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

The Standards for Promotion and Tenure in the Department of African American & African Studies in the College of Liberal Arts are available at:

The Workload Principles and Guidelines for Regular Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts are available at:

The Department of African American & African Studies (AA&AS) at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, invites applications for a full-time, open rank position (tenure-track advanced assistant, tenured associate, or tenured full professor) in African American & African Studies to begin as soon as August 26, 2024. We seek an interdisciplinary scholar whose research engages with major themes of African American Studies from a national, regional, global and/or transnational perspective.

The appointment will be 100% time over the nine-month academic year (late-August to late-May) at the rank of tenure-track assistant professor, tenured associate professor or tenured professor, depending on qualifications and experience, and consistent with collegiate and University policy.

The preferred candidate would have a distinguished record of interdisciplinary training, accomplishment, and/or engagement in the field of African American Studies. While the areas of expertise are open, we are particularly interested in candidates whose research engages with Black transnational studies; Black digital studies (exploring the connection between digital inequality, technology, race, and data science); Black music; Black disability studies; comparative race, ethnicity, indigeneity, and gender studies; social movements; racial capitalism; carcerality; health and inequality; or law and public policy.

Required Qualifications
A Ph.D. in a relevant field in the arts, humanities and/or social sciences is required. To be considered for a tenured position in African American & African Studies, candidates must possess a distinguished record of academic achievement (scholarly research, teaching, service, community engagement) that satisfies the criteria for holding an appointment with indefinite tenure in the Department of African American & African Studies at the University of Minnesota.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to a strong record of interdisciplinary scholarship and research, the successful applicant will have evidence of teaching excellence in undergraduate and graduate education; experience in curriculum and program building as well as experience in departmental leadership; and demonstrated commitment to collaborative and community-engaged work.

Candidates will be evaluated according to a) overall quality of their scholarly work, research trajectory, and stature in the field, 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, d) experience in program-building and leadership, and e) strength of recommendations.

Established in 1969, African American & African Studies (AA&AS) is a distinct and dynamic academic unit in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) 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, politics, arts, and beyond. 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, and 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.

Home to the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over twenty buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, over 40% of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual all-funds budget of $290 million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints-so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

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

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.

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you'll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Please visit the for more information regarding benefits.

Applications must be submitted online. Please click "Apply" and follow the instructions to be considered for this position. You will be allowed to complete an online application and attach a cover letter and curriculum vitae.

Additional documents must be attached by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and can be attached after submission of the application by exiting and re-entering the Job Center, accessing your "My Job Applications" page (in the top list of hyperlinks), and uploading documents there.

The following documents must be attached to your initial online application: (1) A cover letter; (2) A curriculum vitae; (3) A statement of current and future research interests (approximately two pages) (4) Names, emails, addresses, updated contact information for three references as a separate attachment.

Should your candidacy advance to the second round of review, approximately 5-6 weeks after the initial review of applications, the department will contact you for additional materials. At that time, applicants can add/attach additional documents to their online application. These following, additional documents must be submitted to your online application by a later date to be determined:

(1) One article-length writing sample or the equivalent; (2) Teaching and leadership statement showing commitment to and/or evidence of teaching effectiveness and program-building experience (approximately two pages).

In addition to the additional documents submitted online through the U of M employment system, if candidates advance to the second round, applicants are also asked to arrange for three letters of recommendation to be emailed separately to . A deadline for the arrival of these letters will be communicated at a later date.

Additional materials may also be requested from candidates at a future date.

Initial review of applications will begin 01 October 2023, and additional materials will be requested of candidates who advance to the second round. Review of applications will continue until the search is concluded.

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

For questions about the application system, or to request an accommodation during the application process, please email or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647)

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:

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.

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.