"Alerted.org

The University of Southern Maine’s (USM) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, beginning Fall 2026.

Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in sociology, criminology, or a closely related discipline by the time of appointment. We seek a scholar whose primary area of specialization is environmental sociology and/or green criminology. Secondary areas of interest include abolition, indigenous peoples and native nations, intersectionality, gender and sexuality, labor and migration, race and ethnicity, social theory and political economy, and qualitative methods.

Applicants are expected to have an established record of excellent and innovative undergraduate teaching, an active research program–ideally using qualitative or mixed methods– and a commitment to academic advising and university service. The teaching load is three courses but two preps per semester, with opportunities to teach during both summer and winter session

This is an in-person position based on our Portland campus. The teaching load is three courses but two preps per semester, with opportunities to teach during both summer and winter session. Responsibilities include undergraduate teaching, maintaining an active research agenda, student advising, supervision of internships, curriculum development, and departmental and university service.

About the USM Department of Sociology and Criminology:

The Department of Sociology (https://usm.maine.edu/sociology/) and Criminology (https://usm.maine.edu/department-criminology/) offers B.A. degrees in both disciplines. Formerly two separate departments, sociology and criminology are combining as one program in Fall 2025, and continuing a shared tradition of critical, interdisciplinary, and global-comparative inquiry. Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for work on abolition, drugs and society, sex work, gender and sexualities, green criminology, policing, social theory and surveillance. Our collective record of research productivity exceeds the expectations of a regional public university, and our faculty are deeply engaged with communities beyond the academy. We especially welcome applicants whose scholarship is rooted in, and accountable to, grassroots movements for collective liberation.

Both programs offer a liberal arts education grounded in the analysis of how social structures shape human behavior. We understand the liberal arts not as a static canon, but as a vital framework for interpreting and changing the world. Our rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum invites students to examine power, inequality, and collective struggle across time and place. In doing so, we prepare students to think critically, act ethically, and imagine alternatives to the intersecting crises of our era—ecological devastation, extreme inequality, rising authoritarianism, and systemic violence. We seek a colleague who will contribute to this mission by fostering the intellectual capacities our students need to build a more just and sustainable world.

About the University:

The University of Southern Maine (https://usm.maine.edu/) is a vibrant academic community located in the greater Portland, Maine area, including campuses in Portland, Gorham, Lewiston, and online. USM is part of the University of Maine System and offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs, emphasizing hands-on learning, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. With a highly engaged student-centered learning environment, USM is a steward of higher education, helping drive the economic, cultural, and civic life in the communities where our campuses are located and beyond. USM is committed to providing expanded access to high-quality education that elevates economic opportunity and contributes significantly to the vitality of a diverse society. To learn more about USM, visit About Our University (https://usm.maine.edu/about-our-university/) .

The University of Southern Maine fosters a welcoming and supportive campus environment that respects and appreciates varied perspectives, enhancing teaching, learning, personal growth, and overall institutional achievement. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our dedication to academic excellence and the enrichment of our community.

We are dedicated to our Service Promise, Student Focused Every Day and seek a team member who embraces this commitment and upholds our core values of Respect & Care, Integrity, Equity, and Responsiveness.

The targeted starting date for this position is Fall 2026 and will pay a base salary of $60,000 plus benefits. Candidates must reside within commutable distances from the USM campuses. This requirement is essential for the ability to participate in supporting and building upon our university culture of "student focused every day" and allows for regular participation in on-campus activities, meetings, and fulfills the responsibilities of the role effectively.

The University of Southern Maine provides highly competitive benefits (https://usm.maine.edu/campus-human-resource-services/benefits-and-wellness/#xd\_co\_f=OTZlMjgzOTAtNWZlOS00NDI4LWI0ZTMtNThjMGVjNDRkOTA3~) that include health, dental and vision insurance; life insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance; a tuition waiver program for employees and tuition discounts for spouses and eligible dependents; a 403(b)-retirement plan with 10% employer contribution; and more. To learn more, please review the Benefits Information Summary (https://usm.maine.edu/campus-human-resource-services/wp-content/uploads/sites/235/2022/07/Single-Page-Benefits-AFUM.pdf) .

Required Qualifications:

+ Ph.D. in sociology, criminology, or related discipline at the time of appointment.

+ Evidence of effective teaching.

+ Active scholarly agenda leading to peer-reviewed publications.

+ Effective written and oral communication skills.

+ Commitment to student engagement, advising, and mentorship.

+ Collegial, team-oriented approach to academic collaboration.

How to Apply:

Please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button at the bottom of this page or at USM Careers (https://fa-ewca-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX\_1/jobs?lastSelectedFacet=ORGANIZATIONS&mode=location&selectedOrganizationsFacet=300000014113625) and submit the following materials:

+ Comprehensive letter of interest which includes:

+ Your interest in USM and this position.

+ Your teaching philosophy, relevant experience, and undergraduate courses you could teach/develop, and any evidence of teaching effectiveness.

+ Your research interests, accomplishments, and future goals.

+ How your teaching and research will contribute to the university’s commitment to building a team of leaders, faculty, and student experiences.

+ Resume/curriculum vitae, which fully describes your qualifications and experiences with specific reference to the required qualifications.

+ Names and contact information for at least three professional references.

We will examine candidate packages on an ongoing basis as they are submitted.

All required materials must be submitted by September 21, 2025.

Appropriate background screening will be conducted for the successful candidate.

At this time, the University of Southern Maine is unable to consider applicants who require Visa sponsorship support.

Clery Act:

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, such as the University, prepare, publish, and distribute an Annual Security Report (ASR), and provide notice of the availability of the ASR to all prospective employees. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three calendar years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. View the University’s Annual Security Report (PDF) (https://usm.maine.edu/public-safety/annual-security-and-fire-safety-report/) . If you wish to have a paper copy of the ASR or need to have a copy of the ASR in an accessible format, the University will provide such a copy upon request. Please contact our Public Safety Office at 207.780.5211.

EEO Statement:

The University of Southern Maine is an EEO/AA employer and is committed to nondiscrimination. For inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207-581-1226. TTY 711 (Maine Relay System)