Assistant Professor of Sociology 215282

OSU-Stillwater

Dr. Kelley Sittner, kelley.sittner@okstate.edu

TBD

9 months or less

Commensurate with education and experience

While applications will be accepted until a successful candidate has been hired, interested parties are encouraged to submit their materials by October 15, 2026, to ensure full consideration.

To apply, please submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, research statement, copies of 2-3 selected scholarly papers, evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., sample syllabi, teaching evaluations), and contact information from a minimum of three professional references.

The Department of Sociology at Oklahoma State University seeks applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Sociology with a start date of August 2027. Research and teaching interests should be in the criminology/criminal justice area.

The successful candidate will play a significant role in both the graduate and undergraduate teaching programs and will have a teaching load of two courses per semester. Courses taught at the undergraduate level may include but are not limited to Introduction to Criminal Justice, Sociology of Drugs, Comparative Perspectives of Criminal Justice Systems, and Juvenile Delinquency. Responsibilities also include participating in the mentoring of students and engagement in service activities as suitable for an assistant professor, such as participation on department and college-level committees, reviewing journal manuscripts, and other service to the profession.

Located within the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Sociology is recognized nationally for its excellence in research and commitment to undergraduate and graduate education. This distinction derives from a strong grounding in theoretical inquiry, creative promotion of critical thinking, and attention to diverse intellectual perspectives. The Department of Sociology offers Doctorate, Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees. 

Oklahoma State University is a Carnegie R1 research institution with a 130-year legacy as one of the nation’s model land-grant universities. Its beautiful Stillwater campus serves as the flagship of the OSU system, which enrolls more than 34,000 students. The College of Arts and Sciences offers exceptional strengths across the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities, complemented by institutional excellence in engineering, agriculture, and business. Together, these strengths support a collaborative intellectual environment and OSU’s longstanding commitment to research, teaching, and public engagement.

Home to approximately 50,000 residents, Stillwater offers the welcoming atmosphere and affordability of a college town within an hour’s drive of two major metropolitan areas, Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The city benefits from a vibrant, university-centered intellectual and cultural community, with lectures, performances, exhibitions, Cowboy athletics, and traditions such as OSU’s signature Homecoming and Walkaround events. The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts brings internationally renowned artists and ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, to Stillwater, while the OSU Botanic Garden, Block 34 park and amphitheater, Main Street, locally owned restaurants and breweries, parks, trails, and abundant outdoor recreation contribute to the city’s quality of life. Stillwater Regional Airport’s new passenger terminal and multiple daily flights to Dallas–Fort Worth provide convenient connections to destinations across the world.

• PhD in Sociology, Criminology or Criminal Justice by the time of the appointment.
• Demonstrated ability to teach at the college level, as evidenced by prior teaching experience, teaching philosophy, sample syllabi, or instructional training.
• Evidence of a robust research agenda with publications, or the potential to develop a strong record of scholarship, related to criminology and criminal justice.

• Research interests in at least one of the department’s other specialty areas (collective behavior and social movements, environmental sociology, inequality, or social psychology).
• Experience securing, or working to obtain, external research funding.
• Evidence of successful college or university-level teaching and mentorship.

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