The Department of History at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, invites applications for a two-year Visiting Assistant Professor of History to begin work July 1, 2026. We seek applicants who can teach the history of the Americas. One course must be a survey of Latin American history, 1491-present. Other courses could focus on one or multiple regions of the hemisphere. Thematic possibilities could include Indigenous American, environmental, religious, diplomatic, gender, or economic history. 

The annual teaching load is five courses spread over two semesters and a three-and-half-week Short Term in the spring. The successful candidate will also be expected to advise senior theses.

Responsibilities are limited in scope and focus on teaching and mentoring students during the term of the appointment. Advising and student supervision responsibilities will be limited to thesis supervision aligned with the primary field of expertise. Visiting assistant professors are not assigned ongoing administrative or committee responsibilities, except if negotiated with the Dean of Faculty or Associate Deans of Faculty. They are expected to attend faculty meetings and departmental meetings related to teaching, and to engage collegially in the academic life of the department.

Review of applications will begin on April 7 and continue until the position is filled. Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and a sample syllabus or outline for a relevant course. Submitted materials should address how the applicant meets Bates’ standards of excellence in terms of inclusive and evidence-based pedagogy. Candidates who are selected for an initial video-conference interview will be asked to submit two letters of reference.

Bates students come from a diversity of educational and socioeconomic backgrounds, and we are committed to each student’s success. Thus, candidates may choose to share evidence of their skills and experience supporting a diverse student body either in a separate, additional document or integrated into the cover letter. We encourage applications from individuals from historically marginalized groups and from those who may have followed non-traditional pathways to higher education due to societal, economic, or academic circumstances. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and verification of degree.

Bates College is a residential liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine—a diverse and growing community roughly 45 minutes from Portland, the state’s largest city, 2 ½ hours north of Boston, and 4 ½ hours south of Montreal. Bates values faculty scholarship, creative work, and pedagogical innovation as central to its academic mission. While visiting faculty appointments are primarily teaching-focused, the College recognizes that scholarly and creative activity may remain an important part of a faculty member’s professional identity. Institutional resources supporting scholarship and teaching are available in ways appropriate to the scope and duration of the appointment. Community-engaged learning and study abroad are broadly encouraged and supported, and pedagogical development and innovation are supported through the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning. Educational access and racial justice are central to Bates’ history and mission and our faculty-led initiatives reflect this commitment.

Questions about the position and our process may be directed to search committee chair Joseph Hall at jhall2@bates.edu.

Preference will be given to candidates who will have completed by July 1, 2026, their Ph.D. in History, Latin American Studies, American Studies, or a related field.

About https://www.bates.edu/

Founded in 1855, Bates is one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges, with a long history of commitments to principles of human dignity and diversity.Since its inception, Bates has been a coeducational, nonsectarian, residential college with special commitments to academic rigor and to programs and opportunities by qualified learners of all backgrounds. Historically, Bates students and graduates have linked education with service, leadership, and obligations beyond themselves.Bates has highly competitive admission, graduates over 90% of its entering students, and over half of its alumni earn graduate degrees. Bates has 1,700 students, 200 faculty members and 550 staff and administrative employees.The College is proud of its strong involvements in the Lewiston-Auburn communities, Maine’s second largest urban area, with a population of approximately 65,000. Bates is located on a beautiful, 109-acre, traditional New England campus in Lewiston, Maine, a lively small city enjoying an exciting economic and cultural revitalization. With an engaged citizenry, lively arts scene, and historic downtown, this walkable city is 35 miles north of Portland, 140 miles north of Boston, and 340 miles north of New York City.

Connections working at https://www.bates.edu/