Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice

Posting Details

Position Information

Job Title

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice

Posting Number

20110649

Pay Rate

Salary commensurate with experience

Position Type

Faculty

Position Summary Information

Key Responsibilities

Juniata College, a nationally ranked liberal arts institution of 1,400 students in the scenic Allegheny Mountains of Central Pennsylvania, invites applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice beginning August 2026 . Juniata is known for academic excellence, close student-faculty collaboration, and a strong interdisciplinary culture. Learn more at


We seek a candidate with meaningful experience in criminal justice teaching, practice, and/or research, and a demonstrated record of contributing to strong undergraduate programs. A Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Sociology, or a closely related discipline is required by the start date. ABD candidates will be considered, provided they can document a clear plan for completing all doctoral degree requirements by August 2026.

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Successful undergraduate teaching experience, including inclusive and student-centered pedagogies
• Documented experience in course development, curriculum innovation, or program building
• Experience mentoring undergraduate research projects
• A sustained commitment to anti-racism, equity, and social justice in teaching and scholarship
• Skills in program evaluation, community-engaged work, or applied research
• Leadership potential appropriate for taking on coordination of the Criminal Justice Program
• Experience teaching and advising in a liberal arts environment, as well as flexibility in teaching assignments, is highly desirable.
  

The Department & Program

The Criminal Justice Program is part of a multidisciplinary department including Social Work, Criminal Justice, and Sociology. This structure provides rich opportunities for:

• Collaborative, cross-disciplinary course design
• Community-engaged scholarship with justice-related agencies
• Holistic approaches to juvenile and adult justice reform
• Interdisciplinary mentoring of student research and experiential learning

Teaching Responsibilities

The standard load is 21 credit hours per academic year. Teaching responsibilities may include:

• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• Drugs and Society
• Policing in the United States
• Social Deviance and Criminology
• U.S. Correctional System
• Crime and the U.S. Court System
• Introduction to Sociology

The successful candidate will also:

• Develop and supervise criminal justice internships
• Lead and mentor undergraduate research and scholarly projects
• Support community-engaged learning initiatives
• Design new courses in their areas of specialization

Juniata College is committed to cultivating an equity-minded and equity-engaged campus culture, one that is inclusive and supportive of its students, faculty, and staff. We believe that all members of the College community share the responsibility to value diversity, seek equity, promote a sense of belonging. We seek candidates who are sensitive to the needs of an academic community that is diverse with regard to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or identity, disability status, and protected veteran status..…EOE

Position Qualifications

• PhD in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Sociology, or a closely related discipline is required by the start date. ABD candidates will be considered, provided they can document a clear plan for completing all doctoral degree requirements by August 2026.

• Meaningful experience in criminal justice teaching, practice, and/or research
• Demonstrated record of contributing to strong undergraduate programs.

Selection of the final candidate is contingent upon successful completion of Act 153 clearances and background check.

Supervision Required/Given

This position reports to the Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, Social Work & Sociology.

Preferred Qualifications

Physical Demands

Special Instructions to Applicants

Interested candidates are asked to submit the following materials:
1. Cover letter highlighting interest and qualifications
2. Curriculum vita
3. Three letters of recommendation (Letters can be uploaded directly on the applicant portal or emailed to [email protected])


This position may be eligible for work visa sponsorship if the petition would not be affected by the fees described in 90 FR 46027.


Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. For questions, please contact the search committee chair, Lee Ann DeShong-Cook ([email protected]).


Juniata’s Full-Time Benefits package prioritizes the well-being and work-life balance of employees: Medical, vision, dental, retirement (403b), tuition benefit (employee, spouse and dependents), and additional insurance programs.

Posting Detail Information

Open Date

01/14/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled

Yes