Position Summary

Department: School of Arts and Sciences

Reports To: Dean

Status/Time Commitment: Full-time with faculty rank, tenure track, 9-month appointment

Rank: Assistant or Associate Professor

Start Date: 07/01/2027

Fresno Pacific University invites applications for a faculty position in Environmental Studies or Environmental Sciences with the potential for hire into an endowed chair (depending on qualifications), offering an opportunity to play a leading role in the growth and development of its Environmental Science and Environmental Studies programs. The department offers Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biology, Environmental Science and Environmental Studies, and Health Sciences (with pre-professional pathways in medicine, osteopathic medicine, and physician associate studies). Faculty benefit from modern teaching and laboratory facilities and a campus ideally situated near Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks and one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions, providing opportunities for field-based learning and research. Committed to excellence in undergraduate education, department faculty emphasize student engagement, mentorship, and collaborative undergraduate research. Graduates have a strong record of career placement and admission to graduate and professional programs.

Essential Functions

Teach courses related to Environmental Science (e.g. Ecology, General Biology: Diversity and Ecology, including associated laboratories) and/or Environmental Studies (e.g., Environmental Policy, Law, Economics and Justice) based on qualifications and teaching experience.
Provide leadership in the continued growth and development of the Environmental Science and Environmental Studies programs, including curriculum development, integration with the university's Wilderness Studies program, initiatives to enhance program visibility, develop community connections, and attract prospective students.
Teach additional biology and/or related courses consistent with departmental needs, qualifications, and teaching experience.
Maintain an active scholarly agenda, including opportunities to engage and mentor undergraduate students in research.

Demonstrate a commitment to serving and inspiring students in an academic context that integrates your Christian faith and learning.
Embrace the mission, vision, and values of Fresno Pacific University, affirm the FPU Faith Expectations, and support the ideals and practices articulated in "The Fresno Pacific Idea”

Other job duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required:

Earned terminal degree in Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Biology, or other fields closely related to the environmental studies/sciences. Candidates who are ABD will be considered; completion of the terminal degree is required for continued employment.

Demonstrated effectiveness or strong potential for excellence in undergraduate teaching instruction and student mentorship.

Demonstrated record of scholarly achievement.
Ability to collaborate effectively with students, faculty, and staff in a collegial academic environment.
Participate in departmental and university meetings, activities, and areas of service.
Ability to effectively engage the dialogue of faith and environmental studies/science, with faithfulness to disciplinary evidence and conversance in a range of Christian faith traditions.
Teaching skills and experience to support an ethnically and culturally diverse student body.

Preferred:

Teaching and research experience that could qualify a candidate for the AIMS Chair in Science with responsibilities that would include:
- Engaging the AIMS Foundation and serve as a liaison from the University on related projects and programs that advance science education.
- A candidate appointed to the AIMS Chair in Science will be oriented towards developing science teachers for Central Valley schools and beyond.

Environmental Conditions:

Indoors in a normal classroom, indoor laboratory, and office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, fumes, vibrations, and temperature changes at least eighty percent (80%) of the time.
Frequent computer use at a workstation.
Frequently work at a fast pace with unscheduled interruptions.
Drive personal or University vehicles to appointments.
Public contact position requiring professional apparel, personal hygiene, and grooming.

Physical Demands:

This position functions indoors in classroom, indoor laboratory, and an office environment with light to moderate noise associated with lab equipment and business office equipment. In addition, outdoor activities such as hiking and camping will be required at times as part of laboratory/field experiences for the academic programs. The position may involve teaching online, on-site at a main campus or at regional campuses, travel for meetings and events.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: remain in a stationary position up to 80% of the time; be able to move about inside the classroom and laboratory to talk to students, inside the office to access file cabinets/office machinery, etc.; operate a computer and keyboard and other office productivity machinery such as calculators/copy machines/printers. The employee is occasionally required to position self to reach items on the floor and in high cabinetry.
The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Employee must be able to communicate with others to exchange information including both over the telephone and in-person communication with callers and community members and be able to read a computer screen and paper documents.
Reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities will be provided in accordance with law.

University Information

$72,384.00 to $99,150.00 is the annual salary for this role and reflects what Fresno Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, FPU offers a competitive benefits package.

Faculty Salary Scale can be viewed at Human Resources | Fresno Pacific University

Required Documents:

Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae
Personal Statements: brief statement (1 page or less) on each of the following topics:

Philosophy of Education
Relationship & Commitment to Jesus Christ and the Church
Relating Christian faith to discipline and teaching

Official Transcripts (showing highest degree earned)
2 Letters of Recommendation

UNIVERSITY DESCRIPTION

Fresno Pacific University is the only accredited Christian university founded in the Central Valley. FPU connects every student’s untapped potential with unlimited opportunity for professional, personal and ethical growth. FPU offers undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs that stress solid academic preparation and a strong ethical foundation to more than 3,500 traditional and adult students on the main campus in southeast Fresno and regional campuses in North Fresno, Visalia, Bakersfield and Merced as well as online. The university also reaches about 8,000 students through professional development studies. FPU has the highest four-year graduation rate of any Central Valley college or university, and is a Hispanic Serving Institution, with a Hispanic student population of 47 percent. FPU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and ranked in the top tier among western universities—master’s category by U.S. News & World Report. Both U.S. News and Washington Monthly include FPU on their “Best Value” and “Best Bang for the Buck” lists, U.S. News places it at number 13 in its category for student social mobility and Money has ranked it at number 11 among 50 Best Colleges for Transfer Students. FPU is affiliated with the Mennonite Brethren Church, and all employees express a personal Christian commitment and support the Christian mission of the university. A description of the unique quality of FPU as an academic community can be found in the Fresno Pacific Idea at fresno.edu/about/fpu_idea.

Reserving its rights as a religious institution, Fresno Pacific University is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, age or disability, or other classes protected by applicable law. Committed to excellence and actively supportive of cultural diversity, FPU invites individuals who contribute to such diversity to apply. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you should contact FPU’s Human Resources Department at hr@fresno.edu. As a religious institution, the University will administer the equal opportunity employment policy consistent with the Fresno Pacific University statement of faith, the FPU Idea and the University’s governance by the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

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