Assistant and/or Associate Professor – Social and Environmental Challenges in Latin America: Digital Scholarship (The University of Texas at San Antonio)

The University of Texas at San Antonio is an urban-serving, Hispanic thriving discovery enterprise deeply committed to student success and academic excellence. The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has embarked on a focused cluster hiring plan to recruit top-tier researchers in interdisciplinary areas of knowledge that will advance the study of Social and Environmental Challenges in Latin America. Home to some of the largest bioreserves in the world and some of world’s most important biodiversity hotspots, Latin America’s environments are undergoing rapid transformation due to climate change, environmental
degradation, and politicosocio-economic transformations across the region. These forces are coupled in complex ways, and understanding the coupled dynamics of society, climate, and environment in Latin America presents a grand challenge that is fertile ground for transdisciplinary research. To address this challenge, UTSA is recruiting a cohort of researchers from different disciplines whose research centers on environmental degradation, climate change, and the associated
socioeconomic and political challenges and transformations in Latin America and the US-Mexico borderlands. The goal is to foster collaborative and transdisciplinary research to understand and confront the emerging social and environmental challenges facing the region. This targeted cluster hire will build on and leverage our established research portfolio, propelling our ability to tackle and solve previously unsolvable problems. Hires are expected to build their own
unique programs of research, as well as to collaborate with other hires in this cluster and with colleagues in their home department, college, and other colleges.

As part of this initiative, the College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) seeks two faculty members who will expand the digital scholarship footprint within the Social and Environmental Challenges in Latin America cluster. We define digital scholarship broadly, including digital humanities, new media studies, digital design, multimedia mapping, digital visualization, and/or new journalism, among other areas. Preference will be given to applicants who can contribute to both
the scholarly domains of digital scholarship and the technical domains of digital production. One position is for an assistant professor, the other for an assistant or associate professor. The cluster hired in Anthropology last year; these new hires will extend the cluster into other disciplines. The hires will be housed in one or more of COLFA’s departments (www.colfa.utsa.edu), as appropriate. Research active faculty in COLFA typically teach a 2/2 course load.

Responsibilities

Teaching introductory, upper division, and graduate courses; research and service in a program that offers B.A. and M.A. degrees; maintaining an active research agenda; leadership in developing new lines of research and teaching; contributing to the university and community through service and outreach.

Required Qualifications

Successful applicants will have 1) a strong record of teaching, research, and service appropriate to rank; 2) an active research agenda with demonstrated interest and experience in collaborative and/or transdisciplinary research; 3) a research focus on Latin America and/or the Caribbean; and 4) a terminal degree (Ph.D./M.F.A) in their field at time of interview.

For consideration as Associate Professor, candidates must have a strong record of publication, evidence of effective teaching, and substantial experience in department, university, and professional service. Tenure is contingent on Board of Regents approval.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred candidates will be able to successfully teach and mentor diverse, underserved students, including first-generation students, students of color and non-traditional students, and have the ability to contribute to the university’s commitment to inclusive excellence as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Additional Information

-Successful candidates will demonstrate (1) a record of high quality research and scholarship (2) excellence in undergraduate and graduate education or intellectual contributions in diversity, inclusion, and the demonstrated ability to teach students from diverse backgrounds and (3) a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion.
-Applicants selected for interviews must show proof that they will be eligible and qualified to work in the United States by the time of hire.
-At the discretion of the hiring department, this position posting may be closed once a sufficient number of qualified applications has been received.
-UTSA is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
-UTSA is a tobacco-free campus.
-This is a security sensitive position. Employment is contingent upon a successful background check.

Instructions on how to apply for position (e.g. URL, email address)*: Review of applications begins December 4, 2020. For full consideration, applicants should submit their materials by that date. Inquiries may be directed to the Cluster Search Committee Chair, Dr. Nathan Richardson (nathan.richardson@utsa.edu).

To apply, please create a single file in PDF format containing in the following order:
-a letter of application describing research, teaching, and service accomplishments and goals that includes a discussion of the role that diversity and inclusion play in an academic environment; please indicate the rank for which you wish to be considered
-a CV
-up to three examples of successful research, which could include publications, dissertation chapters, or a portfolio of screening links or images in a PDF document
-teaching evaluations if available
-names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers of three references

Materials must be submitted on-line via https://www.utsa.edu/hr/employment/