James Madison University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 900 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

The Department of Mathematics & Statistics at JMU resides within the College of Science and Mathematics, which also includes the departments of Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Geology & Environmental Science, and Physics & Astronomy. We support bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and statistics; the mathematical training of education majors; minors in mathematics, statistics, and data analytics; and an online Master of Education in mathematics. We are also establishing a data science program. Our department serves an undergraduate student full-time equivalent (FTE) of approximately 2700 per academic year serving JMU’s general education curriculum, students completing cognate course requirements for other STEM-H disciplines, and our 128 mathematics and 38 statistics majors. Our 54 full-time and ~20 part time/adjunct faculty members are engaged in teaching and research in the areas of pure and applied mathematics, mathematics education, statistics, and data science.

Our programs provide meaningful learning experiences for majors and non-majors alike, both within and outside of the classroom. We care about people and value high quality undergraduate education, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Recent efforts to support under-represented and first-generation student populations resulted in the establishment of the Haynes Residential Learning Community. The department is committed to further becoming a place where students, staff and faculty of all backgrounds experience a supportive, affirming environment. While we have made great strides, this is an ongoing endeavor that requires systemic transformation and bold leadership.

Scholarship is supported and valued in a variety of forms across all disciplines represented in the department. We have a strong history of supporting undergraduate research, including a well-established NSF-funded REU program (started in 2001), as well as other grant-funded and internally-funded student research opportunities. Outreach efforts include Family Math Nights and STEM Days in local schools, an annual Expanding Your Horizons conference, Math Connections Theater, and the annual, regional Shenandoah Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics (SUMS) conference (since 2005). The department houses the JMU Experimental Mathematics Lab as well as the Center for Statistical Consulting which provides statistical support for on and off-campus clients. Additional information about the department can be found at https://www.jmu.edu/mathstat/.

The AUH is responsible for the administration and overall effectiveness of the academic unit, including its academic programs, scholarship, faculty,classified personnel, budget, and resources. The AUH will lead the department as the university transitions to R2 status, while maintaining the culture that has made JMU a place for quality undergraduate education.

We seek an AUH with a strong understanding of the national trends in undergraduate education and scholarship in mathematics, statistics, and mathematics education and the future of these fields. The AUH will guide the department in recruitment efforts to increase the number of students with majors in the department. They must demonstrate a clear understanding of the importance of data science and the emerging landscape of data technology at the national level, and be able to promote, support and advance the data science initiatives in the department, the college and the university.

The department seeks an AUH with the following qualifications. Candidates must:

have a record of scholarship, teaching and service that merits the rank of Professor at JMU and have a PhD in mathematics, applied mathematics, mathematics education, statistics or a closely-related field
demonstrate a clear understanding of and a strong commitment to our research and educational activities
have a clear vision of how to recruit and retain a diverse faculty, in particular from underrepresented populations
have experience building and assessing curriculum and programs of interest to students, professional programs, and the workforce
be able to increase students’ opportunities for, and participation in, high-impact practices, including undergraduate research
be able to listen to, understand and balance the needs of students, faculty and administration
be able to maintain and advance a collegial and collaborative culture in the department that empowers faculty and students, and have a demonstrated ability to build and foster collaborative working relationships within the college, university, and other external entities
be able to manage large groups of people and delegate responsibilities
have a demonstrated commitment to and strong familiarity with recruitment efforts that will attract more majors to the department, in particular from underrepresented populations

Preferred but not required are:

experience with community outreach
budget authority experience
experience with faculty evaluation
experience mentoring junior faculty

Candidates will apply and upload the following documents at https://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/10219:

CV
Cover letter that addresses duties and responsibilities, qualifications, and preferred qualifications (no more than 4 pages)
Statement of Scholarship and Teaching Philosophy that incorporates inclusiveness in both areas (no more than 3 pages)
Statement of commitment related to diversity, access and inclusion (Other Document #1)

Applicants will provide names and contact information for 3 professional references. For candidates who become finalists, references will be prompted to submit letters of reference through the JobLink system.

You may contact the search committee chair, Dr. Stephen A. Leslie, lesliesa@jmu.edu, if you have questions regarding this position.

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Per the Governor’s Executive Directive #18, new JMU employees upon hire must disclose to the University Health Center their COVID-19 vaccination status. Unvaccinated employees are required to be tested weekly.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMUHuman Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.