Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice

Job Summary

This is a nine-month, tenure-track faculty appointment requiring regular on-campus presence to fulfill teaching, research, advising, service, and departmental responsibilities. The position encourages active engagement in scholarly research, externally funded projects, proposal development, grant management, and community or agency partnerships.

Special Note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.

Essential Job Functions

Teaching:

• The successful candidate will develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Criminal Justice, with particular emphasis on homeland security and emergency management.
• Teaching responsibilities may also include courses in criminal justice policy, security studies, law enforcement, corrections, cybersecurity, research methods, or other areas consistent with the candidate’s expertise and departmental needs.
• The candidate will be expected to provide high-quality instruction, academic advising, and mentorship to students in both face-to-face and online learning environments.
• The Department values innovative, student-centered teaching practices that promote critical thinking, professional development, applied learning, and academic success.
  

Service:

• The successful candidate will contribute to the service needs of the Department, College, University, and profession. Service responsibilities may include committee work, curriculum development, assessment and accreditation-related activities, student recruitment and retention, community engagement, professional service, and participation in academic governance.
• The candidate will also be expected to support departmental outreach efforts and represent the Department of Criminal Justice at university, community, and professional events.
  

Research:

• The successful candidate will be expected to establish and maintain an active research agenda in criminal justice, homeland security, emergency management, security studies, or a closely related area.
• Expectations include publishing in peer-reviewed scholarly outlets, presenting research at professional conferences, pursuing internally and/or externally funded research opportunities, and contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field.
• The Department especially welcomes candidates whose research has applied, interdisciplinary, policy-relevant, or community-engaged dimensions. Opportunities may exist to collaborate with faculty across disciplines and to build partnerships with local, state, federal, and community-based agencies.
  

Minimum and Desired Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• An earned Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Sociology, Public Administration, Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Security Studies, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
• Candidates currently holding the rank of Associate Professor who seek appointments at the same rank must have a record of teaching, scholarship, and service that meets the Lamar University Department of Criminal Justice’s standards for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor.
  
• A demonstrated academic focus or research/teaching expertise in homeland security, emergency management, security studies, or a closely related area.
• Demonstrated potential for effective teaching, advising, and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.
• Evidence of scholarly productivity or strong potential for an active research agenda.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated potential for interdisciplinary teaching, research, applied collaboration, or professional engagement.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience teaching in face-to-face and/or online environments.
• Ability to teach courses in homeland security, emergency management, security studies, criminal justice policy, cybersecurity, or related areas.
• Ability to teach and support undergraduate and graduate Criminal Justice programs.
• Experience mentoring students.
• Evidence of scholarly activity, including publications, research, or grant development.
• Experience integrating technology into teaching, research, or practice.
• Experience working with criminal justice, public safety, homeland security, emergency management, or community organizations.
• Ability to support interdisciplinary research and partnerships.

Supplemental Information

Key Competencies:

• Ability to teach undergraduate and graduate Criminal Justice courses.
• Expertise in homeland security, emergency management, security studies, or arelated field.
  
• Commitment to student learning, mentoring and advising.
  
• Potential for a productive research agenda and scholarly activity.
  
• Strong oral and written communication skills
  
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues, students, practitioners, and communitypartners.
  
• Commitment to service, curriculum development, and program growth.
  
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary academic environment.
  

Physical Requirements: Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, including occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds and movement between classrooms, laboratories, offices, and field locations.

Job Conditions: Work is primarily performed in classroom, office, online instructional, and meeting settings, with occasional community, professional, or field-based activities. The position may involve evening, weekend, or travel commitments related to teaching, research, student support, recruitment, outreach, professional conferences, or service activities.

Pay Range: Commensurate

Required Documents: These documents are required for your application to be considered complete.

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vita
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Research statement
• Contact information for three professional references
• Unofficial graduate transcripts
• Three Recommendation Letters

Finalists for this position are subject to a criminal history background check, employment history check, and off-list reference checks. Applicants are required to sign an authorization for release of prior employment records to Lamar University. We will only contact prior employers and off-list references for finalists.

Who We Are:
Home to more than 18,000 students, Lamar University is among the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities. LU is a member of The Texas State University System, which is the first higher education system of Texas and maintains the lowest average tuition and fees of any university system in Texas. With more than 120-degree options and a community that cares, Lamar students are always proud to be Cardinals. Lamar University strives to educate leaders, demonstrate excellence in student learning and career readiness, and pursue research with relevance.

Lamar University is committed to fostering an environment of teamwork where all students, faculty, and staff can learn, work, and become a part of our community.

Benefits:

• Health, dental & vision insurance
• Life insurance
• State of Texas Retirement plans
• Tuition covered at 100% for employees, spouses and/or eligible dependents
• Paid time off – vacation, sick, and holidays

To see more information about the available benefits, please visit: Benefits - Lamar University

Lamar University is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Lamar University is proud to provide employment preference to veteran applicants in accordance with Texas 805 Government Code, Section 657.003.

This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.