Assistant Professor of Geography, Environment, Sustainability, and Environmental Studies bei Richmond

The Department of Geography, Environment, & Sustainability, and the Environmental Studies Program in the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Richmond (UR) invites applicants for a full-time tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Candidates for this Economic Geography position should have expertise in ecological economics with research and teaching centered around the spatial challenges and opportunities of integrating economic activity, ecosystems, and human well-being for a sustainable future.  The ideal candidate will investigate topics such as circular economies, ecosystem services, ecological limits to growth, alternative economic models, wellbeing economy, social ecological economics, and the relationships between economic systems and natural ecosystems. We encourage innovative approaches to teaching that foreground geospatial methodologies and engage students in the integration of economy, environment, and social well-being.

This position will further strengthen a close working relationship between the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability (https://geography.richmond.edu/)  and the interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Program (https://environmental.richmond.edu/). The successful applicant will be appointed in the Department of Geography, Environment and Sustainability.  The department emphasizes engaged teaching, applied research, and close mentorship to further our students’ exploration and understanding of cultural, bio-physical, and geospatial environments, and their interactions and transformations, thereby empowering our students to shape a just and sustainable world.  The position also contributes to the Environmental Studies Program which offers a highly interdisciplinary major and minor that explore the interactions between human societies and the environments in which we exist.  Both programs work closely with a dynamic Office for Sustainability (https://sustainability.richmond.edu/) and other initiatives contributing to our status as a top 50 Green College.  The University of Richmond is also home to the highly regarded Robins School of Business (https://robins.richmond.edu/) and is a leader in both global (https://international.richmond.edu/) and local engagement (https://engage.richmond.edu).

Candidates will be expected to teach at least one section of an Economic Geography/Ecological Economics course that would fulfill the Economics requirement for the Environmental Studies major, and three Geography and/or Sustainability courses per year. A fifth course and/or at least one of the Geography and/or Sustainability courses must count toward the Environmental Studies major. 

Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in Geography, Ecological Economics, or a related field by the time of appointment.

Applicants should apply online at http://jobs.richmond.edu  and submit a curriculum vitae, a cover letter, a research statement, and a teaching statement.  The research statement should expand on the candidate’s research agenda and how it complements existing departmental, programmatic, and institutional strengths and strategies.  The teaching statement should demonstrate teaching experience and a clear, well-articulated teaching philosophy centered on active learning, student engagement, and inclusive pedagogy in economic geography/ecological economics.  Cover letter and statements should demonstrate sensitivity to the University of Richmond’s strategic priorities and the mission statements of the Department of Geography and the Environment and the Environmental Studies Program.

Candidates for this position may be asked, at a later date, to provide student evaluations of instruction, academic transcripts, and the names and contact information for three references who will be asked to submit letters of recommendation. Review of applications will commence on September 1, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Please contact Dr. Mary Finley-Brook, [email protected], with any questions.

The University of Richmond is a private university located just a short drive from downtown Richmond, Virginia. Through its five schools and wide array of campus programming, the University combines the best qualities of a small liberal arts college and a large university. With approximately 4,000 students, an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and more than 90% of traditional undergraduate students living on campus, the University is remarkably student-centered.

The mission of the University of Richmond is to educate in an academically challenging, intellectually vibrant, and collaborative community dedicated to the holistic development of students and the production of scholarly and creative work. A Richmond education prepares students for lives of purpose, thoughtful inquiry, and responsible leadership in a diverse world. The University of Richmond’s strategic priorities are academic excellence, belonging and community, access and affordability, well-being, and experiential learning and community engagement. The University seeks to model a relentlessly welcoming and inclusive campus community that values the expression of difference in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development, and institutional success. Our academic community strongly encourages applications that are in keeping with this commitment.