Department Chair

Job Title

Department Chair – Department of French and Italian, Office of the Deans, Arts and Sciences

Hagerty Hall (0037), Columbus, OH

The Ohio State University seeks a chair who will provide ambitious and innovative leadership for its Department of French and Italian. Anticipated start date is July 1, 2026. The chair will serve as the administrative head of a thriving department, overseeing faculty, staff, curriculum, facilities, budget, and strategic direction. In addition to administrative duties, the chair will be a dedicated teacher and distinguished scholar, with a record of accomplishment to merit appointment as an advanced Associate Professor or Professor.

• Provide steady yet innovative leadership to the Department of French and Italian.
• Support fundraising efforts in partnership with OSU Advancement.
• Manage budgets, resources, and space for the department.
• Oversee excellence in student learning and curricular development.
• Help faculty and staff thrive in their roles through leadership, mentoring, and professional development.
• Advocate for the department to units around the university, community, and broader academic field.
• Lead engagement efforts with communities and organizations around Central Ohio.

• PhD in French or Italian Studies or related field.
• Native or non‑native fluency in French and/or Italian.
• National or international record of scholarly achievement commensurate with the position of advanced Associate Professor or Professor, including distinguished research, teaching excellence, and professional service.
• Demonstrated and effective leadership and administrative experience in academia.
• Ability to cultivate positive work relationships with students, colleagues, and staff.

• Experience in fundraising, budgeting, and management.
• Experience with interdisciplinary collaborations, such as with other academic units, community partners, and professional academic/humanities organizations.

Apply through the Careers at Ohio State website. A competitive application must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and separate research and teaching statements.

Final date to receive applications:
January 27, 2026.

Attachment requirements:

• Cover Letter (1‑2 pages) – summary of leadership vision, teaching, and research/creative scholarship.
• Curriculum Vitae – detailed overview of scholarly experience, leadership experience, teaching, mentoring, service, funding, and publications.
• Research Statement – summary of past research/creative accomplishments, current work, and proposal for future research.
• Teaching Statement – statement of teaching philosophy and approaches.

The university is an equal‑opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check, and may be required to provide additional drug and health screening or other checks as needed.