receive appropriate guidance and mentorship.
• Foster a supportive and engaging learning environment that promotes student access, persistence, completion, and career readiness.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Terminal degree (Ph.D.) in English, Applied Linguistics, Hispanic Studies, or a closely related field.
• Minimum two years of progressively responsible administrative experience as department head/chair, associate/assistant head, program director, coordinator, or equivalent in higher education.
• Record of building productive partnerships with academic units, K-12 institutions, or community/industry organizations.
• Proven student-focused initiatives with a commitment to access, persistence, and completion across the full arc of the student experience (from developmental coursework through graduate study).
• Understanding of and mutual respect for the range of disciplines represented in the department (literary studies, linguistics, rhetoric, communication, Spanish, and digital humanities); ability to value and integrate multiple approaches to scholarship and professional preparation.
• Proven track record of program assessment, managing complex operations, and making difficult programmatic or resource-allocation decisions based on evidence.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills combined with the demonstrated ability to lead through organizational change, build consensus, and unify faculty around shared goals.
• Commitment to shared governance, transparent decision-making, and faculty development/mentorship across disciplinary lines.
• Eligibility for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure.

PREFERRED EDUCATION / SKILLS/ EXPERIENCE:

• Prior experience as a department head, chair, or comparable academic administrator at a regional comprehensive or public R2 university.
• Experience leading program integration, consolidation, or curriculum restructuring efforts within a multi-disciplinary department.
• Track record of new graduate program development from concept through approval and launch, alongside experience supporting doctoral education, doctoral student placement, and graduate funding models.
• Familiarity with regional higher education ecosystems in Texas, including Texas Success Initiative (TSI) policies, developmental education frameworks, and dual-credit program administration.
• Experience developing applied language programs, bilingual workforce development initiatives, or curriculum revisions tailored to regional workforce needs.
• Professional connections or established partnerships with regional industries, school districts, or civic sectors demanding authentic Spanish-English bilingual competency.
• Understanding of creative, digital, and computational technologies—such as natural language processing, computational linguistics, or digital humanities—and their strategic integration with traditional humanistic inquiry.
• Experience developing interdisciplinary programs, tracks, or certificates involving multiple colleges or external professional programs (e.g., Business, Education).
• Grant writing experience and successful external funding/grant acquisition to support research, developmental education, or student success initiatives.
• Fundraising, advancement, and donor/alumni relations experience.
• Experience managing complex multi-program budgets and implementing transparent, data-informed resource allocation models.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS:

Full-time and part-time faculty, graduate teaching assistants, and staff.

NOMINATION/APPLICATION PROCESS:

The Search Committee Head will begin its review of applications on August 31, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. For priority consideration, all materials must be received by August 28, 2026. Zoom interviews are scheduled for September, with finalist campus visits planned for October 2026. Candidates for the position are asked to make themselves available for interviews during these times.

Application materials should include: (1) a letter of interest that addresses how the candidate’s experience and qualifications intersect with the priorities and desired leadership characteristics outlined in this profile; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references for future contact, including the professional relationship of each reference.

Applications must be submitted electronically through ETAMU

The starting date for the position is negotiable, but January 1, 2027 is not unwelcome.

The search committee will be chaired by Dr. Mark Menaldo, Associate Dean of the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts. Nominations should be provided to Dr. Menaldo by e-mail at Mark.Menaldo@etamu.edu and arrangements for a conversation about the opportunity may be made.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.