Assistant Professor - Film Studies

The Department of Film Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington ( UNCW) invites applications for possibly two tenure-track positions at the rank of Assistant Professor of Film Studies to begin August 2026.

The successful candidates will teach a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in their areas of research as well as some of the department's core courses in film art, film theory, film historiography, and world cinema. The department seeks candidates whose work will expand our existing historical and/or international coverage.

Please note: ABD applicants will be considered; however, if PhD is not confirmed by August 1, 2026, appointment will be at the rank of Lecturer for the first academic year of employment and PhD must be conferred by July 1, 2027 for eligibility of continued employment.

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The UNCW Film Studies Department prepares students to participate in a world increasingly shaped by moving pictures. Through courses that offer a foundation for understanding cinema-and its relation to culture, history, technology, and aesthetics-Film Studies teaches students to create and analyze moving images, to produce research, and to make art. One of the premiere departments at UNCW, Film Studies combines critical studies with production and recently launched integrated MA and MFA programs. The department draws on the rich social and cultural heritage of the coastal city of Wilmington. Film festivals and conferences, local and visiting scholars and filmmakers, and an assortment of independent and international film screenings together create a vibrant film community. A Research 2 public institution, UNCW is consistently recognized for academic excellence by publications such as U. S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59PM EST on Monday, December 1, 2025, the posting closing date. To apply, please complete the online application process available at https://jobs.uncw.edu/ and attach the following materials as Adobe PDF documents:

Please note that a minimum of three references are required for all applications.
**if ABD at time of application, one of the references must be Dissertation Chair. The references you provide may be used to request reference letters during the screening process.

Prior to the official appointment to the university, the candidate(s) selected for hire must be able to demonstrate eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the credentialing requirements based on official transcripts and other documentation as required.

For questions about the position, please contact the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Mariana Johnson at johnsonm@uncw.edu.

For questions about the online application process, please contact Jennifer Itell at Itellj@uncw.edu.