repulsively The Department Chair has administrative, teaching, and scholarship responsibilities and assumes leadership of the department. The chairperson will be responsible for helping to recruit and maintain majors, supporting student and faculty success, and advocating on behalf of the faculty, among other administrative duties, including budget and supervision of department staff members. The Department Chair typically teaches one course per semester while serving as chair. The salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. The Search Committee encourages candidates at the rank of Associate or Full Professor from all specializations in Sociology to apply for the position. 

The successful candidate will have:

• A PhD in Sociology
• A strong record in scholarship, undergraduate teaching, and service that is consistent with the missions of the Department, the College of Arts and Sciences, and Appalachian State University 
• Evidence of academic administrative ability and effectiveness
• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated commitment to leadership, faculty governance, and mentorship
• A demonstrated competency working with colleagues across the university as well as external constituents and communities.

Applicants must submit the following documents:

1. A cover letter/letter of interest addressing the candidate’s qualifications for the position with descriptions of research, teaching, and leadership experience;
2. A curriculum vita;
3. Statement of leadership philosophy;
4. A sample of published work; 
5. A sample syllabus; and 
6. The names of three professional references with contact information.

Review of applications will start December 1, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. 

The Department’s 21 full-time faculty members (16 tenure-track) serve approximately 175 undergraduate majors in BA and BS degree programs. The Department also offers minors in sociology and health and aging. We are a community of teacher-scholars who emphasize scaffolded training in sociological concepts, theory, and research, as well as application of disciplinary knowledge to inform social change and to promote individual and societal well-being. Additional information about the Department of Sociology is located at https://soc.appstate.edu.

For questions or more information about the position in the Department of Sociology at Appalachian State University, please contact Dr. Matthew Wright, Search Committee Chair, by telephone at (828) 262-6390 or by email at wrightmr@appstate.edu.

Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.