Associate Professor of African American Literature and Culture

The Department of English at Rice University, located in Houston, Texas, has been authorized to fill a position at the Assistant (tenure track) or Associate (tenured) professor level in any period or area of African American Literature and Culture. (Applicants for the Assistant Professor position can apply here: http://jobs.rice.edu/postings/21256). This position is part of a broader hiring and programming initiative led by the School of Humanities to further enhance the already vibrant interdisciplinary scholarship in African and African American Studies on campus.

We seek outstanding applicants working within the field and particularly welcome scholars specializing in one or more of the following areas: late 18-19th century African American Literature, contemporary Black Popular Cultures, Black Atlantic or African diasporic studies, Afro-futurism or speculative fiction, music and sound studies, visual and material cultures, environmental studies, medical humanities, digital humanities, science and technology studies, and gender and sexuality studies. Successful candidates will demonstrate evidence of a strong research and teaching portfolio, and a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Department’s standard 2-2 teaching load includes instruction in both the undergraduate and graduate curriculums. The University expects faculty members to maintain an active program of scholarly research and publication, and to contribute service to the department, university, and profession.

Applicants must have a PhD by no later than June 2020 and evidence of effective writing and teaching. We will begin reviewing applications on October 30, 2019 and the position will remain open until filled. Only complete applications will be considered. Initial interviews will be conducted via ZOOM in December.

Applications should include cover letter, curriculum vitae, abstract of current research project, writing sample (max. 25 pgs.), and the names and contact information for three references. Letters will be solicited by the search committee chair once a short list has been determined. All applications must be submitted through RICEWorks.

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of Houston’s dynamic museum district and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. The fourth largest and most diverse city in the United States, Houston provides an opportunity for scholars to collaborate with area universities, museums, and civic organizations, and to engage with the broader metropolitan community. Houston is home to some of the most dynamic and innovative work in black music and art like Project Row House. The Houston Museum of African American Culture and the Buffalo Soldier National Museum are in walking distance from campus. Our city boasts one of the few dedicated libraries for African American life and culture in the country—the Gregory School, a robust repository and cultural site archiving the longstanding presence of African Americans in our city. Houston has a distinguished history of congressional representation that includes Barbara Jordan, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Mickey Leland, and two African Americans have served as its mayor, including our current mayor, Sylvester Turner.

Rice University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of 4,001 undergraduates and 2900 graduate students. Rice ranks no. 16 among national universities and eighth in undergraduate teaching (2019 US News & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 of US universities. Its hallmarks include a very high level of research activity and intellectual innovation, a 6:1 student-faculty ratio, and a commitment to diversity at all levels. As an Equal Opportunity employer, Rice considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.


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