The job search can be challenging when pursuing a career in academia. For students interested in teaching and research in philosophy, it can be even more difficult.
Philosophy Department Chair Ben Bradley
According to Department Chair and Allan and Anita Sutton Professor of Philosophy Ben Bradley, the number of tenure-track positions has declined, and with that, positions are seeing an even greater number of qualified applicants. Despite these challenges, the College of Arts and Sciences’ Philosophy Department has experienced outstanding placement rates for their philosophy doctoral graduates.
To better prepare the doctoral students, the philosophy department implemented new programs over the last five years to enhance career development and job search opportunities. It instituted a professional development seminar for advanced graduate students, which entails a faculty member working one-on-one over the course of a semester to develop students’ application portfolios, including writing samples, dissertation abstracts, and syllabi. It also increased funding for graduate student travel to conferences, creating more opportunities for students to network with, and gain feedback from, professionals in the field. In addition, doctoral candidates are getting critical hands-on experience in the classroom.
The results of these efforts speak for themselves. For many of the recent graduates, though, the world-class faculty and caliber of the program have made the greatest impact on their experience.
“The philosophy job market is probably more difficult than it has ever been. The number of Ph.D.s applying for jobs has been increasing, while the number of full-time jobs available appears to be stagnant or even shrinking,” says Travis Timmerman, a 2016 philosophy doctoral graduate who is now a tenure-track assistant professor at Seton Hall University. “The fact that so many Syracuse graduates have so quickly secured a full time job is a testament to the quality of Syracuse’s philosophy Ph.D. program and to the faculty who mentored graduates before they went on the market.”
In addition to Timmerman, some of the program’s most recent placements include:
Nicole Dular G’17, visiting assistant professor at Franklin College
Kendall Fisher G’17, left, and Li Kang G’17, who have both attained academic positions in philosophy.
Kendall Fisher G’17, tenure-track assistant professor at Seattle University
Li Kang G’17, two-year position at Vassar College
Preston Werner G’16, tenure-track lecturer at Hebrew University
Yishai Cohen G’15, tenure-track assistant professor at University of Southern Maine
Ryan Hubbard G’15, tenure-track assistant professor at Gulf Coast State College
Rich Booher G’15, tenure-track professor at De Anza College
Mihnea Capraru G’15, assistant professor at Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
John Monteleone G’13, tenure-track visiting assistant professor, Le Moyne College
“It is exciting for me, and the department, to see their impressive accomplishments. We are all proud of their successes,” says Bradley.
