Assistant Professor of Sociology and Southern Studies (Cluster Hire)
University, MS, US, 38677
Note for Current UM Employees
Current employees must apply internally via connectU > connectu.olemiss.edu
Position Description
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology (http://socanth.olemiss.edu) and the Center for the Study of Southern Culture (https://southernstudies.olemiss.edu) at the University of Mississippi invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Sociology and Southern Studies, beginning August 2024. We seek a scholar interested in sociological approaches to the study of culture, broadly defined, with a teaching and research agenda that centers Black intellectual thought and popular culture of the American South. Preference will be given to those whose work addresses African American musical traditions, including blues, jazz, hip-hop, gospel, soul, and brass band music, among others. This jointly-hired faculty member will hold a PhD in sociology or an adjacent field. Advanced ABD students are encouraged to apply, and will be given full consideration.
Applicants should be prepared to teach interdisciplinary courses at all levels, including 100-level classes in Southern Studies and sociology as well as more specialized upper-division courses for advanced undergraduates and graduate students in both areas. Since the University of Mississippi is a Research 1 institution, applicants should evidence an emerging publication record and research agenda commensurate with the applicant's career stage. In addition, we are interested in scholars whose work has the potential for community engagement and a public-facing component. Both Southern Studies and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology have a rich tradition of interpretive methodologies, and we welcome applicants who complement this shared strength. Teaching responsibilities include a 3/2 course load with undergraduate and graduate-level classes and thesis supervision split between Southern Studies and Sociology.
This position is included in the University of Mississippi, College of Liberal Arts multi-year faculty cluster hire initiative. This initiative is designed to expand the understanding of multicultural competence in a number of areas including successful, effective, and ethical leadership, inclusive pedagogy in STEM, and Black intellectual thought in the social sciences, fine and performing arts, and the humanities. The initiative seeks scholars and scholarship with a focus on the experiences of African Americans and other underrepresented groups and attention to identities with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. Its goal is to attract and support a diverse cohort of scholars who will produce cutting-edge research, scholarship, and creative achievement around one of these broad themes in their fields of specialization. For more information and a list of the other positions included in this cluster hire, please visit the College of Liberal Arts website at https://libarts.olemiss.edu/cluster-hire/ .
About Southern Studies and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
The Center for the Study of Southern Culture, founded in 1977, defines its mission as investigating, documenting, interpreting, and teaching about the U.S. South through academic inquiry and publications, documentary studies of film, photography, and oral history, and public outreach programs. The cross-disciplinary Southern Studies faculty and the undergraduate and graduate degree programs (MA and MFA) are the core of the Center’s work. Its curricula incorporate traditional disciplines of the arts, humanities, and social sciences to form an interdisciplinary framework for studying the South. The Center promotes research on the region’s varied cultures by supporting the work of its faculty, staff, students, alumni, and visiting scholars.
Position Description continued
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology is a vibrant intellectual community of scholars with a strong interdisciplinary focus. Faculty within the department are award-winning teachers and scholars, with national and international reputations. Both the Sociology and Anthropology programs offer BA and MA degrees, and cross-disciplinary efforts - from team teaching to collaborative research - are welcomed. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the College of Liberal Arts offer resources and support for scholars conducting community-engaged research, and for scholars who incorporate undergraduate and graduate students into their research activities.
Both the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology are committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and supportive environment for scholars and students from historically underrepresented groups.
University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts Equity Statement
The University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts is committed to equity in higher education. We seek to build diversity, equity, and inclusion into the heart of our research, teaching, and service missions. We strive to create an environment of learning and discovery where students, faculty, and staff are supported and can expect respect and a sense of belonging as they pursue their best work. Our view of diversity is rooted in the recognition that access to higher education has been blocked or hindered for groups of people based on race/ethnicity and gender (and other systems of power, including socio-economic status/class, sexual orientation, ability, nationality, religious beliefs and practices, among others). As the largest academic area at the University of Mississippi, the flagship university in the state, we have a deep responsibility to reflect the diverse public we serve in order to effectively educate and train problem-solving leaders and lifelong learners. To foster this work and build the strongest College possible, our goal is to collectively create policies and practices in the College that ensure that power, resources, and decision-making are equitably distributed. We will strive to develop authentic relationships and partnerships in this ongoing academic and civic journey and we will hold one another accountable for our progress towards equity, learning from our failures and celebrating our successes as we go.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply online at https://careers.olemiss.edu. For full consideration, candidates will submit the following documents: (1) a cover letter outlining your research and teaching qualifications for the advertised position, (2) a C.V., (3) a research statement. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates who are selected for further review will be asked to provide a writing sample and letters of reference (to be submitted by the candidate’s referees through the online application website). If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Minjoo Oh, chair of the search committee at minjoo@olemiss.edu or (662) 915-7421. Individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups (Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic/Latino, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) are especially encouraged to apply.
Position Details
Appointment (9 Month)
Assignment Type (Tenure Track)
Application Procedures
Combine the documents into two individual documents and utilize the "cover letter" and "resume" upload feature.
About the University of MS & Oxford, MS
The University and City of Oxford
Mississippi provides a rich environment for research opportunities in the humanities and the social sciences. The university is located in Oxford, which boasts a vibrant literary, musical, and arts-focused community and has been consistently ranked as one of the best college towns in the U.S. (In 2021, ESPN named Oxford the single best college town in America.) https://livability.com/ms/oxford
The Chronicle of Higher Education lists the University of Mississippi as one of the best colleges to work for in the U.S. The university has an R-1 Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification and a student body of approximately 24,000 students, including 24% students of color and 4% international students from over 80 countries.
https://olemiss.edu/
Background Check Statement
The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safe campus community. UM conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.
EEO Statement
Nearest Major Market: Oxford Mississippi