Assistant Professor – Comparative Politics, Latin America and Mexico Specialization

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Position description

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a Carnegie R1, Opportunity, and Community-Engaged university at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border region that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve. UTEP enrolls more than 26,000 students, 84% of whom are Hispanic and half of whom are the first in their families to attend college. UTEP offers 169 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.

Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, El Paso is set against the backdrop of the Franklin Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert in one of the largest binational communities in the world. A family-oriented community that is one of the safest large cities in the U.S., the cost of living in El Paso is very reasonable with an average home value of $224,000 in 2025, and Texas has no state income tax. In 2026, U.S. News and World report named El Paso the best big city to live in the nation. The region’s rich culture includes a vibrant street art and mural scene, art galleries, a new children’s museum and science center, the state’s longest-running symphony orchestra, and a full schedule of seasonal events and festivals. Sports fans will enjoy Division I college athletics, Triple-A baseball affiliate El Paso Chihuahuas, and professional soccer team El Paso Locomotive FC, and outdoor enthusiasts will be drawn to year-round hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing in nearby state and national parks.

With nearly 7,000 students and more than 20 departments and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college at UTEP. The college offers 36 bachelor’s, 24 master’s, and four Ph. D. degrees in the fine and performing arts, the humanities, and the social and behavioral sciences. The college also provides most of the UTEP core curriculum to students in all colleges. The college’s undergraduate and graduate programs house many excellent faculty who have been recognized as national and international leaders in their fields. Faculty conduct interdisciplinary research in Latinx culture, health disparities, social justice, border studies, migration, environmental communication, and numerous other fields that enrich our bicultural and binational region.

Job Description:

The Department of Political Science and Public Administration at The University of Texas at El Paso invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in comparative politics, with a specialization in Latin America and a focus on Mexican politics. The position begins in Fall 2027. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses (with a normal teaching load of two courses per semester) in the department’s curriculum, including introductory courses in political science and undergraduate/graduate research methods, in addition to courses such as Latin American Politics and The Politics of Mexico. A strong record of peer-reviewed publications will be required for tenure.

Qualifications

• A PhD in Political Science or related field, in hand at the time of appointment.
• Maintain an active research agenda with strong potential to publish in high-quality scholarly venues and attract external funding.
• Evidence of strong potential for effective undergraduate and graduate teaching, including research methods courses and the ability to mentor undergraduate and graduate students.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Peer-reviewed publications or a strong publication trajectory.
• Demonstrated success in securing external grant funding.
• Experience teaching and mentoring students at a Hispanic-Serving Institution or with diverse student populations.

Application instructions

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