University of Nebraska at Omaha

Job Summary:

The University of Nebraska at Omaha's Special Education and Communication Disorders Department is seeking a non-tenure track, full-time faculty ASL program instructor to join our dynamic team. We are seeking candidates who are accepting and affirming of all people and are passionate about teaching American Sign Language, Deaf Studies, and ASL Linguistics courses.  

This is a full-time, benefits eligible position with an anticipated start date of August 17, 2026.   

The duties listed are intended as illustrations of types of work that may be performed, and the omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position:

Responsibilities: Teach ASL courses ranging from introductory to advanced and develop course content and curriculum.

Teach undergraduate courses in American Sign Language I-V  

Coordinating with the development of sign language and interpreting courses

Motivate students to learn more about American Sign Language and the Deaf community

Document and assess educational outcomes of progress

Ensure accessibility of all learning materials

Independently pursue activities to enhance subject matter expertise, skills in various modes of instruction, and knowledge of learning

Provide high-quality sign language instruction, assignments, and assessments in classes

Support and mentor students completing activities in ASL and ASL-English Interpreting

Teach in-person and/or virtually

Use of campus-wide Content Management System, Canvas, to provide course information and maintain an electronic record of student progress

Work with students in culturally/linguistically diverse settings

Work collaboratively with members of the department, college, and university

Provide service to the university and community

About Us:

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is fueled by its historical ties to Omaha.  As the first municipal university in Omaha, the early founders’ goal was to make higher education accessible and affordable for the city’s residents. In 1968, the campus joined the University of Nebraska system, and today has the unique role of serving as the state’s metropolitan campus. Accessibility remains a top priority in UNO’s mission and vision.  Today, the campus is known for its student-centered environment, its community engagement, and its dedication to embracing students from all types of backgrounds. 

The campus has built strong partnerships with local business, education, government, arts, and civic organizations in the city. UNO’s commitment to community engagement has landed UNO on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for seven consecutive years—the highest federal recognition a school can receive for civic engagement. This honor is but one of many points of pride for UNO. In 2019, it was ranked in the top ten public institutions in the nation for military friendliness by Military Times magazine for the fifth consecutive year. Nearly 90 percent of UNO’s 15,500 students are from Nebraska, and roughly 60 percent of recent alumni surveyed report graduating with no debt or less than $5,000 in debt. It is simply one of the most competitively priced institutions in the region. UNO, while large enough to provide students with global opportunities, thrives on its personal and close-knit campus culture, where students come first and partnerships with the community grow every day.  For more information about how UNO embraces its mission, see Growing With and Within Our Thriving Community.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a metropolitan, public research university, with deep roots in making higher education accessible and community-driven. As both a Metropolitan University of distinction and a Carnegie Doctoral Research Institution, UNO's mission is “to transform and improve the quality of life locally, nationally, and globally,” with a bold vision to be “the premier Metropolitan University in the U.S. and the world.” UNO’s core values—Excellence, Engagement, Discovery, Integrity, and the Maverick Spirit—illustrate UNO's transparent, student-focused ethos.Today, over 15,000 students are enrolled across more than 200 programs, spanning undergraduate, graduate, and online offerings, with growth particularly strong among graduate, transfer, and out-of-state populations. UNO’s "OUR Tuition" initiative is fueling this momentum by offering significantly reduced tuition to students in surrounding states. UNO’s Fact Book and Enrollment Profile Reports offer full breakdowns for deeper insight (DigitalCommons@UNO).

UNO alumni make a powerful economic impact—adding roughly $2.4 billion to Omaha’s economy in 2024 while supporting approximately 12,500 local jobs. (Silicon Prairie News). The UNO Alumni Association is a global network of 123,000+ living alumni, contributing to university and community through mentoring, giving, and engagement. Community engagement remains a defining part of UNO’s identity. Through its Office of Engagement and the nationally recognized Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, UNO brings students, faculty, and community partners together to collaborate on teaching, research, and service. In 2023–24 alone, the university worked with more than 430 community organizations—including nonprofits, businesses, government agencies, and K–12 schools—demonstrating its role as a vital partner in driving positive impact across the region (University of Nebraska Omaha).

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in American Sign Language (ASL) teaching, Deaf Studies, Linguistics or related fields.
• Native or near-native proficiency in ASL to participate in high level academic conversations.
• Experience teaching classes or facilitating training related to American Sign Language and Interpreting development.

Preferred Qualifications:

Evidence of positive relationships and collegiality with Deaf and hearing university students, staff, and colleagues. Two years of ASL teaching at the college level is preferred. Evidence of participation in ASL/Deaf Studies and Deaf community organizations on local, state, and national levels. Commitment to Deaf multilingual/multicultural experience and its foundation in fundamental human rights.

ASLTA, RID, and/or BEI certification

Compliance Requirements:

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Additional Information:

Applications must be submitted directly through the UNO website to be considered for this position. Any applications submitted via email or this website will not be reviewed or considered. Please submit the following application materials when applying:  a cover letter, vitae (with three professional references listed, and official transcripts.

Review of applications will begin on February 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please apply by the review date.  For questions about the position, please contact Dr. Beth Leader-Janssen, Special Education and Communication Disorders Department Chair at eleaderjanssen@unomaha.edu

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to preventing and eliminating discrimination against employees and prospective employees based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. The University of Nebraska at Omaha does not condone or tolerate discrimination. In support of this policy, the University has implemented employment programs to recruit, employ, and promote qualified individuals based solely on their knowledge, skills, abilities and talents. These factors, along with our commitment to recruit, assess and select all candidates/employees using job-related criteria, ensure fairness, equal evaluation, and treatment in our selection decisions and processes.