Assistant or Associate Professor of Poverty & Public Policy

Job Summary:

The La Follette School of Public Affairs seeks a faculty member who studies poverty and public policy. The school is open with regards to the specific area and approach to poverty research. However, we are particularly interested in a scholar who focuses on U.S. domestic poverty policy.

The La Follette School is a highly ranked school of public affairs, and one of many highly ranked social science units at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The University is consistently ranked among the top universities in terms of success in federally funded research grants and is highly supportive of an interdisciplinary approach to scholarship.

The selected candidate will conduct productive research, be a committed teacher, and welcome being part of an interdisciplinary department dedicated to promoting good public policy. Teaching will involve core graduate and undergraduate courses in public affairs or international public affairs, as well as upper-level electives in poverty and social policy. We are especially interested in a scholar who will contribute core classes to the school's growing undergraduate program.

The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science, that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an inclusive, fair, and equitable environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

Responsibilities:

Successful applicants will teach graduate and undergraduate classes, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, and provide service to the department, college, university, and academic community nationally or internationally. The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college's commitment to equity among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Education:

Required
PhD
Must have a Ph.D. in Economics, Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, or a related field by the start date of position.

Qualifications:

Applicants should demonstrate excellence and productivity in research and a commitment to teaching. Appointment at the tenured level requires evidence of excellence in scholarly research, teaching, and service and requires review by the Social Sciences Tenure Committee at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience with fostering or the ability to foster an inclusive and equity-centered teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive.

Work Type:

Full Time: 100%

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Anticipated Begin Date:

AUGUST 19, 2025

Salary:

Negotiable
ACADEMIC (9 months)

Additional Information:

The La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison is highly rated and is a leader in its field. Our department is multidisciplinary and has a highly collaborative environment. Madison is the state's capitol city and is well known for offering a small town feel in a medium-sized city. It is a great place to raise a family and offers an ideal combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural events, outstanding schools and outdoor recreation.

The College of Letters & Science is committed to creating an inclusive environment in which all of us - students, staff, and faculty - can thrive. Ours is a community in which we all are welcome. Most importantly, we strive to build a community in which all of us feel a great sense of belonging. There is no excellence without diversity in all its forms; diverse teams are more creative and successful than homogeneous ones. We are better when we are diverse and when we acknowledge, celebrate and honor our