Visiting Assistant Professor/Instructor of Kinesiology

Visiting Assistant Professor/Instructor of Kinesiology

Posting Details

• Posting Number: 0603157
• Recruitment Type: Open to All Applicants
• Position Title: Visiting Assistant Professor/Instructor of Kinesiology
• Position Type: Faculty
• Benefits Status: Benefits Eligible
• FLSA: Exempt
• Hiring Range: $60,000 - $67,000 per year + benefits package.
• Location: Tacoma, WA 98447
• Department: Kinesiology
• Posting Date: 11/12/2026
• Closing Date: Review of applications will begin February 5, 2027 and continue until the position is filled.
• Work Schedule: Full-time, visiting position available September 1, 2027. This is a one-year visiting appointment with the possibility of reappointment for an additional year, dependent upon satisfactory performance and department needs. Must be available to work Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm, with occasional evening commitments or night classes possible. Academic schedule is September to May. Classes begin on September 7, 2027. New Faculty Orientation will take place on September 1, 2027. Summer teaching is available depending on student enrollment.

General Description

The Department of Kinesiology at Pacific Lutheran University invites applications for a full-time, one year visiting faculty position, with the possibility of reappointment for an additional year based on satisfactory performance and departmental needs. We seek an individual who can contribute to a strong, cohesive team and respected academic program. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a clear commitment to excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level and to student-faculty collaboration. The department is looking for an educator whose educational training along with their scholarly and applied pursuits will support students across a range of academic and career interests as well as strengthen our existing curriculum.

We welcome candidates with backgrounds in kinesiology, exercise science, public health, community health and wellness, health education, health promotion, or related fields. We are particularly interested in candidates whose expertise both complements existing departmental strengths and offers additional perspectives to the study of human movement, health, and well-being. Relevant expertise might include community-based health promotion, population health, health behavior, wellness programming, disease prevention, or other allied health domains.

The position carries a 24-credit teaching responsibility for the academic year. The successful candidate will contribute to the department’s established undergraduate curriculum. Teaching assignments will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications, course availability, departmental needs, and student interests. In addition to contributing to existing courses, the successful candidate may have opportunities to develop coursework that connects kinesiology with health promotion, community wellness, or related areas of expertise. Any new course offerings would be considered in consultation with the department and in alignment with program priorities. All department faculty are expected to contribute to the General Education Physical Activity curriculum, the First Year Experience Program, and/or January Term as needed. In addition, undergraduate advising may be requested.

We value faculty who bring varied educational, professional, and scholarly experiences to their work. Candidates who are committed to undergraduate teaching, student-faculty collaboration, and helping students from diverse backgrounds see pathways into health-related professions are encouraged to apply.

Meeting every preferred qualification or possessing every knowledge, skill, or ability listed in the job description is not expected. We invite interested candidates to submit their materials.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Teach 24 credit load annually.
• Provide service to the department as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong disciplinary knowledge base in areas related to health and fitness promotion, public health education, and/or exercise science.
• Knowledge of effective teaching techniques and strategies, including inclusive teaching practices.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level and to student/faculty collaboration and scholarship.
• Strong work ethic and organizational skills.
• Professional orientation and disposition.
• Willingness to collaborate and engage with other department and university faculty.

Required Qualifications

• ABD or Master’s degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Public Health, or a closely related field required by September 1, 2027 for appointment at the Visiting Instructor Rank. Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Public Health, or a closely related field required by September 1, 2027 for appointment at the Visiting Assistant Professor rank.
• Applicant must be legally eligible to work in the United States on hire date AND legally authorized to work in the United States for Pacific Lutheran University without sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Public Health or a closely related field.
• Higher education teaching experience.
• One or more professional certifications related to health and fitness or exercise science, preferably through the American College of Sports Medicine, National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc or other professional organization(s).
• Work experience in fields related to public health education, health and fitness, nutrition, and/or exercise science.

Physical Requirements

• May include accessing an exercise science laboratory space located on the second floor of a building.

Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply, please submit your application including:

• Cover letter.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Statement of teaching philosophy in which you describe your goals for student learning, the methods you use to help students achieve them, and how you assess student learning. This statement should also explicitly address how you create an inclusive learning environment that is attuned to diversity and equity.
• Contact information for three references.

For questions or more information, please contact Dr. Mallory Mann at mannmf@plu.edu.

Other Information

Pacific Lutheran University purposefully integrates the liberal arts, professional studies and civic engagement in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our faculty lead with a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice and instill this commitment in their students. PLU educators work to create an environment where students feel heard and valued, nurturing lifelong learners who aren’t afraid to do things differently to make the world better for everyone. PLU supports faculty as they help students turn ambition into purpose, skills into tools, and their caring into a transformative force.

Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a faculty, staff, and student body from all religions, races, socioeconomic groups, sexual orientations, and gender expressions and from all over the world. For the 2025-26 academic year, 45 percent of PLU undergraduate students are from the first generation in their families to attend college; 51.4 percent self-identify as students of color; and 34.2 percent are Pell Grant–eligible.

Offering distinctive opportunities for global engagement, collaborative student-faculty research, and purposeful learning, our faculty guide 2,700 students from all faiths and backgrounds to discern their purpose through relevant coursework, inclusive mentoring, and internships at world-class Puget Sound-area businesses and institutions. PLU is located on a 156-acre woodland campus in the Parkland neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington and about 40 minutes south of downtown Seattle. The campus reflects consciously green practices and is in proximity to the natural beauty of Mount Rainier, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and the Puget Sound.

PLU administration supports and respects the strong culture of faculty- shared governance by working closely and collaboratively with faculty leadership to sustain and strengthen existing structures and procedures while working together on key institutional, academic and curricular decisions. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and marginalized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research, or other work activities. For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 or humr@plu.edu. Click here for detailed benefits information.