INTRODUCTION 

The University of Connecticut’s Human Rights Institute (HRI) seeks to hire the inaugural Christopher J. Dodd Chair in Human Rights Practice. The Dodd Chair will direct HRI’s Dodd Human Rights Impact Programs and advance the mission of the Dodd Center for Human Rights, in which HRI is housed. The Dodd Chair will be responsible for leadership in outreach and public engagement programs, including hosting the biennial Human Rights Summit; leading a substantive training initiative for teachers and students on human rights and civics education; and overseeing an array of other programs that honor the legacies of both father, Senator Thomas J. Dodd, and son, Senator Christopher J. Dodd. These other programs include the biennial award of the Thomas J. Dodd Prize in International Justice and Human Rights; community-level programming putting democracy into practice through deliberation and dialogue; public programming on human rights through film and digital media; and multi-stakeholder engagement to advance programs and policies that address business and human rights.

Dodd Impact programs have significant support from professional staff of the Human Rights Institute and the Office of Global Affairs. Dodd Human Rights Impact also enjoys support from a range of individuals and organizations in the philanthropic, business, and political communities. As Director of Dodd Human Rights Impact, the chair will promote its work both internally and externally, weaving the educational and scholarly endeavors of the HRI with the outward-facing responsibilities of Dodd Impact.

The successful candidate will hold an appointment as a full-time faculty member with a home department in one of the schools/colleges at UConn at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. The Chair’s faculty appointment will reside within a department appropriate to the field and will hold a joint appointment with the Human Rights Institute. The exact distribution of responsibilities will be determined at the time of hire, based on the needs of the Institute and the individual’s unique interests and qualifications. The most competitive candidates will have a superb scholarly record in the field of human rights and demonstrated excellence in human rights efforts with community and/or policy impact. The incumbent is expected to serve in the capacity of Director of Dodd Human Rights Impact for the duration of which they hold the Chair.

The successful candidate, in their faculty role, will be expected to contribute to research and scholarship (in disciplines where applicable). They will share a deep commitment to effective and innovative undergraduate- and graduate-level instruction, and the mentoring of students in research, outreach, and professional development. The successful candidate will have an outstanding record of professional accomplishments commensurate with appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor, with the opportunity for tenure at hire. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to broadening participation among members of underrepresented groups; demonstrate through research, teaching, and/or public engagement the commitment to, and support 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 Human Rights Institute (HRI) at UConn is one of the nation’s leading academic centers for human rights studies, recognized globally for its faculty expertise across disciplines. The Institute offers an undergraduate major and minor as well as a master’s degree and graduate certificate in human rights. Dodd Human Rights Impact is the locus of extensive public engagement and outreach programs of the Institute. Dodd Impact has grown significantly in recent years and benefits from substantial new funding and resources through a successful capital campaign. Thus, the Christopher J. Dodd Chair in Human Rights Practice will join the University at a pivotal time for human rights studies and public engagement.  

Founded in 1881, 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 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.

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct the Dodd Impact Programs, including providing oversight for programs in Human Rights Education and Holocaust and Genocide Education; Business and Human Rights; Democracy and Dialogue; Digital Media, Film and Human Rights.
• Provide leadership and oversight for existing programs related to public engagement and human rights. These include the Thomas J. Dodd Prize in International Justice and Human Rights; the inaugural Human Rights Summit; Human Rights Film Festival; and the Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature.
• Develop and sustain additional public engagement programs related to human rights as relevant.
• Continue to be active in research and scholarship related to human rights in the candidate’s field of study.
• Maintain a national presence in professional organizations and among peers in academic and professional fields related to human rights studies.
• Teach undergraduate or graduate-level courses in Human Rights and the tenure home field.
• Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in Human Rights and tenure home department.
• Other duties as assigned.

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. A completed Ph.D., J.D., or equivalent degree. Equivalent foreign degrees are acceptable.
2. Credentials that merit appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in one of UConn’s schools or colleges.
3. A demonstrated record of excellence in research and scholarship related to human rights in the candidate’s primary field of study.
4. An established reputation in professional organizations and among peers in academic and professional communities.
5. Excellent record of teaching related to human rights at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels.
6. A demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through scholarship, teaching, and public engagement. 
7. A leadership style that invites collaboration, encourages teamwork, welcomes diverse perspectives, and values transparency.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. A demonstrated record of public engagement on human rights, which could include community-based efforts, policy engagement, or other forms of human rights practice in varied settings.
2. Record of successful leadership in an academic context.
3. The ability to work productively and cooperatively with administrators, faculty, students, staff, educators, and community leaders as partners to advance HRI’s mission.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 10-month, tenured faculty position (Associate or Full Professor) with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2023. The Director will have a base 9-month faculty appointment in one of UConn’s schools/colleges and a one-month supplement for their responsibilities as Dodd Chair and Director of Dodd Impact Programs. Applicants must meet University requirements for appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor, with tenure. The successful candidate’s academic appointment will be at the Storrs campus. Faculty may also be asked to teach at one of UConn’s regional campuses as part of their regular workload. Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

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

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/23161 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 three sample scholarly articles or book chapters;
• Names and contact information for three academic references.

To ensure full consideration, application materials should be submitted no later than November 14, 2022. Direct inquiries about the position to search chair, Dr. Kathryn Libal, Director, Human Rights Institute, University of Connecticut, via email kathryn.libal@uconn.edu. Please contact Rachel Jackson (rachel.jackson@uconn.edu), the Institute’s Associate Director for Operations, with any questions about the technical aspects of the application process. 

For more information regarding the Human Rights Institute, please visit the Department's website at https://humanrights.uconn.edu/. For information regarding Dodd Human Rights Impact see: https://humanrights.uconn.edu/dodd-impact/. Information on the Dodd Center for Human Rights can be found at: https://humanrights.uconn.edu/the-dodd-center/.

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

This position will be filled subject the 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.