University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO

Department Chair

Deadline: November 15, 2021

Department(s): Race, Ethnic, and Gender Studies

Type of Appointment : Tenure-track/tenured

The University of Missouri-Kansas City invites applications for the position of Department Chair in the newly formed department of Race, Ethnic & Gender Studies (REGS). This endowed position is part of a multiple, cohort hire in support of growing the emergent department and cultivating an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program that encompasses the following areas: Black Studies, Latinx & Latin American Studies, Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and Intersectionality. We are seeking candidates with substantive scholarship, teaching and service in the field of Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, with preference for those with expertise/specialization in intersectionality.  Follow the link for the full description and application site (Job ID 38434).

Workload distribution among research, teaching, service, and administrative roles will be negotiated at the time of offer and reviewed annually. Summer chair duties are expected to ensure that the department operates efficiently and supports students, faculty and staff for summer sessions and the ensuing fall semester.

In support of our goals to be a workplace of choice and a national leader in research and scholarship, UMKC strives to assure that all individuals appointed to endowed chairs and professorships are outstanding leaders in scholarship, teaching, and service. Applicants for the Endowed position are encouraged to review UMKC’s Guidelines for Evaluation of Endowed Chairs and Professors at the following link: https://info.umkc.edu/academichiring/endowed-chairs-professorships/.

 Responsibilities include scholarly research/publishing, pursuit of extramural funding, effective teaching, and service. The successful candidate will develop and teach undergraduate courses in the new REGS Department. These courses will supplement our current degree offerings in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Department Chair duties, in addition to those usually expected, will include active participation in recruitment and retention of students, community engagement, and support for the areas encompassed in the department. The department which offers minors in Black Studies, Latinx & Latin American Studies, and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies is currently developing a comprehensive, interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program in Race, Ethnic & Gender Studies that is comprised of these, in addition to fostering intersectional exploration and understandings of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality. Moreover, UMKC’s urban location provides excellent community partnership and research opportunities across these fields of study. 

Minimum Qualifications

Qualifications include a Ph.D. in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies or closely related field. Those who hold a doctorate degree outside of this area must demonstrate expertise in this field of study. The successful candidate should display an extensive record of scholarship/publishing, teaching and service in the field, as well as a commitment to university and community service. Moreover, those considered for the position of department chair must have demonstrated by training, experience and performance that they are capable of assuming the leadership of the department. Consistent with the importance of this position, individuals eligible for appointment are expected to meet the following qualifications:

• A full-time ranked faculty appointment at the advanced associate or full professor rank.

• Demonstrated desire to commit to the mission and goals of the department, the school and the university.

• Demonstrated desire to build partnerships with community constituents and serve as the liaison for the department in external relations.

• Demonstrated or potential for managerial, administrative or leadership experience.

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion across teaching, service, and research, as well as interest in the mentorship and support of students from historically marginalized or underrepresented communities.

Application Instructions

Application materials must be submitted online at http://info.umkc.edu/hr/careers/academic-positions/. Required materials include a) a letter of application describing teaching and research interests, b) curriculum vitae, c) evidence of teaching effectiveness, d) sample of scholarship, and e) diversity statement (in 1-2 pages, applicants should reflect on their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion). Additionally, please upload three professional letters of reference along with your application materials or have them sent directly to:

Cynthia Beard

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Department of Race, Ethnic & Gender Studies

5120 Rockhill Road, 204 Haag Hall

Kansas City, MO 64110

beardcy@umkc.edu

Area(s) of Specialization Desired: Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies or closely related field

Position Start Date: August 2022