Position Summary:

Job Description:

Western Colorado University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in Finance in the School of Business. We seek a dynamic teacher-scholar who is committed to excellent undergraduate teaching, student-centered learning, professional preparation, and applied, career-connected education. This is an in-person, on-campus position on Western’s vibrant residential campus in Gunnison, Colorado.

Finance is central to business education and to understanding how organizations, industries, and economies create, allocate, and sustain value. At Western, finance connects across our curriculum and distinctive areas of study—from the experience economy and energy industry to economics, entrepreneurship, real estate, and the broader business disciplines—providing students with the financial knowledge and analytical capabilities essential to informed decision-making and effective leadership.

The successful candidate will join the School of Business at an exciting time of growth and innovation and will contribute broadly to finance education across our programs. An important component of this growth is the development of a new Certified Financial Planner (CFP) educational pathway designed to prepare students for careers in financial planning and related financial services fields.

We especially welcome candidates who can contribute expertise in areas such as financial planning, investments, portfolio management, retirement planning, insurance, estate planning, taxation, personal finance, corporate finance, or related areas of finance.

The standard teaching load is 24 credit hours per academic year. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate finance courses and other courses aligned with their expertise and School needs. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to collaborate with School of Business faculty and external partners in the development and implementation of Western’s new CFP curriculum and its alignment with CFP Board educational requirements.

Western values faculty who connect classroom learning with professional practice. The successful candidate will have opportunities to engage students through applied learning experiences such as internships, investment and financial analysis projects, community-based learning, research, case competitions, industry partnerships, and other career-connected learning opportunities. Faculty may also participate in Western’s innovative Western Watershed General Education program and First-Year Seminar Headwaters courses.

The School of Business serves more than 325 students across its majors and minors. Students can earn degrees in Business Administration and Economics, with emphases including energy management, finance, management, and marketing. Our programs combine rigorous academic preparation with applied learning, close faculty mentorship, industry engagement, and opportunities for students to bridge theory and practice.

The School is expanding opportunities in finance through curricular innovation, professional and industry partnerships, community engagement, and applied learning. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help shape this growth and contribute to preparing students for careers across financial planning, investment management, banking, corporate finance, entrepreneurship, and other areas in which financial knowledge and decision-making are essential.

Western supports its faculty by fostering a collaborative and innovative academic community. Our Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) engages faculty, staff, and administrators in cross-campus initiatives designed to strengthen teaching and learning through diverse expertise, innovation, and continuous improvement. The Professional Activity Fund (PAF) provides financial support for faculty engaged in research, conference participation, grant writing, professional development, and other scholarly or creative activities, with three application opportunities each year.

Western’s faculty are teacher-scholars who contribute meaningfully to their disciplines, the University, our community, and beyond. We seek candidates who will actively support Western’s institutional mission and strategic priorities, including:

• Delivering rigorous, engaging, and student-centered undergraduate education
• Participating in Western’s innovative Western Watershed General Education program
• Promoting student success, wellness, inclusion, and belonging
• Collaborating within and across disciplines to grow enrollment and deepen student engagement
• Expanding applied and career-connected learning and professional pathways
• Building relationships with employers, alumni, industry partners, and professional organizations
• Contributing through teaching, scholarship, advising, service, and engagement to the continued growth of the School of Business

Learn more about the department at: https://western.edu/department/school-of-business/

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Finance, Financial Planning, Business Administration with a finance concentration, or a closely related field is required. ABD candidates will be considered for appointment, with completion of the terminal degree required for tenure.

Candidates must demonstrate:

• A commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching and student-centered education
• Academic preparation to teach finance and related courses at the undergraduate level
• Potential for continued scholarship, research, professional engagement, or other scholarly activity appropriate to the discipline
• A commitment to advising, mentoring, and supporting students from a broad range of backgrounds and educational experiences
• An ability to integrate technology and contemporary financial tools into instruction
• An ability and willingness to teach in multiple instructional modalities, including in-person, online, and hybrid formats
• A willingness to contribute to university and professional service
• Collegiality, collaboration, and professional flexibility

Preferred Qualifications:

• Teaching and/or professional expertise in one or more areas of finance, including investments, corporate finance, financial planning, portfolio management, personal finance, banking, real estate finance, or related fields
• Professional or industry experience that strengthens the connection between finance education and contemporary business practice
• Experience developing innovative courses, curricula, certificates, academic programs, or interdisciplinary learning opportunities
• Experience building partnerships with financial institutions, businesses, professional organizations, employers, alumni, or community organizations
• Experience incorporating applied learning, financial technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, simulations, case studies, or industry projects into finance education
• A record of engaging students in internships, research, professional development, competitions, community-based learning, or other career-connected experiences
• Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) certification or another relevant professional finance credential

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The annualized salary range for this position depends on incoming rank (assistant professor or associate professor), qualifications, and experience. 

• Assistant Professor - $95,000 to $105,000
• Associate Professor - $105,000 to $120,000

Western offers an excellent benefits package, including shared premiums for comprehensive health insurance, dental insurance, retirement benefits, life insurance, and additional insurance options. After one year of employment, Western provides free tuition for eligible dependents enrolled full-time in undergraduate programs for up to four years.

START DATE: August 16, 2027

APPLICATION: Apply online at www.western.edu/jobs.  Required attachments to the application include: Letter of application, curriculum vitae, evidence of successful teaching and mentoring, evidence of successful scholarly or creative activity, and a reference list with names and contact information of three references, including from a current supervisor.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Please direct questions to Dr. Kevin Nelson, email: [email protected] 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 1, 2026. Review of applications will begin immediately.

Additional Information on Western and Gunnison/Crested Butte

Western Colorado University is a public institution with an enrollment of ~3,700 students. 47% of students are undergraduates, 33% are graduate students, and 80% receive some form of financial aid. Western students represent 17 countries, 50 states, and almost every county in Colorado. With an average class size of 17, Western’s faculty and staff share a strong commitment to personalized, rigorous, and immersive education. Visit http://www.western.edu to learn more about the university.

Western Colorado University is located in Gunnison, Colorado, about 200 miles southwest of Denver amidst over 2 million acres of public land and a vibrant ranching community. The Gunnison valley provides robust cultural programming and exceptional outdoor recreation. A network of dedicated community organizations enrich the lives of many in the tight-knit community. Living in the valley, one appreciates a vibrant culture of festivals, exhibitions, performances, wellness activities, and more. In the winter, many enjoy skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and along dozens of miles of cross-country trails. In the summer, bikers, hikers, and runners explore 750-plus miles of singletrack trails, while others delight in fishing, boating, and paddleboarding at Blue Mesa Reservoir or on the Gunnison River and its tributaries. Pre-K-12 students are served by the highly-ranked Gunnison Watershed School District.

Western Colorado University encourages qualified candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Western is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants in accordance with applicable law.

An Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.

WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER INCLUDING DISABILITY/VETERANS

It is the ongoing policy and practice of Western Colorado University to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants.  No person shall be discriminated against in any condition of employment because of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, marital status, or any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local law.

ADAAA ACCOMMODATIONS:

Western Colorado University is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Western will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to the Office of Human Resources at [email protected] or (970) 943-3140.