Job description
Francis Marion University and the Department of Forestry invite applications for a tenure-track position for an Assistant Professor of Forestry. We seek candidates with a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and research at a comprehensive liberal arts institution. The successful candidate will be expected to teach courses in at least one area of forestry, including but not limited to Forest Mensuration, Remote Sensing, Forest Management and Policy, Forest Ecology, and Dendrology. Opportunities are also available to teach additional courses aligned with the successful candidate’s area of expertise.
Additional responsibilities include engaging in scholarly activities; mentoring undergraduate research projects; serving on department and university committees; providing academic advising to students; and participating in professional service activities as needed. This is a nine-month appointment. Competitive internal funding is available to support professional travel, research, and undergraduate scholarship.
Francis Marion University has been recognized for its excellence in education by several national ranking agencies. US News and World Report named FMU as one of its top regional universities in the south for more than a decade. FMU was named as ‘The Chronicle’s Great Colleges to Work For’ the past 13 years in a row.
As Francis Marion University has continued to be recognized for its diverse student body, it especially welcomes applicants who can affirm and enhance its mission and encourages applications by women and minorities.
FMU Requirements: An earned doctorate in forestry or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution. ABD candidates will be considered but must have completed their degree before their contract starts. Some demonstration of teaching at the undergraduate level is preferred.
Expected start date: August 16, 2027
7. FMU Faculty Application.
To obtain a Faculty Application please click here
About the Forestry Program
Francis Marion University is launching a brand-new forestry program designed to prepare the next generation of forestry professionals for the sustainable management and stewardship of forests in South Carolina and around the world.
The new program is supported by several significant investments, including the addition of new faculty, a state-of-the-art building currently under construction, and the acquisition of the Duck Ponds Property, an 8,344-acre tract along the Pee Dee River. This remarkable property will serve as a living laboratory for students and faculty in forestry, environmental science, biology, and related disciplines, providing opportunities for hands-on learning, research, and field-based education.
About Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University (FMU) is a state-assisted regional university located on more than 800 acres in Florence, South Carolina, serving approximately 4,200 students. FMU is strongly committed to academic freedom and faculty governance, with an active chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).
Located in the heart of the Pee Dee region, FMU offers convenient access to a variety of cultural, recreational, and professional opportunities. The university is within easy driving distance of Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Charlotte, Asheville, and Savannah.
In addition to its main campus, FMU supports several distinctive facilities that provide opportunities for teaching, research, and experiential learning. The Freshwater Ecology Center (FEC), located approximately 15 minutes from campus, encompasses 146 acres of mature forest and wetlands and includes a 20-acre lake. FMU also operates the Wildsumaco Biological Station, a field research station on the eastern slope of the Andes in Ecuador and one of the university’s international study centers.
Together, these resources provide an exceptional environment for interdisciplinary collaboration, field-based research, and the education of students preparing to address the complex environmental and forestry challenges of the future.
About Florence: About Florence, South Carolina
Located in the heart of South Carolina’s Pee Dee region, Florence is a vibrant and growing community of more than 250,000 people in the greater metropolitan area. In recent years, Florence has experienced significant revitalization, particularly in its downtown district, with Francis Marion University playing a leading role in these efforts.
FMU has expanded its presence in downtown Florence with the construction of two health sciences facilities and is currently developing a new medical campus through partnerships with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, McLeod Regional Medical Center, and MUSC Health Florence Medical Center. These initiatives are helping strengthen Florence as a regional hub for healthcare education, research, and innovation.
Florence is also emerging as a regional center for arts and culture, with FMU playing an important role in that growth. The Steven F. Gately Gallery showcases exhibitions by regional, national, and international artists, while the FMU Performing Arts Center serves as a premier venue for concerts, theatrical productions, and other cultural events. The center is also home to the Florence Symphony Orchestra and hosts numerous nationally recognized musical and theatrical performances throughout the year.
With its growing economy, revitalized downtown, expanding healthcare and educational opportunities, and thriving arts and cultural scene, Florence offers an exceptional quality of life and an exciting environment in which to live, work, and build a career. To learn more about this growing and vibrant community, please visit: https://www.flochamber.com/about-flo/.
As Francis Marion University has continued to be recognized for its diverse student body, it especially welcomes applicants who can affirm and enhance its mission.
Applicants honorably discharged from a branch of the United States Armed Forces, who meet the minimum training and experience requirements, are given employment preference by all State agencies and higher education institutions in South Carolina.
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution
How to apply
Send Application Materials to:
Dr. Charlene Wages, Vice President for Administration and Planning, Francis Marion University
P.O. Box 100547, Florence, SC 29502-0547. Or email to: [email protected], or FAX to: (843) 661-1202
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
The following application materials are required:
1. Letter of Interest (referencing position number 26-57).
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. Teaching Statement expressing teaching experience and philosophy.
4. Research Statement describing research interests and long-term research objectives and how the work would involve undergraduate researchers.
5. Copies of all transcripts (official transcripts will be required of the successful candidate).
6. Names and contact information for at least three references.
