Executive Director, Antiracist Research and Policy Center

Summary/Objective

The Antiracist Research and Policy Center (ARPC) at American University (AU) invites applications and nominations for a full-time Executive Director. The successful candidate will join a vibrant and collegial community of scholars, professionals, authors, advocates, activists, organizers, and creators at the University. The Executive Director will continue building a new vision for the Center, and help cohere and amplify the work of other scholars on AU’s campus, while advancing their own scholarly agenda related to antiracist, research, praxis, and/or policy. Research should include an active antiracist agenda, including the study of racial inequalities and racial disparities. The director must be committed to working collaboratively with the Center faculty, fellows, and other partners on campus and in the Washington, D.C. region. Qualified candidates may be eligible for a tenured appointment in an appropriate academic unit with teaching obligations subject to negotiation. The appointment begins July 1, 2021.

About American University

American University (AU) is a highly selective student-centered research private institution within Washington, DC and is defined by its global outlook, practical idealism, and passion for public engagement. AU’s nationally and internationally acclaimed faculty are renowned for their commitment to excellence in scholarship and teaching and for sponsoring programs that draw upon the extraordinary cultural, scientific, public affairs, legal, business, international, and communication resources in the greater metropolitan area of Washington, DC. Our student body is cosmopolitan and globally diverse, with over 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students represented by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and over 150 countries. For more information about American University, visitwww.american.edu . Learn more about the Center athttps://www.american.edu/centers/antiracism/ and the university’s strategic plan here:https://www.american.edu/about/strategic-plan/ .

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will be an emerging or established thought leader in the field(s) of race, racism, racial inequality, colonialism, and related fields, as well as a thought leader in antiracism and related frameworks with a track record and established trajectory of high-impact scholarly, professional, and/or creative work that focuses on antiracism and equity. A focus on the specific experiences of historically marginalized racial groups in the U.S., particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latinx groups, and/or a comparative focus on racial oppression and liberatory movements within and beyond the U.S. is welcome, as are interdisciplinary approaches. Our ideal candidate will shape the Center’s strategic vision and goals while contributing to fundraising efforts for research, outreach, and events. In these and other activities, the Executive Director will be supported by a full-time Managing Director and the university’s Development Office. ARPC’s Executive Director should have a significant record related to antiracism which they will continue to pursue while leading the Center, while also working collaboratively with the AU faculty, students and staff to help define and deepen innovative, pathbreaking, and intersectional approaches to antiracism-related research and praxis, policy analysis and advocacy, and creative projects on and beyond AU’s campus. To browse the eight thematic areas in which faculty affiliates conduct antiracism work across academic disciplines, please see: https://www.american.edu/centers/antiracism/faculty-affiliates.cfm

Application Instructions

Salary and benefits are competitive (for an overview of AU’s benefits for full-time faculty and staff, visit: https://www.american.edu/hr/benefits/). Please include a cover letter with your application which addresses: 1) the candidate's leadership style, 2) the candidate’s understanding of and approach to antiracist research, praxis, and policy and 3) how the candidate's style and approach will complement and grow the existing focal areas and activities of the Center. In addition to the cover letter, all applications must include a curriculum vitae with an appended list of three references and copies of three recent publications or equivalent antiracist projects. Letters of recommendation will be requested at a later stage. Reviews of applications will begin October 30.

Please direct any questions to Sara Biggs (sbiggs@american.edu).

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively “Protected Bases”) in its programs and activities. American University is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.

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Contact Us:

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American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.

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