By Heather Fabritze
News Editor
Despite Washington College’s implementation of a hiring freeze for the foreseeable future, various academic departments will be able to employ new faculty members in the 2025 fall semester.
The Departments of Political Science, English, Biology, and Environmental Science and Studies all conducted hiring searches over the past few months for their open positions. Political Science started reviewing applications for an assistant professor in October before WC initiated a hiring freeze.
The assistant professor position has a specialization in U.S. politics, which has been a gap in the Political Science curriculum since 2022. Related classes such as Women & Politics and State and Local Politics will be available to take when the new hire starts.
With the approaching retirement of Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies Dr. Tahir Shad, the new assistant professor is also slated to take over the Maryland General Assembly Internship Program.
According to Chair of Political Science Dr. Christine Wade, one of the new hire’s main duties is to develop experiential civic engagement classes in collaboration with the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience.
“The commitment to experiential learning was a key focus of our search, as we really wanted our new colleague to develop opportunities in and around our community,” Dr. Wade said. “It’s exciting, and we think it will expand and innovate departmental offerings.”
The department extended a final offer to their selected candidate and confirmed their acceptance in early December.
Another faculty member, a professor of African American literature, will also start their position in the fall of 2025. The English Department has not yet made a final selection but has invited candidates to campus to meet with students in the major.
The professor will teach a first year seminar and English 101s in addition to their African American literature courses.
Associate Professor of English Dr. Elizabeth O’Connor stressed the importance this position has for not just English majors, but all students who take classes in the department for distribution.
“As many high schools around the country have begun, or may soon need, to curtail, or even end entirely, discussions of African American literature and history, it is essential that we are able to offer a diverse range of classes that fully encompass the rich literary tradition of Black writers in the U.S.,” Dr. O’Connor said.
Two new assistant professors in the Biology Department, who already accepted their offers, were selected as the hiring freeze was initiated. One of the candidates, a microbiologist, is taking over for Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Kathleen Verville after her retirement last year.
According to Biology Chair Dr. Jennie Rinehimer, the second hire is a dual appointment who will instruct in both the Biology Department and the Environmental Science and Studies Departments.
“Our new microbiologist will routinely offer microbiology and other courses that are of great interest and relevance to students pursuing careers in health care,” Dr. Rinehimer said. “The new hire in BIO/ENV will add breadth of our biology expertise and course offerings and contribute to the interdisciplinary nature of environmental science and studies, teaching courses on animals, especially ecological invasions and the impacts of humans on the natural environment.”
Both of the new biology professors are particularly looking forward to conducting practical research with students and engaging in experiential learning.
All four departments will now be able to expand the course opportunities that are available each semester, including returning to classes that have not been offered in years. Other hiring searches may be delayed, though, until the hiring freeze ends.