William Paterson University invites applications for the appointment of Fellow in the College of the Arts and Communication, Department of Music.  This two-year teaching fellowship is designed to support the academic career launch of candidates from underrepresented backgrounds at the institutional or disciplinary level who are pursuing a terminal degree in the field of music.  

The College of the Arts and Communication will support the Fellow through a structured program of focused research, experiential pedagogy, and an introduction to university and professional service.   

William Paterson University's inaugural pre-doctoral fellowship program will support five non-tenure track fellowship positions across the University.  The goals of the program are to (a) support the academic career success of selected candidates, (b) advance the University's commitment to building a diverse campus community, and (c) expand the University's pool of highly qualified candidates for faculty positions. Fellows will gain supported teaching experience in a highly diverse campus, be provided individualized mentorship, and receive the same level of scholarship support and course release as tenure-track faculty members. A recommendation to convert the fellowship to a tenure-track faculty line may be considered after the end of the first year if the candidate has completed the terminal degree and the department and Fellow agree.

Department overview

The Department of Music at William Paterson University is a community of musician-educators committed to professionalism in teaching, performance and creative activity, scholarship, and community service. The department provides the resources, guidance, and diverse environment that motivate students to seek excellence as they build and maintain careers in music. 

The Department of Music offers BA, BM and MM degrees. BM programs provide professional training with a performance focus, with degrees in Jazz Studies, Music Education, Music and Entertainment Industries, Performance, and Sound Engineering Arts. The two BA degrees, Music Studies and Music Studies with Popular Music Emphasis, are liberal arts degrees, with less emphasis on performance. At the graduate level three concentrations within the Master of Music are offered: Jazz Studies (available with an emphasis on either performance or arranging), Music Education, and Music and Entertainment Industries. The music department partners with WP’s Cotsakos College of Business in an MBA with a Music and Entertainment Industries concentration. Regular performances include large and small ensembles of students and faculty in the Midday Recital Series, the New Music Series, the Jazz Room Series, and individual special concerts.

The Music & Entertainment Industries Master of Music (MM) program provides advanced education in the areas of music business, music management, entrepreneurship and entertainment law as they pertain to the recording industry. Through extensive and ongoing contact with industry representatives from the New York area, students develop a clear understanding of the field. 

For more information about the Music Department, please visit https://www.wpunj.edu/coac/departments/music/

Timeline for the fall 2021 fellowship cohort:

• Thursday, January 14, 2021, 1:00-3:30 Eastern Standard Time:  National webinar exploring the experiences of underrepresented faculty. Effective strategies for recruiting, retaining, and supporting faculty from underrepresented backgrounds will be discussed (1:00pm – 2:30pm). Information about this pre-doctoral fellowship program will follow from 2:30pm - 3:30.  Registration link: https://wpunj.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fNkzOCdSSYmuitnlpZSi6w 
• Monday, February 8, 2021:  Applications due.   
• Thursday-Friday, April 8-9, 2021: Campus visit and interviews.  Details to follow.

Fellowship offers are anticipated by the end of April 2021 for appointments beginning August 2021.

Fellowship duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Teaching

• Collaborate with faculty through tailored mentorship.
• Teach three courses each semester, including team teaching, with an option for paid summer teaching.
• Instruct online and/or on-campus; undergraduate and graduate.
• Contribute to student success through curriculum development and excellent pedagogy.

Research and scholarship

• Collaborate with faculty through tailored mentorship.
• Develop a sustainable program of scholarship or creative expression.
• Disseminate work via scholarly publication and presentation or appropriate performance venues.

Service

• Collaborate with faculty through tailored mentorship to participate in department, College and University service opportunities.

Required qualifications:  

• Will have completed, by August 1, 2021, all but the capstone requirement in a terminal degree program in music from an accredited college or university.
• Possesses the training and expertise to teach entry level collegiate music theory and/or ear training and/or music appreciation and/or applied lessons and music ensembles that correspond to the candidate’s area of music performance expertise.
• Demonstrates evidence or promise of achievement in scholarly activity, research, or creative activity.
• Can incorporate concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion perspective to the field of music

Preferred qualifications:

• Expertise, training and teaching experience in one or more of the following fields: popular music, music business, ethnomusicology, musicology, or jazz studies and history.
• Professional performance experience as a musician. 
• Demonstrated record of working collegially in a music department.

Personal attributes and traits:

• Demonstrated ability to succeed in a collaborative environment by freely offering expertise and being open to meaningful feedback.
• Commitment to supporting student success.
• Capable of engaging and contributing in order to make a positive impact.
• Ability to navigate the complexities of a multi-faceted organization with competing wants and needs.

Interested candidates will be prompted to:

• Complete an application
• Submit a cover letter & CV
• Provide names/contacts of three professional references.

Submission of all documents listed above is required forconsideration.

Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled. General questions related to this application process, please contact talent@wpunj.edu

About William Paterson:

William Paterson University is the third most diverse public university in New Jersey. As a longstanding member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), we have been designated by the US Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. William Paterson University is also proud to be designated as a NASA MSI (Minority Serving Institution). The University offers more than 250 undergraduate and graduate academic programs that range from liberal arts and sciences to pre-professional and professional programs; it enrolls over 9,000 students from across the country and from over 40 nations. The University is situated on a beautiful, 380-acre suburban campus in Wayne, New Jersey, just twenty miles west of New York City.

William Paterson University is an equal opportunity employer that actively values and supports diversity among faculty, staff and students. Women, minorities, and members of under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.