Assistant, Associate or Senior Academic Specialist

About The Opportunity

The College of Social Sciences and Humanities and its nine tenure units are the home of the Experiential Liberal Arts. Through its research, teaching, and engagement missions, the college collaborates across the university, the Northeastern network, and partners around the globe. We are strongly committed to fostering excellence through diversity and enthusiastically welcome nominations and applications from members of groups underrepresented in academia. Successful faculty in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities will be dynamic and innovative scholars with a record of research and teaching excellence and a commitment to improved equity, diversity, and inclusion. Strong candidates for this position will have the expertise, knowledge, and skills to build their research, pedagogy, and curriculum in ways that reflect and enhance this commitment.

The mission of the American Sign Language (ASL) & Interpreting Education program at Northeastern is to instill awareness about Deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind people’s rich contributions to our diverse, multi-cultural, multi-lingual society, and to prepare students for careers in sign language interpreting or in related professions, where their linguistic and cultural knowledge, and professional skills will advance social equity and resilience in the American Deaf Community. The program is nationally accredited by the Commission Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE). It is housed in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, which is a leader in the Experiential Liberal Arts (www.northeastern.edu/cssh/about/deans-welcome). Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a dynamic and highly selective urban research university in the center of Boston. Grounded in its signature co-op program, Northeastern provides unprecedented global experiential learning opportunities.

Responsibilities

The American Sign Language & Interpreting Education (ASLIE) Program of Northeastern University invites applications for a full-time Assistant, Associate, or Senior Academic Specialist starting August 19, 2024. This is a benefits-eligible, non-tenure track academic year teaching appointment that is renewable. There is rich opportunity to contribute to our nationally recognized interpreting program through progressive pedagogy, a lens of interpreting as social justice, promotion of ASL and Deaf cultural studies, and our commitment to community engagement through experiential learning.

The full-time position involves teaching six classes per academic year in the areas of ASL-English interpretation and translation skills courses, interpreting practice, ethical decision-making, and/or ASL, Deaf studies, and sign language (ASL) linguistics. Faculty will contribute to Deaf community and stakeholder engagement, curriculum planning, student recruitment, and fieldwork practicum relationships, as well as serve on committees and pursue professional development. Interpretation & Translation faculty apply their knowledge of interpreting pedagogy and assessment, and scholarly advancements in the discipline to teach interpreting theory and skills-specific content across varied interpreting courses; they also maintain professional interpreting credentials and practice to connect practical skills with teaching and research. Faculty apply knowledge of multi-cultural studies, sign linguistics, and theories of social and racial equity to teaching approaches. There is an established promotion ladder from Assistant to Associate to Full Teaching Professor and opportunity for multi-year contracts.

Qualifications

• At the time of appointment, candidates must have a minimum of a master’s degree in Interpretation/translation, American Sign Language, Linguistics, Deaf Studies or a related field.
• Applicants should have ASL proficiency equivalent to level 4 or higher on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview.
• Preferred candidates will have evidence of teaching excellence and contributions to sign language interpreting studies, ASL second language learning and assessment, sign language linguistics, and/or Deaf Studies.
• Experience with multicultural curriculum design is a plus.
• Certification by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and/or the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) is preferred.
• Proficiency with academic learning management systems such as Canvas or Blackboard and other sign language teaching technology (i.e., GoReact) is desired.
• The College is deeply committed to fostering excellence through diversity and welcomes nominations and applications from members of groups underrepresented in academia.
• Candidates who have native or near-native fluency in ASL and/or who are Deaf are strongly encouraged to apply.
  
  
  

Documents To Submit

Applicants should submit a letter of interest; a curriculum vita; 3 references/recommendation letters, diversity statement and a brief (1-2 page) statement of teaching philosophy, including a description of training and experience in teaching interpreting, translation, ASL, and/or sign language linguistics. Please note any background in online teaching, community engagement and service learning, research, and familiarity with digital media used in teaching sign language and interpreting.

In the diversity statement, please describe how you can support Northeastern’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Describe how your teaching, service, research, and/or leadership (as applicable) has supported the success of students and/or colleagues; and/or describe the impact others have had on you as relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Please address nominations and inquiries about the position to Lori Whynot at l.whynot@northeastern.edu

For information about the ASL & Interpreting Education program, please see https://cssh.northeastern.edu/asl/

Position Type

Academic

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.