Department/Organization
204281 - Gender & Race Studies

Rank
Assistant Professor

Position Summary
The Department of Gender and Race Studies at the University of Alabama is looking for a dynamic scholar to fill the position of tenure track Assistant Professor to begin in the Fall 2025, with expertise in the following research area: African American Literature. The successful candidate will be a tenure-track faculty member of the Department of Gender and Race Studies and will be expected to teach both undergraduates and graduate courses, have an active research agenda, and perform professional service in keeping with rank and position.

Detailed Position Information
The Department of Gender and Race Studies at the University of Alabama is looking for a dynamic scholar to fill the position of tenure track Assistant Professor to begin in the Fall 2025, with expertise in the following research area: African American Literature. The successful candidate will be a tenure-track faculty member of the Department of Gender and Race Studies and will be expected to teach both undergraduates and graduate courses, have an active research agenda, and perform professional service in keeping with rank and position.

The ideal candidate will have considerable experience in teaching the African American literary canon. A demonstrable research profile in the form of research publications that address contemporary interpretations of African American literature are expected of a successful candidate. Though we are an interdisciplinary research and teaching department, we are searching specifically for a candidate with a Ph.D in English.

Applicants should complete the online application by Dec 20th for full consideration. The application should include a letter of application, a current curriculum vita, a research statement and a teaching statement. Names and contact information for three referees who can speak to their professional/academic qualifications (one of which concerns teaching) should be included as part of the applicants’ cover letter or CV.

The Department of Gender and Race Studies was formed in 2009 out of two interdisciplinary programs each of which had been at the University of Alabama for more than forty years. Offering an undergraduate major in African American Studies and a minor in African American Studies as well as an undergraduate minor and graduate major (the M.A.) in Women's Studies, as well as a minor in Sociology, the Department fulfills an important academic mission for the University. The M.A. in Women's Studies is a research program from which students upon graduation go on to attend top-tier PhD programs in a variety of disciplines. This is an interdisciplinary department where faculty teach and conduct research in their respective field of expertise, while also actively participating in writing groups, seminars, and a successful speaker series conducted by the Department.

The teaching load for this position is commensurate with that for a tenure track Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama, and salary and benefits are competitive. This is a tenure earning position, the expectation is that the person hired will fulfill the research, teaching, and service requirements for tenure and promotion. a PhD completed before Fall 2025 is a requirement for employment at the announced rank and position. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Utz McKnight at utz.mcknight@ua.edu.

Minimum Qualifications
Ph.D. in English

Preferred Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have considerable experience in teaching the African American literary canon. A demonstrable research profile in the form of research publications that address contemporary interpretations of African American literature are expected of a successful candidate. Though we are an interdisciplinary research and teaching department, we are searching specifically for a candidate with a Ph.D. in English

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Applicants should complete the online application by Dec 20th for full consideration. The application should include a letter of application, a current curriculum vita, a research statement and a teaching statement. Names and contact information for three referees who can speak to their professional/academic qualifications (one of which concerns teaching) should be included as part of the applicants’ cover letter or CV.

About the Division/College/School
The College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama offers an exciting and dynamic environment for faculty seeking to make an impact in their field and in the lives of the innovators and changemakers of tomorrow.

As the largest college at The University, we house over 8000 students and 1000 faculty and staff across our 25 departments.

With nationally recognized programs and award-winning faculty, our College has positioned itself as a leader in higher education. Our facilities and resources include state-of-the-art laboratories, research centers, and performance venues, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for research and creative expression.

The College is committed to the liberal arts philosophy that fosters creative and critical thinking and a lifetime of learning.

About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.

In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.

UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.

For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.

UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.

Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.

The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf