Assistant Professor in African American & African Studies

About the Job

The Department of African American & African Studies (AA&AS) at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track assistant professor in Black feminist literary and cultural studies to begin Fall 2022 (August 29, 2022), pending budgetary and administrative approval. Expertise in digital and/or public humanities is especially welcome.

The appointment will be 100% time over the nine-month academic year. The appointment will be made at the rank of tenure-track assistant professor depending on qualifications and experience and consistent with collegiate and university policy. 

The ideal candidate must be broadly trained in the field of African American literature and demonstrate a robust commitment to charting a Black feminist humanistic inquiry. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research is engaged with approaches to Black feminist aesthetic practices, literary traditions, and expressive cultures that reimagine the humanities. Candidates with abilities to draw connections between continental Africans and Africans in the diaspora through the integration of the study of arts and the humanities are desirable as well. 

Faculty in the Department of African American & African Studies and other units in the College of Liberal Arts are expected to maintain an active program of scholarly research, to develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses, advise undergraduate and graduate students, and contribute service to the department, college, and profession. Tenure-track assistant professors teach four semester-length courses per academic year at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The development of additional courses and research themes that complement and extend current departmental expertise is strongly encouraged.

The Standards for Promotion and Tenure for departments in the College of Liberal Arts are available at: https://faculty.umn.edu/promotion-tenure/promotion-tenure-review

The Workload Principles and Guidelines for Regular Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts are available at: https://neighborhood.cla.umn.edu/college-knowledge/faculty-work-and-resources

 

Qualifications

Required qualifications
A Ph.D. in English, Literature, African American Studies, American Studies, Cultural Studies, or a related field is required to be completed by the start date of the appointment. 

In addition to a record of interdisciplinary scholarship, the candidate must have evidence of teaching excellence in undergraduate and/or graduate education and demonstrated commitments to enriching the understanding of aesthetics and expressive cultures in the African diaspora and Black social life through collaborative and community-engaged work.

Candidates will be evaluated according to a) overall quality of their academic preparation and scholarly work, b) relevance of their scholarly research to the department's academic priorities and fields of inquiry, c) evidence of commitment to teaching and skills as a teacher, and d) strength of recommendations.

 

About the Department

Established in 1969, AA&AS is a distinct and dynamic academic unit in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) that is committed to multidisciplinary research, teaching, and learning at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate students are exposed to a wide range of ways of knowing that are fashioned out of the rigorous study of Africans, African Americans, and African descended people and their contributions to society, history, culture, literature, and arts. Our graduate minor in Africa and the African diaspora attracts students enrolled in Ph.D. and master’s programs within and beyond CLA. We also offer two African languages, Swahili and Somali. Our faculty members are award-winning teachers and engaged scholars advancing community-based learning and outreach initiatives. 

The College of Liberal Arts is committed to intellectual freedom, the pursuit of new knowledge, and the belief that the liberal arts are the foundation of academic learning. CLA prepares students to be independent and original thinkers, innovators in their chosen fields; to create meaning in their lives and in their life's work, and to become productive citizens and leaders in their communities and the world.

The College of Liberal Arts values diverse cultures, experiences, and perspectives as key to innovation and excellent education. www.cla.umn.edu

Founded in 1851, the University of Minnesota, with its five campuses and more than 65,000 students, is one of the largest, most comprehensive universities in the United States, and ranks among the most prestigious research universities in the world. It is both a major research institution, with scholars of national and international reputation, and a state land-grant university, with a strong tradition of education and public engagement.

 

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click “Apply” and follow the instructions. You will have an opportunity to complete an online application for the postition and attach a cover letter and curriculum vitae.

1. Select the link to access our careers site: https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/343890
2. Sign In to access your account or if you are not an existing user select the New User link to create one. 
3. Review the job description and select the Apply button to begin your application.

If you are a current employee of our organization please use the following link instead:
https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/int/343890

The following documents must be attached to your online application: (1) A cover letter and (2) A curriculum vitae, (3) One article-length writing sample or the equivalent; (4) a brief statement of teaching philosophy to show evidence of teaching effectiveness; (5) Brief statement about public and/or digital humanities; and (6) two sample syllabi.

In addition to the required documents submitted through the U of M employment system, applicants are also asked to arrange for three letters of recommendation to be emailed separately to aaashire@umn.edu.

Applications are considered complete when all materials, including letters of recommendation, have been received. Additional materials may be requested from candidates at a future date. 

Review of applications will begin 01 November, 2021, and continue until the search is concluded. Applications received by 01 December, 2021, have the best chance of being fully considered.

For questions about the position, please contact the Department of African American & African Studies at aaashire@umn.edu.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).

 

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.  The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu.

Background Check Information

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

 

About The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research.  Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.


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