Tinker Visiting Professorship

Application opens on October 1, 2025. Nominations for Academic Year 2026-27 are due by February 3, 2026.

Under the auspices of a generous endowment from the Edward Larocque Tinker Foundation that was awarded to Stanford and four other universities in 1978, the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) has hosted an impressive roster of prominent scholars from Latin America, Iberia, and Canada as Tinker Visiting Professors in Latin American Studies. Each year, these scholars are selected from candidates nominated by faculty in any department or professional school at Stanford. Awardees are selected through a competitive process on the basis of academic qualifications, the quality of teaching and research plans, and the relevance of both to the Center's mission and objectives. 

While at CLAS, Tinker Visiting Professors teach classes in their areas of expertise, give lectures to Stanford audiences, and share their knowledge and research on a wide range of topics that are of concern to Latin Americans. Tinker Visiting Professors receive a competitive salary, housing allowance, economy class round-trip airfare, and an assigned course assistant. Additionally, Tinker Visiting Professors may request funding to attend a conference in the US and/or to organize a symposium or conference at Stanford. For more information, please contact clas-visitors [at] stanford.edu (CLAS).

Eligibility

Open to leading scholars or experts in any academic field. Nominee must be a citizen or permanent resident of a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking Latin American country. Individuals residing in the U.S. permanently are not eligible. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including women scholars and members of traditionally underrepresented groups.

Former Stanford Tinker Visiting Professors are eligible after ten years from their previous Tinker professorship appointment at Stanford University.

Duration

Typically, an appointment lasts for one quarter (Autumn, Winter, or Spring) and includes teaching a 4-5 unit course. The selection committee may consider longer appointments with additional responsibilities (i.e. teach a second course, offer a student-focused workshop, organize a conference or symposium). Please consult with our Associate Director for further information.

Nomination Process for Academic Year 2026-27

Stanford faculty are invited to nominate their peers from Latin America or Iberia to come to Stanford to teach, research, and advise in their areas of expertise.

  • Complete nominations must be submitted by Stanford faculty. CLAS does not accept documents or nominations from nominees. Please note that if accepted, a letter of leave from the nominee's home institution is required to be provided to CLAS. 

Nominate Here

Nominations should include the following:

  • Candidate's Curriculum Vitae
    • The CV should include educational degrees, current position title and employer, mailing address, and email address.
  • Proposed Course
    • The proposed title and description of the course the candidate would teach.
  • Evidence of English Proficiency* (certification of one or more of the following):
    • Nominee's primary language is English.
    • Nominee earned a U.S. bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, or international equivalent from a university where all instruction was conducted in English.
    • Nominee has two or more consecutive years of full-time professional or educational experience in English, in the past 10 years.
    • A current TOEFL iBT score of 109 or higher or a current IELTS score of 8 or higher.
      • Stanford considers English proficiency test scores to be valid for two years. Expired scores will not be accepted.
  • A letter from the Stanford faculty (nominator) sponsoring the candidate.
  • A supporting letter from the chair of the department or center nominating the candidate.

*If the nominee is a finalist for the position, we may require them to submit supporting documentation to confirm English proficiency.

Responsibilities of the Nominating Department or Center

  • Schedule course(s), including cross-listing, if applicable
  • Publicize and promote course(s)
  • Provide assistance in ordering the required course books at the Stanford Bookstore
  • Include and engage the visiting professor in the academic life of the department or center

Responsibilities of CLAS

  • Provide visa, travel, and lodging assistance
  • Appoint and hire visiting professor - including processing a Non-Employee Affiliate number 30 days before visiting professor's arrival
  • Provide office space
  • Publicize and promote course(s)
  • Include and engage visiting professor in the academic life of the center
  • Appoint and hire visiting professor's course assistant who will:
    • Provide Canvas and Axess assistance and
    • Work with the Green Library curator to put books on reserve

For Further Information

Feel free to contact CLAS at clas-visitors [at] stanford.edu (clas-visitors[at]stanford[dot]edu).