Assistant Professor of African American, African Diasporic, or African Art and/or Architectural History

Assistant Professor of African American, African Diasporic, or African Art and/or Architectural History

Overview of Position

The Department of History of Art and Architecture (HAA) in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh seeks to appoint an Assistant Professor (tenure-stream) of African American, African Diasporic, or African art and/or architecture (chronology open) with a start date of September 1, 2024, pending budgetary approval. Our department is committed to advancing global understanding and transcultural awareness in the histories of art, architecture, and material culture, and we seek a colleague whose work extends our mission by centering the artistic contributions of Africa and peoples of African descent. Scholars whose research focuses on African American art or Black Arts in Africa and/or the African Diaspora are especially encouraged to apply. We seek a colleague who questions how art history’s periods and geographies have traditionally been divided, confronts the impact and legacy of colonization and/or histories of enslavement, and/or engages in current debates regarding repatriation and the collecting practices of museums and other cultural institutions in their research and pedagogy. HAA is committed to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our department, our discipline, and the broader communities that host us. We seek a colleague who will help advance our ongoing and developing DEIA initiatives.

This position is in the tenure stream and carries a 2-2 teaching load, with research and graduate mentoring expectations. The successful applicant will be asked to maintain an active research and publishing agenda, develop and teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervise doctoral students, undertake service, and participate actively in the life of the department and university. Candidates should consult the Constellations section of our website to explore how our department is structured along cross-disciplinary dialogues and thematic modalities. Because our department is strongly committed to outstanding instruction at all levels, applicants should be engaged with teaching as an intellectual enterprise in its own right and prepared to contribute to our undergraduate degree programs in Architectural Studies, History of Art and Architecture, and/or Museum Studies, as well as the Ph.D. program in History of Art and Architecture.

Successful applicants will share the department’s mission of broadening the reach, scope, and impact of scholarly work both inside and outside the academy. The Frick Fine Arts Library, University Art Gallery, and Visual Media Workshop, all of which are housed within HAA, offer rich opportunities for collaboration. So, too, do the partner museums and archives in Collecting Knowledge Pittsburgh, and programs and departments across the university, including the Department of Africana Studies, Center for African American Poetry and Poetics, University Center for International Studies (UCIS) including the Center for African Studies, the World History Center and other centers and initiatives around Pitt.

HAA and the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences are committed to mentoring tenure-stream faculty as they advance to tenure and will provide resources and support to this end, such as covering membership costs of 12-week writing programs offered by various organizations.

Review of applications will begin January 3, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled.

Duties

• Teach 4 (3-credit) courses (undergraduate and graduate) in the History of Art and Architecture per academic year
• Meet with undergraduate and graduate students beyond the classroom as may be appropriate to their educational needs
• Direct and serve on Ph.D. committees in the Department of History of Art and Architecture
• Maintain and advance an active research agenda by way of publications and conference participation to make progress toward tenure
• Carry out departmental and university service by way of, for instance, mentoring, participating in committees, and leading select initiatives

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced ABD (Ph.D. in hand by September 1, 2024) in the histories of African American, African Diasporic, or African art or architecture
• Some college-level teaching experience
• Commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion

Preferred Requirements

• Ph.D. in the histories of African American, African Diasporic, or African art or architecture.
• Experience teaching a stand-alone, undergraduate-level course in the history of African American, African Diasporic, or African art, architecture, and/or visual culture

Applications should include:

1. Cover letter of 1-2 pages, addressed to Mina Rajagopalan, Chair. Include a brief synopsis of your current and future research. ABD applicants should outline their timeline for completion and dissertation defense.
2. Current CV, including a list of courses taught (if applicable)
3. Writing sample (15-20 pages)
4. Teaching Portfolio (12 pages max) which includes a statement of teaching philosophy and/or pedagogical practices, evidence of teaching effectiveness, such as student evaluations and/or model assignments, and two-course descriptions: one for an undergraduate class and another for a graduate seminar structured around a Constellations theme.
5. Diversity Statement of 1-2 pages, in which you share how your past, planned, or potential contributions or experiences relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion will advance the University of Pittsburgh’s commitment to inclusive excellence.
6. Three confidential professional letters of recommendation addressed to the Chair, Mina Rajagopalan, and sent to her address: mrr55@pitt.edu with a cc to Department Administrative Officer Evan Zajdel: ewz5@pitt.edu

Applicants should submit a cover letter (1-2 pages), current CV, writing sample (15-20 pages), teaching portfolio (12 pages max), as diversity statement (1-2 pages) via Talent Center, as well as 3 confidential letters of recommendation emailed to Chair and Administrative Officer (see job description for details).

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.