Assistant Professor of History

The History Department at Southwestern University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in the history of Africa to begin in August 2023. While we welcome candidates with expertise in any area of African history beyond the Maghreb, we will give priority to those candidates who can offer a course on the global history of enslavement and resistance, can contribute to a variety of interdisciplinary programs, and whose thematic, chronological, and methodological interests augment those already represented among the department’s faculty.

Building on Southwestern University’s commitment to academic excellence and making connections within and across disciplines, we are pleased to share that this position is part of a diversity, equity, and inclusion cohort hiring initiative in the thematic areas of race, ethnicity, and social justice.  The thematic hire initiative seeks to recruit and retain a diverse community of teacher-scholars from multiple disciplines in the humanities and social sciences (including English, Feminist Studies, History, Political Science, and Sociology) who will strengthen the University offerings in race, ethnicity, and social justice as well as increase curricular coverage of areas related to diversity and inclusion. As part of the thematic hiring process, Southwestern will provide members of the cohort with opportunities and resources to enhance their success and well being such as participating in mentoring networks, research and writing workshops, and additional ongoing professional development.

The History Department and Southwestern University are committed to recruiting candidates who both excel in teaching and research and can best serve our diverse student population. As of the Fall 2021 semester, over 40% of students enrolled at Southwestern are members of groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education and we are committed to further increasing and supporting the diversity of our students, faculty and curriculum. The Department seeks candidates who have a demonstrated commitment to, and will take an active role in, enhancing diversity, inclusion, and equity across the University, including fostering a sense of community and belonging for students. In your application materials, please include specific and detailed information about how you have worked to enhance diversity and inclusion through your teaching practices, research, and/or service experiences within the college or university setting.

The successful candidate will have completed their Ph.D. by the time of appointment and demonstrate interest and potential excellence in undergraduate teaching. They will teach sections of a thematic world history course as well as regional surveys and specialized seminars drawn from their areas of expertise. These offerings should be attractive to a wide range of students (within and outside the major) and accessible to first-year students. While most of the candidate's courses will automatically count within the International Studies program, the Department is particularly interested in candidates whose teaching and/or research will also contribute to one or more of Southwestern’s other interdisciplinary programs, including Environmental Studies, Feminist Studies, and/or Race and Ethnicity Studies. Our current department members further contribute to the First-Year Seminar program and rotate sections of our theory/methods and capstone seminars; the successful candidate may  have the opportunity to join one or more of these rotations during their pre-tenure period.

Southwestern University’s standard teaching load is five courses per academic year (in a 3-2 or 2-3 load) along with departmental responsibilities, advising, and university service. Committed to cultivating a teacher-scholar model in its faculty, the university offers strong support for both pedagogical and scholarly development, including robust pre- and post-tenure sabbatical programs, funding for conferences, opportunities for collaborative research, and small class sizes.

Southwestern University (Georgetown, Texas) is a selective undergraduate residential liberal arts institution located in the greater Austin area.  Established in 1840, Southwestern enrolls approximately 1,500 students and maintains a student-faculty ratio of 12 to 1. The university provides a highly interdisciplinary and holistic education that values high-impact learning experiences, such as study abroad, internships, and faculty-student research. A member of the recently formed Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance, Southwestern is committed to fostering a diverse educational environment and encourages applications from members of groups traditionally underrepresented in academia. Additional information about the university can be found at our website: www.southwestern.edu.

For full consideration, submit a C.V.  and a two-page cover letter by September 30 to http://apply.interfolio.com/110375. In addition to describing your teaching experience and/or philosophy and research expertise, the cover letter should elaborate on your particular interest in working in a liberal arts college context characterized by small, discussion-driven classes and cross- and interdisciplinary thinking as well as your previous, current, and future efforts to enhance diversity and inclusion through your teaching practices, research, and/or service experiences within the college or university classroom and beyond. Additional materials, including three letters of recommendation, brief descriptions of possible courses, sample syllabi, and an article-length writing sample or dissertation chapter will be requested from selected candidates later in the process. Please direct any questions about this position to the co-chair of the committee, Associate Professor Dr. Jessica Hower (howerj@southwestern.edu).

All offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of the University’s Background Check Policy process. Southwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EOE/M/F