One of the most significant challenges confronting small liberal arts colleges in the United States today is increasing the members of underrepresented groups teaching at such institutions. A diverse faculty benefits students, faculty and administrators alike by enriching the nature of the education experience for all. We recognize, though, that young scholars who are members of underrepresented groups frequently choose to pursue their careers as teachers and scholars at research universities rather than at small liberal arts colleges.
In order to encourage such scholars to consider college rather than university teaching, the College offers the Kenyon Teacher-Scholar Fellowship in the sciences. The program is for scholars who have recently completed their doctoral work and are at the postdoctoral level. We hope the experience of teaching, researching and living for two years at Kenyon will encourage these teacher-scholars to consider a liberal arts college as a place to begin their careers as teachers and scholars.
The central philosophy of the program is to find ways to benefit the fellow's development and to prepare each fellow for success as a teacher-scholar.
Fellowships will be awarded in biology, neuroscience, psychology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics as well as in interdisciplinary work that bridges departments (e.g., biochemistry, environmental science).
Working closely with an experienced faculty mentor, a teacher-scholar will gain experience in course design, teaching, development of inclusive pedagogy and student mentoring both in the classroom and in the laboratory. Teacher-scholars are expected to teach six courses over two years; the specific courses and number per semester will be determined by the scholar in consultation with the mentor and home department. Teacher-scholars are expected to remain actively engaged in research and will have the opportunity to maintain and develop an independent research program utilizing the resources available in the host department and the mentor’s laboratory.
While in residence, teacher-scholars are expected to offer at least one College-wide lecture or departmental seminar on their research specialty and participate in the intellectual life of the home department and in the broader intellectual and cultural life of the College. Teacher-scholars will be provided an office, a networked computer and the support services of the departmental administrative assistant.
Kenyon is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). It is the College's policy to evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by institutional policy or state, local or federal law. Kenyon welcomes diversity and encourages applications from all groups historically underrepresented in the sciences. Please direct questions regarding the position or the application process to Hewlet G. McFarlane, the search committee chair, at mcfarlaneh@kenyon.edu.