The Department of Philosophy at Lafayette College invites applications for its Louise M. Olmsted Fellow in Ethics. The position is made possible by the Louise M. Olmsted Endowment Fund for Ethics and the Office of the Provost. The Olmsted Endowment Fund for Ethics aims to encourage students to critically address increasingly complex ethical issues and to reflect on the many ways in which our ethical judgments contribute to forming and expressing our values as people and citizens. Reporting to the Head of the Philosophy Department, the Olmsted Fellow will (a) teach three courses per year in the area of ethics broadly construed; (b) promote and organize ethics-related events for student and faculty audiences across campus (lectures, panel discussions, reading groups, etc.); (c) maintain an active research program and periodically share their results with the campus community; and (d) work closely with the student-run Philosophy Club and help facilitate its programming.
In coordination with the Philosophy Department, the Fellow will take advantage of and promote intersections with disciplines, programs, and campus initiatives so as to contribute to the College’s diverse and inclusive community. The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in Philosophy with a specialization in ethics broadly construed; evidence of scholarly accomplishment and a well-defined research program; teaching experience at the undergraduate level; and a demonstrated ability to collaborate with colleagues and mentor students.
The position is for three years with yearly renewal contingent on successful annual review. Salary and benefits are competitive, financial support for conference travel is available, and faculty mentorship along with opportunities for pedagogical development are offered.
Submit applications to Owen McLeod, Professor of Philosophy and search committee chair at https://apply.interfolio.com/175478. Include a curriculum vitae, a brief cover letter that discusses specific interest in the position, a statement of teaching philosophy and interests, a statement of scholarly interests and plans, a writing sample, and three letters of recommendation. The cover letter should address how your scholarship, teaching, mentoring and/or community service will support Lafayette’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as articulated in the College’s diversity statement (https://belong.lafayette.edu/diversity-statement/). Applications must be received by December 19, 2025, to receive full consideration.
Located within 70 miles of New York City and Philadelphia, Lafayette College is a highly selective undergraduate liberal arts and engineering institution with significant resources to support faculty members in their teaching and scholarship. More information about the Philosophy Department is available at https://philosophy.lafayette.edu. Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community, one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. Lafayette welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.
Lafayette College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, religion, age, military or veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or familial status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law in its educational programs and activities, admissions, or employment as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (which requires that the College not discriminate on the basis of sex); the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (which requires that the College not discriminate on the basis of disability); Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which requires that the College not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin); and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which requires that the College not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin); and other applicable laws and College policies.