Description
Western Michigan University invites applications and nominations for the position of full-time tenure track Assistant or Associate Professor in the field of African American history to start August 2026. The successful candidate will have a record of professional excellence in research, or show clear progress toward such professional recognition, in African American history and will be expected to teach both undergraduate and graduate courses in modern U.S. history. Service will initially include standing committees in the department with service beyond the department in due course. Most tenure track and tenured faculty in the Department of History historically and currently teach 2 courses per semester.
The successful candidate will:
- Be a scholar, teacher, and mentor with research specialization in African American history.
- Maintain a nationally or internationally recognized research agenda in the field.
- Contribute to the History Departments tradition of classroom excellence.
- Contribute to an already heterogenous campus through research, teaching, and mentoring.
- Teach an undergraduate survey course, American history since 1877.
- Contribute to undergraduate and graduate curricula in both modern African American and U.S. history.
Requirements
Minimum qualifications:
- Ph.D. in History or related discipline (e.g., African American Studies, American Studies), received from an accredited institution by the time of appointment.
- Candidates will show evidence of research and teaching specialization in African American history.
- Candidates will provide evidence of, or demonstrate potential for, successful teaching.
Desirable qualifications:
- Provide evidence of, or potential for, scholarly publications in African American history after 1877.
- Ability to teach HIST 2110 American History since 1877 and/or a full survey of African American history and culture.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop and teach undergraduate and graduate specialty courses in modern US (post-1877) and/or African American/Civil Rights courses.
- Demonstrate interest and ability to support the academic success of undergraduate and graduate students.
- Contribute to the College’s strategic plan, including a commitment to inclusivity, scholarly and teaching excellence (https://wmich.edu/arts-sciences/about/planning).
Review of applications will begin October 3, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should visit https://www.wmich.edu/hr/jobs to apply and learn more about the position, university, and community. Online application materials submitted must include:
Curriculum vita.
Letter of application addressing required and preferred qualifications.
List of references.
Writing sample.
Two letters of recommendation, sent by the recommenders or a dossier service, should be mailed to African American History Search, Department of History, 4301 Friedmann Hall, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo MI 49008-5334.
Candidates who advance to the next round of consideration may be asked to submit a statement on research plans, a statement of teaching philosophy, sample syllabi, a writing sample, and an unofficial graduate transcript.
