Description
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Swarthmore College invites applications for a full-time position in Premodern Chinese Language, Literature and Culture at the tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor rank, depending on qualifications and experience, to begin in Fall 2026. The successful candidate will have research interests in pre-modern or early modern Chinese literature and culture and the ability to teach undergraduate courses on Chinese language, literature, and culture, including Classical Chinese, pre-modern Chinese literature and culture, and Modern (Mandarin) Chinese Language, particularly at the upper-intermediate and advanced levels. There will be opportunities to teach upper-level seminars on topics of faculty interest, and to develop a first-year seminar to attract non-majors to Chinese studies. We welcome candidates with research and teaching interests that cross temporal and geographic boundaries and intersect with interdisciplinary areas such as Environmental Studies or Gender and Sexuality Studies, or which foster collaboration with colleagues in related fields such as Linguistics, Religion, Philosophy, Art History, or the performing arts. Candidates with experience in program administration and curricular development are especially welcome.
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
Successful candidates will be trained in pre-modern or early modern Chinese literature and culture and deeply humanistic in their training and outlook.
Qualifications for consideration at the rank of Assistant Professor include a Ph.D. in hand by August 2026, fluency in English and modern Mandarin Chinese, a passion for teaching and mentoring undergraduate students of diverse backgrounds and identities, the ability to work constructively with colleagues and contribute to the development of the Chinese program and its curriculum, as well as the potential for innovative and impactful scholarship.
Qualifications for consideration at the rank of Associate Professor include the above qualifications, at least five years of teaching experience at a North American college or university, and proof of ongoing innovative and impactful scholarship.
Applicants should include a brief cover letter describing their intended research and teaching contributions to Swarthmore College, a curriculum vitae, a teaching statement, 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 cover letter 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 Alexandra Gueydan-Turek, Chair of Modern Languages and Literatures, Swarthmore College, agueyda1@swarthmore.edu.
All applications received by December 1, 2025 will receive full consideration, and review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Candidates must apply via: apply.interfolio.com/176096.
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 commitments to working effectively supporting, teaching, and engaging a highly diverse student body.
