Open Rank Professor in African American Studies

Tenure-Line Position in African American Studies

The Department of African American Studies at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), a Carnegie-classified R2 institution in the mainstream of American Catholic higher education, seeks outstanding applicants for a tenure-line position in African American Studies who value its mission and share its commitment to inclusive excellence and the building of a just society.

LMU is federally recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and is recognized by the State of California as a Black-Serving Institution (BSI). These designations reflect the university's continuing commitment to supporting student success, belonging, and thriving within a diverse academic community. As a Catholic, Jesuit, and Marymount University, LMU values faculty who engage students as whole persons and pursue scholarly work that promotes justice, equity, and the Common Good.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to LMU's teacher-scholar model. A teacher-scholar conducts research and creative work that contributes to the larger body of knowledge while setting an example for the importance of lifelong learning. A teacher-scholar at LMU is dedicated to (1) teaching a diverse student body in a transformative learning environment, (2) developing a thriving portfolio of research and mentoring students, (3) participating in service activities at the academic, professional, and/or community levels, and (4) working toward greater equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility for all in the profession.

The position is a tenure-line faculty appointment. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Africana/Black Studies or a closely related field by the position start date of August 2027.

The Department of African American Studies invites applications from established and exceptional emerging scholars to fill a tenure-line position. We seek a scholar with expertise in teaching and research in the discipline of African American Studies whose work engages one or more of the following areas: history, law and policy, Black social movements, community organizing, political thought, or related fields.

Candidates should have experience teaching lower- and upper-division courses in African American Studies and be able to offer courses that would readily fit into our African American Studies curriculum. Candidates must have experience in or demonstrated capacity for departmental leadership, academic programming, curriculum development, and mentorship of faculty colleagues and students. For established scholars, the position may include assuming Department Chair duties.

Preference will be given to associate or full professors, but candidates with PhDs in hand by July 2027 will be given full consideration.

Faculty responsibilities include maintaining an active program of scholarship, teaching and advising undergraduate students, and contributing to department and university service. Department tenure-track faculty members typically teach on a two-year 2-2-2-3 course rotation (4-unit classes) within a 40% research, 40% teaching, and 20% service model. Faculty in these positions will be encouraged to contribute to the LMU Core Curriculum, for example by developing a First-Year Seminar and/or courses that incorporate Interdisciplinary Connections.

The Department of African American Studies values collaborative, interdisciplinary, and community-engaged approaches to teaching and research. We seek candidates who are excited to teach and mentor a diverse student body in Los Angeles and who will contribute to LMU's teacher-scholar model through excellent undergraduate teaching, an active research agenda, and innovative forms of student engagement, including collaborative and community-based learning.

The Final date to receive applications is October
1. Questions regarding this position may be directed to Jennifer Williams, Chair, Department of African American Studies, liams.

The following application materials must be submitted online through the LMU Employment website:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Research statement
• Teaching statement
• Writing sample of a book chapter or article

The cover letter should address current research and research trajectory, teaching experience and proposed curriculum, leadership and programmatic experience, and service interests. The teaching statement should address the candidate's pedagogical approach, share examples of activities and assignments, address how they foster inclusion and access in the classroom, and generally demonstrate their teaching and student mentorship experiences. The teaching statement should not exceed two pages.

Candidates who progress to the Zoom or campus visit stage may be asked for additional materials, such as sample syllabi.

Candidates who advance in the search will be asked to provide transcripts and letters of recommendation at a later stage.

Only electronic applications…