Description
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Swarthmore College invites applications for a full-time tenure track appointment at the level of Assistant Professor in Modern Chinese Language and Literature to begin in Fall 2027. The successful candidate will have a solid grounding in modern Chinese literature together with research interests in modern and/or contemporary Chinese/Sinophone literature and/or Chinese/Sinophone cinema or media studies. While the position is housed in the Chinese Section of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, we anticipate that the successful candidate will demonstrate the potential for active engagement with the Film & Media Studies department on campus. Pending the curricular needs of the Chinese program, candidates will be encouraged to teach an upper-level seminar on the topic of faculty interest and to develop a first-year seminar to attract non-majors to Chinese cultural studies. Candidates should also have the ability to rotate into the Chinese section’s advanced Chinese language classes, and language teaching experience in a college or university setting is expected.
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures consists of six programs: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Russian. The Chinese Section serves a diverse group of Chinese language and literature students and prepares students for majors and minors in Chinese. In addition, it supports majors and minors in Asian Studies and Comparative Literature, as well as special majors in Linguistics and Languages. Classes are generally small, students are motivated, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues and students are real and abundant. Additional information about the Chinese Program in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures can be found at https://www.swarthmore.edu/chinese.
Located in the suburbs of Philadelphia and near Wilmington DE, Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity. We welcome applications from all candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable experience effectively supporting, teaching, and engaging a highly diverse student body. For more information available to all faculty at Swarthmore, see https://www.swarthmore.edu/provosts-office/welcome-to-provosts-office
Qualifications include a Ph.D. in Chinese literature in hand by August 2027, a passion for teaching and mentoring undergraduate students of diverse backgrounds and identities, and the potential for innovative and impactful scholarship.
Applicants should include a brief cover letter describing their interest in the position at Swarthmore College, a curriculum vitae, teaching, and research statements, and three letters of recommendation. The teaching statement should describe the applicant’s interests in teaching at an undergraduate institution, previous teaching experience, and approach to teaching and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds. The research statement should describe the applicant’s program of research (including research interests, recent and current research, and anticipated areas for future work) and its potential to engage undergraduate students. At least one letter of recommendation should comment specifically on teaching. Applications will not be considered until letters of recommendation have been submitted. Please address any questions you may have to Jean-Vincent Blanchard, Search Committee Chair, jblanch1@swarthmore.edu.
Applications should be submitted at: apply.interfolio.com/195634.
All applications received by November 20, 2026, will receive full consideration, and review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
