Job Details

Tocqueville Center Assistant/Associate Director and Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Classical Liberal Thought

The Tocqueville Center at Furman University invites applications for the position of Assistant/Associate Director, with a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in Classical Liberal Thought, beginning August 1, 2026. We seek candidates with expertise in the history of liberal thought, particularly focusing on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century European and American Enlightenment thinkers.

The successful candidate will teach four courses per academic year, including both introductory and upper-level offerings, and will carry out administrative responsibilities at the Tocqueville Center. These duties include student programming and mentorship, event coordination, and media outreach. Furman University is a selective private liberal arts and sciences college. Furman professors are exceptional teacher-scholars who mentor undergraduate students within a campus community that values and encourages diverse ideas and perspectives.

A Ph.D. in Political Thought, Political Science, Philosophy, History, Religion or a related field is required by August 1, 2026.

Applicants should submit the following documents as a single PDF in the order listed: a letter of interest, C.V., statement of teaching philosophy, and complete contact information for three references. The statement of teaching philosophy should describe your inclusive teaching and mentoring efforts, broadly conceived, and how your teaching and mentoring may contribute to a liberal arts and sciences community that aims, among other things, to "honor inquiry, promote diversity, [and] strive for equity" (FUture Focused). You may also discuss any relevant professional development, service contributions, or other experiences that have refined your skills or demonstrate your efforts in these areas. In addition, please include teaching evaluations (if available), sample syllabi (if available), and at least one writing sample (preferably single-authored). Additional materials may be requested at later stages of the search process for candidates who advance.

The Tocqueville Center for the Study of Democracy and Society promotes the core principles of a free societyindividual liberty, limited government, and freedom of speechthrough rigorous academic inquiry. Established in 2008 as a program within the Department of Politics and International Affairs, the Center has since grown into an independent academic unit, gaining greater autonomy, interdisciplinary scope, and programmatic flexibility.

This transition has allowed the Center to expand its influence across campus and disciplines. It plays a central role in fostering viewpoint diversity and scholarly engagement, most visibly through its prominent speaker series. The Tocqueville Fellows Program, a fully endowed, interdisciplinary initiative, supports 25 undergraduate students who engage year-round with visiting scholars and classic texts in intimate seminar settings. The Center's recent elevation reflects the strong backing of Furman's president and Board of Trustees and affirms the university's commitment to increasing its national impact.

Furman University is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community through excellence in teaching, mentorship, and programming. We believe that cultural understanding, inclusiveness, and freedom of inquiry, thought, and discourse are essential components of a transformative undergraduate education. We advance these ideals with a liberal arts and sciences curriculum built on a substantial general education program, featuring traditional and innovative elements, and a robust portfolio of disciplinary and interdisciplinary major and minor areas of study. Additionally, we have established and continue to develop various initiatives, including historic projects, dialogue programs such as On Discourse and the Intergroup Dialogues Program, the Center for Interpersonal Connections, and four distinctive external-facing institutes.

The successful candidate will have the ability to work with students from diverse backgrounds and contribute to Furman's commitment to expanding access and opportunity to Furman's rich learning culture.

Furman is located in Greenville, South Carolina, one of the fastest-growing cities in the Southeast and consistently ranked among "America's Ten Best" by Forbes. The city boasts a vibrant downtown with top-tier restaurants, parks, shops, museums, galleries, music venues, and theaters. It also features an extensive network of nonprofits, international corporations, and excellent public and private schools. The surrounding region offers abundant outdoor recreation, including lakes, rivers, and mountains.

Greenville is just 2 hours from Atlanta, 1 hours from Charlotte, and one hour from Asheville, North Carolina. A 20-mile bike and pedestrian trail connects Furman's campus to downtown Greenville and to the nearby town of Travelers Restnamed one of "America's Coolest Small Towns." The newly renovated Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, located just 25 minutes from campus, offers daily service to major cities.

Review of applications will begin on November 14 and continue until the position is filled.

Questions may be directed to the search committee co-chairs:

• Professor Brent Nelsen: ...@furman.edu
• Professor David Fink: ...@furman.edu