Assistant Professor in Migration, Development, & Humanitarianism
Department: CAS Geography
Part/Full Time: Full Time
Advertised Salary Range: We offer a competitive salary and benefits package.
About UofSC
From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.
Advertised Job Summary
The Department of Geography and the Global Studies program in the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Carolina invites applications for a full-time, nine-month tenure-track jointly-appointed faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Migration, Development, and Humanitarianism to begin August 16, 2027.
We seek a geographer whose work addresses the intersection of migration crises, human development, and humanitarian responses to migration through a critical lens that incorporates comparative and/or global policies and that intersects with the practices comprising the international refugee regime and the long-term development impacts of migration management strategies. The ideal candidate will have a primary focus on current migration streams and migration management practices. We seek candidates who can teach classes on relevant, conceptually driven topics and research methods and whose established publication records draw from fieldwork experience. As a joint-appointment, this candidate will contribute to the interdisciplinary research and teaching in the Walker Institute, as well as achieving a tenurable record in the disciplinary home department of Geography. The person hired will be expected to make substantive service contributions and/or leadership for the Migration Lab in the Walker Institute, as well as related programming, conferences, and collective research initiatives in the Institute.
Regular teaching duties are two courses per semester, which are likely to include: GLST 101 Global Studies: Context, Connection, and Change; GLST 300 International Development; GEOG/GLST 305 Global Migration; GEOG/GLST 380 Global Human Rights; and other courses assigned by the two units. Successful candidates will have demonstrated potential to mentor both undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to a positive record of other meaningful service in both units.
The Department of Geography currently comprises nineteen tenured/tenure-track faculty and one full-time instructor. Faculty research interests span resource politics, environmental hazards, human rights, coastal geomorphology, energy geographies, health, GIS and remote sensing, biogeography, migration, and climate change, with collaborations across the college, university, and beyond. In addition, the Department faculty lead several institutes and centers including the Hazards, Vulnerability and Resilience Institute (HVRI), Walker Institute of International and Area Studies, and the Center for GIScience and Geospatial Big Data. The Department offers PhD, MS, MA, BS, and BA degrees. For more information about the Department of Geography, please visit https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/geography.
The Walker Institute of International and Area Studies has been bringing the world to Carolina for over 60 years. The Institute supports international research, teaching, and programming on our campus and in our community. Our mission is sustained by 200 faculty associates from the College of Arts and Sciences and across our campus. The Walker Institute offers an interdisciplinary B.A. in Global Studies, a B.S. in Cyber Policy and Ethics, and minors in seven area studies programs. For more information about the Walker Institute, please visit our website at http://walkerinstitute.sc.edu.
Required Education and Experience
- PhD in Geography by the employment start date.
- Demonstrated publication record and effective teaching in the Geography of migration, development, and human rights.
- Demonstrated potential for effective interdisciplinary teaching in and service to the Global Studies program.
Preferred Qualifications
- PhD in Geography by the employment start date.
- Demonstrated publication record and effective teaching in the Geography of migration, development, and human rights.
- Demonstrated potential for effective interdisciplinary teaching in and service to the Global Studies program.
Special Instructions to Applicant
Applications must include: (1) a cover letter describing the candidate's interest in the position and how they meet the required qualifications; (2) a statement of the candidate's research program; (3) a summary of teaching and mentoring philosophy and experience; (4) a curriculum vitae; and (5) the names and email addresses of three professional references.
Professional references will be contacted directly by the Chair of the Search Committee, and letters will be requested on the candidate's behalf at that time. Review of applications will begin December 15, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Inquiries about this position may be directed to Dr. Carl T. Dahlman at carl.dahlman@sc.edu.
Positions are advertised for a minimum of forty-five (45) days on our job website. After forty-five (45) days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This position is open until filled. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
Benefits
The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
- Health and Life Insurance
- Retirement Programs
- Paid Tuition
- Dependent Scholarships
- Annual Leave
- Sick Leave
- 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
- Paid Parental Leave
- Professional Development Opportunities
Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.
To apply, please visit: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/214857