University of Central Oklahoma, History & Geography

Assistant Professor, Director of Museum Studies Program, Full-time, Tenure-Track

Position Announcement:

The Department of History and Geography at the University of Central Oklahoma invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor in History and Director of the Museum Studies Program to begin August 2022. PhD required in History or related discipline. The department offers the MA degree in Museum Studies and the BA degree in History-Museum Studies. The department is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and to creating a welcoming environment for all.

Position Overview:

Teaches, advises and mentors students, evaluates student performance, and maintains department and student records in accordance with university policies. Adheres to the educational philosophy of the university. Works in a collaborative manner with colleagues and professional peers. Participates in university meetings that relate specifically to faculty. Serves on department, college, and university committees as requested. Prepares departmental reports as requested. Engages in teaching, service, and scholarly and/or creative activities as defined by the tenure and promotion policy in the UCO Employee and Faculty Handbook. Faculty are expected to support & facilitate the department/school/college academic and university missions, visions, & long-term goals.

College/Department Overview:

The College of Liberal Arts currently has 113 full-time and 152 part-time faculty in 8 academic departments. The College serves the University's Core Curriculum programs and enrolls more than 2,850 undergraduate students and more than 300 graduate students in 34 undergraduate and 17 graduate majors. For further information see our website at: http://www.uco.edu/la

Department Specific Essential Job Functions:

The successful candidate will direct the department’s Museum Studies Program, and will teach a 3:3 course load at all levels of the graduate and undergraduate history curriculum. The Director of the Museum Studies Program will be responsible for teaching HIST 4613/5523 Museum Management and HIST 4623/5623 Museum Theory and Practice sequentially each academic year, as well as department core and service courses. As director, the position includes recruiting graduate and undergraduate students to the program, mentoring students in internships and research, and building and sustaining relationships with community partners, including Native nations, museums, and state agencies. Preferred qualifications include museum experience and involvement in professional associations. Preference will be given to candidates who can contribute to public history, historic preservation, digital humanities, and grant writing. The department, college, and university emphasize excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.

The Museum Studies Program trains graduate students and undergraduate students in professional development and advancement in museum studies, public history, archives, Tribal museums and cultural centers. Through internships and job placement, our current students and alumni serve in museums, archives, and cultural institutions. The Laboratory of History Museum, the university’s history museum founded in 1915, provides students in Museum Studies with training and experience in the interpretation, exhibition, care, and management of the collection. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with Laboratory of History Museum Director Heidi Vaughn.

Department faculty members consistently mentor students in professional development including conference presentations, international and national archival research opportunities, internships, and publications. The department offers two graduate degree programs in Museum Studies and History, five undergraduate degree programs in Geography, History-Museum Studies, History Education, History, and Women’s Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and seven minors in Geography, History, Indigenous Studies, International Studies, Race and Ethnic Studies, Russian Studies, Sustainability Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Additional Information and Requirements:

Visit https://jobs.uco.edu/ to submit application materials, which include an online faculty application with cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of the position, including brief statements on teaching philosophy, research interests, and museum experience, curriculum vitae, writing sample, contact information for three professional references who may be contacted for letters of recommendation, and unofficial transcripts. Review of applications will begin April 1, 2022, and continue until the position is filled.  For more information about the University of Central Oklahoma, please visit www.uco.edu.

• Letters of reference sent through Interfolio should be sent directly to jobs@uco.edu.

• Contact: Patti Loughlin, Ph.D., Search Committee Chair, ploughlin@uco.edu, (405) 974-5491

UCO Land Acknowledgment

The University of Central Oklahoma recognizes that we gather on land entrusted to the care and protection of the Caddo and Wichita peoples. These lands are part of the wider state of Oklahoma which is shared by the 39 sovereign Indigenous Nations including the Kiowa, Comanche, Osage, Apache and Fort Sill Apache Nations, and is associated with the forced relocation of Nations through the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The university was built in Unassigned Land within seized portions of Indian Territory taken from the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole Nations by the federal government in 1866. Beginning in 1889, this land was distributed through several Land Runs intended to confine and erase Indigenous peoples from this territory. We acknowledge the historical events that have and continue to affect Indigenous people of this land. We pledge to honor and respect Indigenous knowledges and worldviews as we sustain a meaningful relationship with the Sovereign Nations. 

Inclusive Community at UCO

The University of Central Oklahoma affirms and promotes diversity in areas including race, class, gender identity, ethnicity, culture, religion, ideology, (dis)ability, affectional orientation, gender expression, and other aspects of self-identification. Our appreciation of diversity includes an awareness of the historical heritage on which the university was founded and the many struggles and sacrifices, both historically and currently, that confront underrepresented communities. Given this awareness, we actively strive to enrich the experience of the entire community by implementing practices that remove barriers to those communities served least well by existing systems. We do this not only because it is right, but also because diversity enriches the experiences and expands the social and conceptual horizons of students, faculty and staff members, while enhancing the university’s ability to contribute to the intellectual, cultural, economic, and social advancement of the communities and individuals it serves.

Experience Required:

Teaching, research, departmental/school and university service is expected. An earned doctorate degree awarded by a regionally accredited or internationally recognized institution in the field specified in the position announcement (exceptions require Academic Affairs approval). **NOTE** If the doctorate is not obtained and submitted by the time of employment, the position rank will change to TT-Instructor.

Evidence of scholarly potential and significant experience in museum management required.

Physical Demands:

Reasonable accommodations (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made, upon request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.