Columbia University

Company Description

Columbia University has been a leader in higher education in the nation and around the world for more than 250 years. At the core of our wide range of academic inquiry is the commitment to attract and engage the best minds in pursuit of greater human understanding, pioneering new discoveries, and service to society.

The School of Professional Studies at Columbia University offers innovative and rigorous programs that integrate knowledge across disciplinary boundaries, combine theory with practice, leverage the expertise of our students and faculty, and connect global constituencies. Through eighteen professional master's degrees, courses for advancement and graduate school preparation, certificate programs, summer courses, high school programs, and a program for learning English as a second language, the School of Professional Studies transforms knowledge and understanding in service of the greater good.

Job Description

Columbia University School of Professional Studies seeks candidates for the role of Adjunct Lecturer for the fall 2025 semester to teach the online, graduate-level course, AI & the Knowledge Driven Organization in the school’s Master of Science degree program in Information & Knowledge Strategy (IKNS). Scholar-practitioners with relevant academic and industry experience are invited to apply.

The course is taught via synchronous, online instruction (Zoom). It is a required course in the IKNS curriculum and is meant to provide future leaders and managers of AI applications in organizations with the required technical and business understanding of how AI is used in organizations. As such, it is not a course in the mathematical details and algorithms that enable AI. More details on the course can be found here.

Serving as an Adjunct Lecturer provides an outstanding opportunity to educate and mentor students aspiring to a career in information science as well as to form a rewarding professional relationship with Columbia University’s world-class faculty. Candidates should have a demonstrated understanding of academic and applied trends that are driving best practice in the field.

Responsibilities

• Attend all online class sessions (class generally meets one evening per week for up to 2 hours), conduct the lectures, and lead classroom administration.
• Lead preparation of course materials including the oversight of the course Canvas webpage (learning management system), weekly presentations, development of class readings, etc.
• Monitor student concerns and inquiries; conduct office hours.
• Evaluate and grade student assignments (teaching assistants will be provided).

Qualifications

Required:

• Extensive expertise not only in the theoretical aspects of AI but also in how organizations use related applications strategically, including challenges in implementation, accuracy, and bias/ethics.
• Master’s degree in areas broadly related to the IKNS curriculum. Doctoral degree preferred.
• To comply with the University's Policy on Fully Remote Work, candidates for the role must reside in New York or a contiguous state (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Vermont) or a state or territory in which the University is registered (Biosphere Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Montana, Oklahoma, Virginia, or Washington DC).

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• Ability to explain how AI works at the conceptual level, including its history, challenges and limitations (as opposed to teaching students how to code and deploy AI).
• First-hand knowledge based on having worked with organizations to leverage AI strategically, including aspects of implementation and change management.
• Proven track record of successful teaching at the graduate level.

Additional Information

Schedule

This course is tentatively scheduled for Mondays from 8pm to 10pm EST. Please note any possible scheduling conflicts in your cover letter.

Application Process

• Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
• All applicants, please provide:
  • Resume/CV, inclusive of university teaching experience -- highlight teaching at the graduate level.
  • A cover letter.
  • If available, please submit any evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g,. student evaluations of teaching, teaching observation summaries, etc.).

Compensation

• Salary: $16,500-17,500 (for the semester).

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.