The Museum Studies Program at the University of Kansas (KU) invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level expected to commence on August 18, 2024. The program seeks a scholar whose research and teaching examine the politics, ethics, and epistemologies of museum collections, exhibits, and pedagogy. We are particularly interested in Asian/Black/Indigenous/Latinx topics and/or museum politics, ethics, and epistemologies in a global context. We welcome applicants holding a doctoral degree in a related field, including (but not limited to) Anthropology, Archaeology, Architecture/Historic Preservation, Art History, Education, Ethnic Studies, History, Natural Sciences, Public Administration, Visual Arts/Culture, and Women’s and Gender Studies. We are committed to considering a wide range of candidates for this broadly defined, interdisciplinary position and encourage you to contact the search chair if you are unsure whether your expertise and experience is a good match.
The Museum Studies Program (https://museumstudies.ku.edu) is an interdisciplinary program housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (https://college.ku.edu) that grants 10-15 M.A. degrees and graduate certificates annually. As an interdisciplinary program, most program faculty maintain affiliations with one or more departments/programs across campus. KU’s Hall Center for the Humanities, Biodiversity Institute, and Institute for Digital Research in the Humanities provide excellent resources to support research and teaching initiatives across the university. Students and faculty enjoy strong, collaborative relationships on campus with the Spencer Museum of Art, Natural History Museum/Biodiversity Institute, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, Booth Family Hall of Athletics, and Wilcox Classical Museum. Numerous institutions of national significance are within a 45-minute drive of campus, including the Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Park, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, American Jazz Museum, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, National World War I Museum, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Gay and Lesbian Archive of Mid-America, and the National Archives-Kansas City Branch.
The successful candidate will have an active research program and will teach a 2-2 load, contributing their expertise in the politics and ethics of museums to core courses MUSE 801 (The Nature of Museums), MUSE 802 (The Culture of Museums), and MUSE 803 (Seminar in Current Museum Topics). They will develop specialized courses in their field of training and relevant professional domains (leadership, interpretation, collections, or community engagement). The ability to offer professionalization courses in an area such as management and development or digital technologies in museum practice is a plus. The successful candidate will also mentor students and serve on student committees for internship and final research projects.
The University of Kansas is the state’s flagship university, an R-1 institution and one of just 66 invited members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Current enrollment is 28,500 (19,000 undergraduate), with students drawn from 112 nations and all 50 states. 20.6% of KU students identify as members of underrepresented groups. The 1,000-acre main campus is in Lawrence, a dynamic and diverse community of 95,000 in hilly northeast Kansas about 35 miles west of Kansas City. Lawrence is also home to the Haskell Indian Nations University, while the Kansas City metropolitan area is home to vibrant and historically significant Black and Latinx communities.
In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education. KU’s vision is to be an exceptional learning community that lifts each other and advances society. The Jayhawks Rising Strategic Plan was developed around three Institutional Priorities: creating a clear and ambitious direction to fulfill our mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world. Additional information is available at https://jayhawksrising.ku.edu/. The successful candidate must receive valid U.S. work authorization prior to the specified start date.
Job Duties:
40% – Research: Maintain an active and productive program of research in the candidate’s area of specialization, as measured by publications and public presentations of scholarship.
40% – Teaching/Advising: Teach four courses per academic year in Museum Studies, mentor and advise students, and serve on/chair M.A. committees for Museum Studies final products.
20% – Service: Service to the Program, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the University, and the profession.
Required Qualifications:
For rank of Assistant Professor:
- Doctoral degree in a related field, including (but not limited to) Anthropology, Archaeology, Architecture/Historic Preservation, Art History, Education, Ethnic Studies, History, Natural Sciences, Public Administration, Visual Arts/Culture, and Women’s and Gender Studies.
- Ability to teach college-level courses.
For rank of Associate Professor:
- Doctoral degree in a related field, including (but not limited to) Anthropology, Archaeology, Architecture/Historic Preservation, Art History, Education, Ethnic Studies, History, Natural Sciences, Public Administration, Visual Arts/Culture, and Women’s and Gender Studies.
- Record of excellence in teaching.
- Record of demonstrated research activity commensurate with tenured appointment.
A complete online application includes the following materials: (1) cover letter detailing research activities, teaching interests, and service engagements; (2) Curriculum vitae; (3) Statement (no more than two pages, single-spaced) detailing how your research philosophy, pedagogy, and public/institutional engagement contribute to an interdisciplinary M.A. program that trains museum professionals; and (4) names and contact information for three professional references, who will be contacted at a later time for shortlisted candidates. In addition to the materials above, learning about each applicant’s contribution and engagement in areas of diversity is an important part of KU’s mission. Applicants will be asked to respond to the following prompt (no more than 4,000 characters, including spaces) at the time of application:
Describe your experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds and explain how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Applicants are also encouraged to include or expand upon how they have contributed to building a culture of diversity and belonging within their other application materials. Application review will begin on November 1 and will continue until a pool of qualified applicants is obtained.
Salary starts at $64,000 for Assistant Professors and $74,000 for Associate Professors.
Questions regarding this position may be addressed to Dr. Andrew Denning, Museum Studies Director and Search Chair, at asdenning@ku.edu.
Categories: Job Postings