The School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership (SCETL) at Arizona State University invites applications for a full-time, in-person, benefits-eligible Instructor or Senior Instructor position in our scholarly track of American constitutional thought with an anticipated start date in August 2027. This is a fixed-term, academic year (nine month) appointment with no tenure implications. Subsequent academic year renewals (Aug. 16 to May 15) are contingent upon performance, availability of resources, and the needs of the unit. Candidates’ primary teaching obligation would be SCETL’s signature course “Great Debates in American Constitutionalism and Politics.” This course heavily focuses on the American Founding and American constitutional institutions (e.g. federalism, the separation of powers) and we are proud to fulfill the Arizona Board of Regents requirement for a course in American Institutions to help understand and appreciate American constitutional principles. There will also be opportunity for additional relevant upper-division courses in American constitutionalism, American constitutional history, or American civic thought, or civic thought more broadly. We would particularly welcome candidates who could supplement current department strengths by teaching courses on the American Founding, the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, Montesquieu, Religion and the American Civic Tradition, American Civil-Military Relations, the American Way or War (American military history), the Bible and Civic Thought, or the political thought of CS Lewis.
U.S. News and World Report has repeatedly ranked Arizona State University (ASU) as the most innovative university in the country ahead of Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute for Technology. Contributing to that no. 1 ranking is the School of Civic & Economic Thought and Leadership, which aims to create a new kind of leader by blending tradition and innovation, blending liberal arts and civic education. SCETL plays a leading role in the intellectual and civic life of ASU and the various communities that it serves. Because the academic mission of the School is to renew the nexus of classical liberal arts education and American civic education in a leading public university, the School’s courses aim to prepare thoughtful citizens and civic leaders for America’s constitutional republic, in civil society or public affairs, regarding domestic and international realities.
The School of Civic & Economic Thought and Leadership (SCETL), entering its ninth year, is a growing academic and civic enterprise with two undergraduate majors and a minor, undergraduate certificates in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) and Great Books in Political Thought, and two M.A. degrees in Classical Liberal Education & Civic Leadership and War & Strategy. The M.A. in War & Strategy launched in 2026 to serve the Department of Defense's Strategic Thinkers Program, a premier graduate-level initiative that prepares select mid-career officers and civilians for senior leadership in national security and defense strategy. The School also hosts an ambitious speakers' program – the Civic Discourse Project – and two Centers for research and public outreach. The Center for American Civics focuses on civic education, especially American political and constitutional thought, for a broad public and for higher education and particularly for K-12 schools. The Center for the Study of Economic Liberty pursues national and international research on economic thought, debates about markets, and policies affecting economic liberty. Additionally, the School supports the Mercy Otis Warren Initiative for Women in Civic Life and Thought, an initiative that seeks to draw attention to and support female thinkers who value and work within the expansive canon of Western social and political thought. See https://scetl.asu.edu/ for more information about the School.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of Arizona State University, committed to improving communities on a local, national, and global scale. We support the professional development and growth of our faculty and staff in their cutting-edge research to advance these aims. Within The College, our faculty engage with a large, curious student body, guiding them as they grow into socially aware, critical thinkers and writers able to succeed in a wide range of careers and to address the challenges of the twenty-first century. Advancing the success of our students remains our top priority. To learn more about The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, please visit https://thecollege.asu.edu.
ASU exemplifies a new prototype for the American public research university. As articulated in the ASU Charter, ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural, and overall health of the communities it serves.
The application deadline is October 19, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled.
Candidates will be asked to create or use an existing Interfolio Dossier to submit the following application materials:
Applicant’s last name should appear in each uploaded file name. Questions about the position should be directed to the search committee chair at: William.Anthony.Hay@asu.edu.
A background check is required for employment. Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. ASU’s full nondiscrimination statement (ACD 401) is located on the ASU website at https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX.
In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.
A background check is required for employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.
See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.
In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.
