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Form of workThanks to a generous donation by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Wayne State University is proud to announce a multi-year cluster hire of 50 This faculty-led center will be multidisciplinary and inclusive of the breadth of scholars who work in African American, African, and African-diaspora studies with attention to U.S. and global histories, urban, cultural, social, economic, legal, and health systems.
Detroit is one of the largest majority-Black cities in the United States. A stop on the Underground Railroad, the city has a long legacy of Black liberation and labor struggles, Black political firsts, vibrant Black grassroots organizations, and Black artistic, musical, and cultural innovations -- Detroit is a place of innovation and possibility. It is also a place where urban neighborhoods and its residents, especially those living beyond Downtown and Midtown, have been left behind and deserve better. The Detroit Center for Black Studies will be a social-justice inspired hub of teaching and pedagogy, research and thought leadership, and community-responsive engagement.
Located in the heart of Detroit, Wayne State has a deep and broad history as an urban engine for educational opportunity. Generations of Black scholars, teachers, artists, writers, health professionals, scientists, elected officials, lawyers, and other professionals have been educated at Wayne State, as have immigrants and their children from around the world. Our commitments to education for a diverse population, equity in delivery, and the creation of an inclusive environment are critical to Wayne State achieving its vision and mission in the 21st century.
The Opportunity
Wayne State seeks to recruit, mentor, and advance scholars and educators who are at the forefront of enhancing understandings of race, equity, and social justice and advancing knowledge about the key issues – past and present – that confront the Black community and American society more broadly. Newly hired faculty will join colleagues at WSU who are similarly committed to developing a more diverse research portfolio, deepening community engagement, and supporting undergraduate and graduate students interested in the study of Black culture and society. This includes faculty in the Department of African American Studies, which will serve as an institutional anchor for the Center.
The first phase of a multi-year cluster hiring initiative, this year’s search seeks applicants engaged in humanistic and social scientific inquiry, open field, open rank. Applicants must engage in research and/or creative activity, as well as teaching or training that fall within the Center’s focus and will be expected to actively participate in the Center’s growth and programming. These are full-time tenured and tenure-track positions. A Ph.D. or commensurate terminal degree is expected by the time of appointment. Hired faculty will be affiliated with the Center but will have tenure homes in departments relevant to their training and research focus. Joint appointments to strengthen collaboration and build capacity are possible.
How to Apply
An online application is required. Applications must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a list of three references (names, titles, contact information), a research statement that outlines your current and future research agenda or creative activity, and a teaching statement including a list of courses taught. Your cover letter should clearly describe how your work aligns with the Detroit Center for Black Studies’ focus. Be sure to include a summary of your research, scholarship and/or creative activity; teaching and pedagogical approach; and any relevant community-based initiatives. Please select “consider me for other positions and allow for my information to be searchable”. For fullest consideration in the first phase, please submit your application by January 30th, 2024.
WSU is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a RU/VH (Research University, Very High research activity) institution and serves more than 23,000 students across 370 academic programs, making it a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. 41.7 % of all undergraduates are first generation; 43% are Pell Grant eligible; and slightly over 20% of the 2023 incoming class identify as Black/African American. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities preparing students for success in a diverse, global society. WSU encourages applications from women, people of color and other underrepresented people. WSU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
