Job: Associate Director and Clinical Assistant or Clinical Associate Professor, Arizona State

Deadline: January 15, 2023

The Melikian Center for Russian Eurasian and East European Studies at Arizona State University is seeking an Associate Director with a concurrent appointment as Clinical Assistant or Clinical Associate Professor. Under administrative leadership of the Melikian Center Director, the Associate Director plans, organizes, and directs the day-to-day operations of the Melikian Center, including leadership of the Critical Languages Institute (CLI) during summer. The Associate Director reports to the Director of the Melikian Center and will hold a clinical faculty appointment in one of the interdisciplinary schools in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with the expectation of teaching one course during the academic year. This is a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) benefits-eligible, renewable non-tenure track faculty, with renewal and/or promotion contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of resources, and the needs of the university. The anticipated start date is February 20, 2023, or as soon thereafter as feasible.

Essential Duties

Contributes to leadership and delivery of activities and operations of the Melikian Center, with lead responsibility for the Critical Languages Institute. The Associate Director supervises, hires, trains, and evaluates assigned staff, including CLI instructors. Other responsibilities include oversight of curriculum and pedagogy, publicity, outreach and recruitment, relations with overseas providers and funding agencies, and management of logistical aspects of the Institute. As a core member of the leadership team, the Associate Director will participate in the development of long- and short-range goals, working collaboratively to advance foreign language learning and area studies at ASU and beyond. Resolves problems and issues affecting the Center and oversees measures to improve effectiveness and efficiency.  Contributes to design, development and coordination of Center programs and projects, including grant writing and grant management. Acts in place of the Director in that person's absence. As a Clinical Associate or Assistant Professor teaches one course during the academic year in one of the interdisciplinary schools in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Department Statement

Established as a consortium in 1984, The Melikian Center for Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies advances innovative use-inspired research and teaching on the languages, societies and geopolitics of greater Eurasia.  The Center’s core mission is to enhance contextual expertise and cultural awareness in the communities it serves, through partnerships across disciplinary, ideological and geographical borders. In 2022, the Melikian Center was named as a National Resource Center for Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies, with support extending through to 2026, including Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships for students attending the Critical Languages Institute (CLI).  Established in 1991, the CLI offers intensive training every summer in less commonly taught East European and Eurasian languages. Students from diverse backgrounds and career paths take 8-13 ASU credits over 7-11 weeks, in courses taught by highly qualified instructors, many of whom hold academic year positions at other institutions.  In 2022 CLI enrolled approximately 140 students, of whom approximately half studied overseas, and over 70% received scholarship support through Center grants from federal sources (Project GO, Title VIII) as well as philanthropic giving. CLI currently offers Albanian, Armenian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Hebrew, Indonesian, Kazakh, Macedonian, Persian, Polish, Russian, Tatar, Turkish, Ukrainian and Uzbek. 

Minimum Qualifications:

PhD or other terminal degree in either area studies or a field related to second language pedagogy and instruction.  Four years related teaching and/or administrative experience, including supervisory experience; OR any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved. 

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in managing or leading an intensive language-learning program
• Experience in and commitment to meeting the needs of diverse learning communities.
• Familiarity with managing federal funding programs.
• Evidence of multimedia literacy, and effective work as part of a team.
• Teaching experience in humanities fields, or professional fluency in a less commonly taught language related to Russia, Eurasia, or East Europe; Experience with proficiency-based language acquisition and testing.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development in grant writing, budget development and proposals, grant implementation and reporting as well as post-award grant budget management and oversight.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in curricular design and pedagogy, especially in foreign language and area studies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of management and supervisory principles & practices and skills in advancing the professional development of staff.
• Demonstrated knowledge of budget management methods and techniques.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning principles and practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of principles, concepts, and practices of organizational management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of planning, analyzing, and coordinating activities and establishing priorities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of program design and development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of effective communication, both verbal and written.

Application Instructions 

All application materials are due by January 15, 2023; Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. A complete application must include the following: a letter of application stating interest, qualifications and experience; a statement addressing how past and/or potential contributions to diversity and inclusion will advance ASU’s commitment to inclusive excellence; a complete curriculum vitae; and contact information for three references. All application materials must be received by the deadline and submitted electronically through Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/118212.