Job Description

Brief Summary of Work for this Position
The Department of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington invites applications for a lecturer position in Cultural Anthropology starting August 2026.

This is a nine-month non-tenure track position that carries a teaching load of four courses per semester. Appointment is renewable, contingent upon satisfactory performance, departmental needs, and the availability of funding. The university provides opportunities for promotion to higher non-tenure track ranks for eligible instructors.

Candidates should demonstrate their experience in teaching and/or ability to teach four-field Introduction to Anthropology, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Language and Culture, and upper-level courses in their areas of expertise. Research and geographic areas of expertise are open, as we look to expand our course offerings while advancing the strategic priorities of the Anthropology Department.

The department especially welcomes applicants with a strong record of teaching—or demonstrated potential to teach—anthropological theory, ethnographic methods, and/or career-readiness courses. The position also involves some service responsibilities such as attending department meetings, helping with organizing department events, and serving on committees.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Ph.D. in Anthropology is required.
Applicants who are ABD at the time of application will be considered, however, doctoral degree must be conferred by August 1, 2026 to be eligible for employment.

Please Note: Applicants who are ABD at the time of application must upload a letter from dissertation chair attesting to the applicant’s ability to defend their dissertation by the beginning of summer 2026 (see Special Notes to Applicants).


Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Preference will be given to candidates with:
Ability to teach Introduction to Anthropology, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, and Language and Culture
Ability to teach upper-level courses in area of expertise
Demonstrated record of teaching or potential to teach anthropological theory, ethnographic methods, and/or career-readiness courses

Required Certifications or Licensure
N/A
Primary Function of Organizational Unit
The UNCW Department of Anthropology offers a BA degree in Anthropology, a Minor in Anthropology and an Interdisciplinary Minor in Forensic Science and an Interdisciplinary Minor in Medical Humanities. Our program includes an array of courses designed to provide students an overview of the discipline, and a thorough grounding in archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology. Because there is a strong cross-cultural and comparative focus in Anthropology, students are encouraged to develop competence in a foreign language and to broaden their cultural horizons by participating in study abroad programs. Through participation in field studies and laboratory research projects of faculty mentors, undergraduate students have opportunities to engage in “hands-on” research; sharpen analytical skills; and to develop competence in the use of research instruments and information technology that are essential aspects of the undergraduate experience in anthropology.
College/School Information
The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA) is home to 14 academic departments and offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs including the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, and Master of Public Administration as well as combined bachelor’s/master’s degree programs in Spanish and English. The CHSSA also houses the Gender Studies and Research Center and the Academic Resource Center, which offers full-service, professional advising for all CHSSA undergraduate students.

In addition, the CHSSA offers a full complement of interdisciplinary minors and post baccalaureate certificates including: Africana studies, American studies, Asian studies, classical studies, conflict management and resolution, emergency and disaster management, forensic science, Hispanic studies, journalism, Latin American studies, medical humanities, Middle East and Islamic studies, Native American studies, professional writing and publishing, science and medical writing, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.

The CHSSA contributes significantly to the curriculum that comprises UNCW’s University Studies Program, through which all undergraduates gain a foundation in the liberal arts and develop the transferable skills essential for life in the twenty-first century. The CHSSA strives in its undergraduate programs and in its University Study offerings to nurture creative thinking, intellectual curiosity, and academic integrity in students while providing them with a solid foundation of knowledge in their chosen fields. Graduate programs in the CHSSA are designed to develop intellectual competence and to prepare the student for careers in business, industry, government, teaching or for further study at the doctoral level.

Applied learning is a hallmark of the student experience in the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts. Each of the CHSSA’s departments requires an applied learning experience as a part of the curriculum for its undergraduate majors. Examples include faculty-directed research, internships, service learning, and capstone courses and projects, all of which challenge students to integrate various strands of knowledge and to apply that knowledge to broader, real-world or real disciplinary situations.

Upon completion of their studies, all CHSSA students will have the necessary preparation for rewarding careers, advanced study, effective citizenship, and meaningful lives. The College of Humanities, Social Science, and the Arts offers limitless opportunities to engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary research and service while also making a positive societal impact. Come and join our vibrant academic environment that values discovery, innovation, and creativity.

University Information
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation’s only bachelor’s degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university’s efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.
EEO Statement
UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents – except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.
Eligibility for Employment
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
Number of Openings Single Incumbent
Special Notes to Applicants
Prior to the official appointment to the university, the candidate selected for hire must be able to demonstrate eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the credentialing requirements based on diploma, official transcripts, and other documentation as required.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm EST of the posting closing date. To apply, please complete the online application available at https://jobs.uncw.edu/ and attach the following materials as Adobe PDF documents:

Cover Letter describing the candidate’s experience in teaching and/or ability to teach the courses mentioned above, as well as their research and scholarship.
Curriculum Vita
List of 3 Professional references at least one of whom can explicitly speak to the candidate’s teaching strengths.**if ABD one of the references must be Dissertation Chair
Other: ABD candidates should upload a letter from dissertation chair attesting to the candidate’s ability to defend their dissertation by the beginning of summer 2026 and to meet terminal degree requirments by August 1, 2026.