Assistant Professor of Asian Studies (Japanese)
St. Olaf CollegeThe Department of Asian Studies at St. Olaf College invites applications for a full-time, tenure track position in Japanese at the Assistant Professor level, to begin August 2026.
The successful candidate must be able to teach Japanese language courses at all levels and courses in the candidate’s discipline taught in English. A full-time teaching load at St. Olaf College is five courses a year. Typically, the candidate can expect to teach three or four courses in Japanese language, with the other one or two courses in a disciplinary field (e.g., second language acquisition or film studies) and taught in English. Many department faculty teach a January term course off campus in alternating years. Expected contributions to the Japanese Program include participation in regular program meetings, coordinating with the lab instructor, managing student tutors, and overseeing additional learning opportunities (e.g., conversation tables, internships, study away) as needed.
Salary: $74,190 - $79,000
Qualifications
- Native or near-native fluency in Japanese and English.
- Ph.D. in second language studies, linguistics, environmental humanities, race and ethnic studies, film and media studies, or related fields in Japanese language and/or culture. ABD candidates with clear evidence of timely graduation plans will be considered.
- College-level Japanese language instruction experience and demonstrated commitment to language teaching that fosters students’ proficiency and cross-cultural competencies is preferred.
About the Department
The Asian Studies Department at St. Olaf College is a supportive and collaborative community focused on teaching and research. Our faculty bring diverse expertise in Asian languages, history, culture, political science, religion, literature, art and art history, and applied linguistics, creating an engaging environment for our students and each other. We encourage interdisciplinary learning and foster connections across different fields through our courses and the campus events we organize. We maintain active research agendas and partnerships with community organizations. We serve our professions through national and international associations and organizations, including AAS, MCAA, Fulbright/IIE, ASIANetwork, ACTFL, ATJ, ASCJ, and IIAS. For more information about the department, visit wp.stolaf.edu/asian-studies/.
We strive to be a campus of welcome where students, faculty, and staff thrive by bringing their full humanity—gender identity, sexuality, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic class, disability, religion, spirituality, and age—to St. Olaf each day. Our goal is to generate conversations and processes that over time create greater clarity, transparency, trust, cooperation, consensus, respect, and measurable outcomes. Practices that support this goal include listening, cultivating a growth mindset, respecting those with different views, being informed by data, and understanding that the work is ongoing, collaborative, organic, and ever evolving. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Community and Belonging website to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts.
How to Apply
Throughout your materials, include how you would contribute to the development of a diverse and inclusive learning community at our college through your teaching, research, and/or service. A complete application includes the following:
References: Provide contact information for three professional references who can speak to your abilities in teaching and scholarship. Letters will be solicited from references by the search committee for candidates who advance to the interview stage.
Supporting Documents and URLS:
- Cover letter outlining your qualifications and why you are interested in this particular position
- Curriculum vitae
- Graduate transcripts (unofficial)
- Teaching Statement: A strong teaching statement should explain your teaching philosophy, how you support diverse learners, the methods you use to help students succeed, and how you grow as an educator; it should be 2-3 pages long. Please include a link to a Japanese language teaching demonstration video (approximately 15 minutes) at the end of your Teaching Statement.
- Professional Statement: A strong professional statement should outline your key academic and research interests, highlight your contributions to the field, and demonstrate how your work aligns with the values and goals of the institution; it should be 2-3 pages long.
- Writing Sample (e.g., published article, dissertation chapter, or work in progress), not to exceed 30 pages
Review of applications will begin on September 26, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by that date will receive fullest consideration. Finalist interviews are expected in November. Questions about the position, department, or College may be directed to Ying Zhou, Search Committee Chair, at tt2026asianst@stolaf.edu.