University of Connecticut, Art and Art History

Position ID:UConn-Art and Art History-495005 [#18024, 495005]
Position Title: Assistant Professor in Art History and Human Rights
Position Type:Tenured/Tenure-track faculty
Position Location:Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States [map] sort by distance
Subject Area: Art and Art History
Appl Deadline: finished (2021/01/27, finished 2021/07/02, listed until 2021/08/15)
Position Description:    

*** this position has been closed and new applications are no longer accepted. ***

INTRODUCTION

The University of Connecticut's Human Rights Institute and the Department of Art and Art History in the School of Fine Arts are pleased to invite applications for a jointly appointed, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Art History and Human Rights. Time period and geographical focus are open.

This position is part of a larger anti-racism hiring initiative across the University of Connecticut, and part of the ongoing development of the arts-human rights collaboration jointly developed by the School of Fine Arts and the Human Rights Institute.  We especially seek applicants whose research and teaching actively confront the dehumanizing legacies of racism and colonialism, while engaging with art, visual and material culture through the critical lens of diasporas, migration, and trans-national histories.  Areas of expertise might include Africa and/or its diasporas, Asia and/or its diasporas, the Black Atlantic, Indigenous peoples, and/or the Global South. The faculty member will contribute to efforts to better understand how art, visual and/or material cultures have been deployed in mobilizations for justice or human rights. We hope that the candidate will generate publicly engaged scholarship and work with colleagues at UConn to move towards a more equitable global society in which the creation and experience of art and visual culture are rooted in human dignity and historical knowledge. 

Potential areas of scholarly focus:

  • Black radical thought, critical race theory, and/or critical theory reflecting Global South perspectives in trans-historical or trans-regional perspective;
  • Visual or material cultures of migration and diaspora;
  • Ethics of image and material culture circulation, display, and consumption;
  • Cultural modes of justice, memorialization, and reparation;
  • Histories and ethics of cultural appropriation across time;
  • Studies of colonialism, coloniality, and state-sanctioned violence in relation to art, visual and/or material culture;
  • Participatory art as a mode of dissent, resistance, or mobilization for justice.

We seek a scholar-teacher who is committed to innovative research, scholarly engagement, and student-centered pedagogies.  In addition to teaching a range of courses in their field, the successful candidate will participate in our introductory survey, relevant courses on human rights, social justice and the arts broadly construed, and will act as a member of the University of Connecticut graduate faculty. A Ph.D. in Art History or related field is required at the time of hire. A strong record of research and teaching is highly desirable, commensurate with the University of Connecticut’s status as a public, Research 1 institution.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to research and scholarship through extramural funding, high quality publications, conference presentations, grants, fellowships, and national recognition as demonstrated through honorific awards. In the area of teaching, the successful candidate will share a deep commitment to effective instruction at the undergraduate and graduate levels, development of innovative courses and mentoring of students in research, outreach and professional development. Successful candidates will also be expected to broaden participation among members of under-represented groups; demonstrate through their research, teaching, and/or public engagement the richness of diversity in the learning experience; integrate multicultural experiences into instructional methods and research tools; and provide leadership in developing pedagogical techniques designed to meet the needs of diverse learning styles and intellectual interests.

The Art History program, located on UConn’s main Storrs campus in the Department of Art and Art History, features a strong interdisciplinary understanding of contemporary and historical roles that the visual arts play in a range of artistic, cultural and social contexts. Our courses address chronological breadth as well as issues of gender, identity, class, race and ethnicity, human rights, digital media and digital culture. Enriching the program’s interdisciplinary reach, members of the Art History faculty are affiliated with programs in Africana Studies, American Studies, European Studies, Human Rights Studies, Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies, Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies.

The Human Rights Institute (HRI) at UConn is one of the nation’s leading academic centers, offering undergraduate majors and minors in human rights as well as a Graduate Certificate in Human Rights. The undergraduate program is among the largest in the country, and UConn is the only public university offering a major. Program graduates go on to hold key humanitarian positions with NGOs, governments, and leading universities. HRI is globally recognized for its faculty expertise and being a center to convene high-level international conferences and symposia. HRI is a key collaborator with the Dodd Human Rights Impact (Program) that is part of HRI and Digital Media and Design on a Human Rights Film and Digital Media Initiative. The Institute has hosted a human rights film series since 2005, and has worked with UConn Libraries to build a collection of human rights film. UConn Libraries is also site for Archives and Special Collections related to human rights documentary and photography.

Founded in 1881, the UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The Storrs campus is located in a beautiful area of New England, with a moderate cost of living and proximity to major cultural, recreational, and urban centers of the Northeast. The University community provides residents with a rich diversity of cultural, artistic, athletic, and historic experiences, and the surrounding area offers affordable quality housing and top schools for faculty and families. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective. We are pleased to continue these investments by inviting applications for a joint faculty position in the Department of Art & Art History and the Human Rights Institute.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Teach undergraduate-level courses in Art History and Human Rights, including an introductory art history survey.
  • Produce a significant record of research and publications in the candidate’s primary field of study.
  • Establish a national presence in professional organizations and among peers in academic and professional art history, architectural history, visual culture studies, and/or human rights studies.
  • The candidate will be expected to help broaden participation among members of under-represented groups and demonstrate through their research, teaching, and/or public engagement a commitment to both addressing issues of diversity and equity within society and employing pedagogies designed to meet the needs of diverse learning styles and intellectual interests communities.
  • Advise/mentor undergraduate students in Art History and Human Rights.
  • Collaborate to build curricula and develop courses.
  • Participate in service activities for the Human Rights Institute, Office of Global Affairs, the Department of Art and Art History, the School of Fine Arts, and the University.
  • Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • A completed Ph.D. in Art History or History of Architecture or related field. Equivalent foreign degrees are acceptable.
  • A demonstrated potential for establishing a successful research and scholarship profile in the candidate’s primary field of study.
  • A demonstrated potential for establishing a national presence in professional organizations and among peers in academic and professional communities.
  • A deep commitment to promoting diversity and excellence through innovative research, teaching, and public engagement.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated collegiality.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • A record of publications in candidate’s primary field of study, preferably in peer-review contexts.
  • Teaching experience beyond the Teaching Assistant level.
  • A commitment to, and record of, interdisciplinarity in research and teaching.
  • A demonstrated commitment to contribute through research, scholarship, and teaching to promoting diversity in the learning experience. 
  • A demonstrated commitment to bringing transregional, transcultural, and global perspectives to research and teaching.
  • An established record of publications related to human rights and art, architecture, visual and/or material culture.
  • Demonstrated record of working effectively on interdisciplinary teams in higher education.
  • Ability to contribute to a university-wide life transformative, experiential education model, with a focus on human rights in the history of art, architecture, visual and/or material culture.
  • A demonstrated record of human rights practice and maintaining relationships with human rights and community organizations.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2021. The successful candidate’s academic appointment will be at the Storrs campus with the possibility of travel to regional campuses on occasion and/or online instruction. Faculty may also be asked to teach at one of UConn's regional campuses as part of their ordinary workload. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/18024 and submit the following application materials:

  • A cover letter,
  • Curriculum vitae,
  • Research and scholarship statement (innovative concepts that will form the basis of academic career, experience in proposal development, mentorship of graduate students, etc.);
  • Teaching statement (including teaching philosophy, teaching experience, commitment to effective learning, concepts for new course development, etc.) and copies of course syllabi;
  • Commitment to diversity statement (including broadening participation and increasing diversity among scholars and students in the applicant’s field, integrating multicultural experiences in instruction and research and pedagogical techniques to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, etc.);
  • Up to 3 sample journal articles or books (e.g. scholarly articles, book chapters, dissertation chapters);
  • Names and contact information for three academic references.

Evaluation of applications will begin on February 15, 2021, and applications will continue to be reviewed until position is filled. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be submitted no later than March 1, 2021. Please contact Charlene Haukom (charlene.haukom@uconn.edu), Administrative Assistant for the Department of Art & Art History with any questions.

For more information regarding the Department of Art & Art History, please visit the department website at https://art.uconn.edu/ . For more information regarding the Human Rights Institute, please visit the department website at https://humanrights.uconn.edu/.

Inquiries other than applications can be directed to: Robin Greeley, Department of Art and Art History, University of Connecticut, via email to robin.greeley@uconn.edu.

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.  

This position will be filled subject to budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.


Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
And anything else requested in the position description.

Further Info:
http://www.art.uconn.edu/
email address
 
Department of Art & Art History
University of Connecticut
830 Bolton Road, Unit 1099
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-1099