Position Announcement:

Inaugural Chairperson for the African American and African Studies Department

Title and Position:
Michigan State University invites application for the position of Inaugural Chairperson with theability to be appointed at the rank of Full Professor (12-month appointment, tenured) in the Department of African American and African Studies. This position is a 100% appointment with a 5-year term in African American and African Studies.

Background:
Michigan State University is a national leader in agricultural research and extension programming. MSU is a member of the AAU with a diverse community of dedicated students, scholars, athletes, and artists that provide regional, national, and international leadership in basic and applied research and excellence in teaching. AAAS at MSU was initially founded as a PhD granting program in 2002 as a unit committed to making concrete connections between faculty scholarship, pedagogy, and social justice causes. An undergraduate minor was created in 2014 in order to extend the Black Studies experience to an increasing interest undergraduate population. With the creation of the new department (effective July 1, 2019), AAAS continues to embrace diverse scholarly approaches to research, teaching, and civic engagement required for comprehensive study within the larger Black Studies discipline.

Responsibilities:
This position offers the opportunity to play a leadership role in creating and advancing the mission of a new PhD-granting African American and African Studies Department at MSU that will count among its specializations the areas of Feminisms, Genders, and Sexualities Studies. We seek visionary leadership in the creation of a new department as we transition from a Program to a full Department. The chair will oversee everything from structures for departmental governance to the graduate and undergraduate curricula. The successful candidate for this position will provide visionary leadership for the overall development of this new department.

The inaugural chair for the AAAS Department will play a major role in generating, directing and facilitating the departmental mission; operating policies and procedures; faculty, students, and staff development; balanced and integrated teaching, research, and outreach programs throughout Michigan, nationally, and internationally; and support for students, staff, and faculty achievement with a culture of inclusion, collaboration, creativity, mentorship, and care. The chair will also play a major role in the development of educational programs within the Department.

Qualifications:
We are seeking candidates that hold a doctorate in Black Studies, Ethnic Studies, Women, Gender, and/or Sexuality Studies or practice any related interdisciplinary approach. We value interdisciplinarity and the work of candidates (especially those with a PhD in a “traditional” discipline) should incorporate and seriously engage knowledge, methods, and approaches from Race and Ethnic Studies, especially Black Studies.

Candidates for this position must meet the requirements for tenure at the rank of full professor. The successful candidate’s scholarly record will align with core areas of the new MSU AAAS Department, specifically Feminisms, Genders, and Sexualities Studies. As a chairperson for an African American and African Studies Department, demonstrated leadership experience and communication skills are required. There is a strong preference for candidates who have a demonstrated history of community engagement and/or community-based approaches to leadership. Finally, candidates should possess excellent communication skills and a demonstrated ability to work effectively with others towards the establishment or renewal of institutions.

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications.

Application Procedure: To apply, applicants must submit an application at the MSU Human Resources site at http://careers.msu.edu/ (Posting #588540).

Required Application Materials:

  1. A cover letter describing your interest in the position with an emphasis on your leadership experience and research.
  2. CV with names and contact information for four references.
  3. A statement on how you would go about achieving a culture where community differences contribute to collective aims and excellence, while also fostering a culture of inclusion as Department Chairperson. and
  4. A vision statement regarding your goals and potential plans for a new AAAS Department.

Applications received October 15, 2019 will receive full consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled.

Nominations of qualified individuals and inquiries about the position should be addressed to: Dr. Kristie Dotson
Search Committee Chair & Professor of AAAS and Philosophy
Michigan State University
619 Red Cedar Rd #C629
East Lansing, MI 48824
Office: 517-353-4617
Email: dotsonk@msu.edu

MSU is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. MSU is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The university actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans and persons with disabilities.

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

The College of Arts & Letters promotes an academic and organizational culture which actively seeks out and strengthens diverse voices and perspectives among its members in order to achieve true excellence. The College of Arts and Letters is interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that intellectual leadership is achieved through open access and pro-active inclusion.