Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
About the Department
The Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies is a vibrant and growing academic unit committed to excellence in research, teaching, mentorship, and public engagement. The department serves approximately 1,000 undergraduate students and offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Science in Law Studies, a traditional Master of Criminal Justice program, an accelerated online Master of Criminal Justice program, and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Policy Studies.
With a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs, the department provides faculty with opportunities to teach, mentor, and collaborate with students at all stages of academic and professional development. Faculty members engage in a wide range of research addressing contemporary issues in criminal justice, criminology, law, public policy, victimization, corrections, policing, courts, and related fields. The department values methodological diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scholarship that advances knowledge while contributing to practice and policy. Faculty maintain active research agendas and regularly publish in leading journals, secure external funding, and contribute to professional organizations and public discourse. The department is home to a collegial and collaborative faculty community that supports innovation in both research and teaching.
As one of the largest criminal justice and legal studies programs in the region, the department continues to expand its academic programs, research profile, and external partnerships. New faculty members will have opportunities to contribute to a dynamic and forward-looking academic environment with strong commitments to student success, scholarly excellence, and public impact.
About the University
The University of Mississippi is a Carnegie-designated R1 institution and Mississippi's flagship university, providing faculty with extensive opportunities for research, interdisciplinary engagement, graduate education, and community partnership.
Position Overview
The Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies invites applications for two full-time, nine-month, tenure-track faculty positions in Criminal Justice at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor beginning August 2027. The positions are on the main campus in Oxford, Mississippi. Areas of specialization are open.
Responsibilities
- Maintain an active research agenda and publish in high-quality peer-reviewed journals
- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses
- Mentor students
- Provide service to the department, the university, the profession, and the community
- Contribute to the department's undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs through teaching, advising, graduate committee service, and other activities that support student success and the continued development of the department
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in criminology, criminal justice, law studies, or a related discipline (ABDs may apply, but the degree must be in hand by the start of employment)
- Record of peer-reviewed publications in scholarly journals appropriate to career stage
- Potential (Assistant Professor) or established record (Associate Professor) to secure and maintain extramural funding
- Demonstrated ability to effectively teach undergraduate and graduate students
- Demonstrated commitment to academic, professional, and institutional service
- Expectations are commensurate with Research 1 institutions
Application Materials
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Research statement
- Teaching statement
- Unofficial graduate transcripts
- Contact information for three professional references