Description
The Department of Criminal Justice at Rochester Institute of Technology invites applicants for two full-time Tenure-Track positions at the rank of Assistant Professor. The start date for these positions is August 2026. Potential candidates must have a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Sociology, Law/Legal Studies, or a related field. ABDs will be considered for candidates near completion if evidence can be shown that completion of the Ph.D. will occur prior to the position start date. Although a J.D. alone is insufficient for this position, candidates with a dual Ph.D./J.D are encouraged to apply. Applicants are expected to:
Possess a strong broad foundation in criminology, criminal justice systems, and criminal justice policy
Have the potential to secure external funding, especially in ways that can grow, support, and expand the community-engaged research portfolio of the department’s Center for Public Safety Initiatives
Areas of research and teaching specialization are open. Candidates are encouraged to highlight their ability to contribute to the following areas where we have specific needs in curricular development and research:
innovative teaching and research in public data analytics, crime analysis, and/or emerging technologies (e.g., cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, etc.) and criminal justice
innovative teaching and research in criminal law, legal decision-making, and/or the intersection between law and public institutions of social control (e.g., race, justice and law; immigration, policy, and justice).
Department/College Description
The Department of Criminal Justice is housed in the RIT College of Liberal Arts and currently has 9 full-time faculty members, enrolls approximately 100 majors, and offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. The College of Liberal Arts partners with Syracuse University College of Law and University at Buffalo School of Law to offer an accelerated 3+3 BS/JD Law Program. More information can be found at https://www.rit.edu/liberalarts/33-bs-jd-pre-law-program
The Department is also home to the Center for Public Safety Initiatives, a unique collaboration between RIT’s Department of Criminal Justice, the City of Rochester, and regional community-based organizations and law enforcement agencies. The Center contributes to criminal justice strategy through research, policy analysis, and evaluation. Its educational goals include training graduate and undergraduate students in strategic planning and policy analysis and exposing them to action research. More information can be found at https://www.rit.edu/liberalarts/center-public-safety-initiatives
The College of Liberal Arts is one of nine colleges within Rochester Institute of Technology. The College has over 150 faculty in 13 departments in the arts, humanities and social sciences. The College currently offers fifteen undergraduate degree programs and five master’s degrees, as well as a Ph.D. program in Cognitive Science that is interdisciplinary with several partner units across the university.
We encourage the creation, development, dissemination, and application of human knowledge in the arts, humanities, and social sciences by promoting innovative teaching, scholarship, and research, thus providing a comprehensive education for all RIT students. We strive to prepare students for a lifetime of personal growth and responsible citizenship in an increasingly technological and rapidly changing society by maintaining and promoting the intellectual climate on campus, contributing to students’ awareness and understanding of diversity, and enhancing students’ abilities to reason critically and communicate effectively. We value a rigorous liberal arts education that encourages innovative experiential learning and active scholarship, the highest ethical standards, the educational and social benefits of diversity and global awareness, an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment of openness and academic freedom, a working environment in which all staff and faculty enjoy respect and recognition, and the active and meaningful participation of all members of the College community.
Requirements
Required Minimum Qualifications
A Ph.D. in Criminal Justice or a closely related field. Candidates must possess:
Demonstrated success or potential in producing high quality scholarship
Demonstrated success or potential in seeking external funding
Demonstrated success or potential in teaching and mentoring students
Demonstrated teaching and research experience necessary to contribute to one or more of the highlighted areas of specialization and need.
We are seeking an individual who has the ability and interest in contributing to a community committed to student-centeredness; professional development and scholarship; integrity and ethics; innovation and flexibility; and teamwork and collaboration. Select to view links to RIT’s core values and honor code.
To attract and retain an excellent and innovative faculty, RIT offers a number of programs and professional development opportunities to help faculty succeed from our onboarding and orientation on through to the tenure and promotion process.https://www.rit.edu/aes/ofr
Required Minimum Education Level: PhD
Faculty Type (Tenure Status): Tenure-Track
Faculty Rank: Assistant Professor
Employment Category: Fulltime
Anticipated Start Date: 10-Aug-2026
Required Application Documents: List of Publications, List of References, Statement of Teaching Philosophy
How To Apply
Apply online at http://careers.rit.edu/faculty; search openings, then Keyword Search 9920BR. Please submit your application, curriculum vitae, cover letter addressing the listed qualifications and upload the following attachments:
A brief teaching philosophy
The names, addresses and phone numbers for three references
Sample Publications
Prospective applicants can contact Professor Tony Smith, search committee chair, with questions at trsgcj@rit.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until December 31, 2025.
