Assistant Professor of Humanities

If you find the H-Net Job Guide useful please consider making a donation. Your donation will help ensure the continuing quality and availability of this and other H-Net services. Assistant Professor of History, Department of Humanities Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and of challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons University was one of the first higher education institutions to focus on preparing women to become leaders and has evolved to become a university offering a women-centered undergraduate program, with graduate programs open to all. Simmons University strives for inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience: One of our strategic goals is to become the most inclusive campus in New England. As a University committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we seek candidates with a demonstrated ability to work with students across a broad range of social and personal identities and perspectives. We particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. As of July 2024, the History program is housed in Simmons’ brand new Department of Humanities, which is committed to connecting students with the enduring value of the humanities — the study of human cultural expressions in art, history, languages, literatures, writing, and philosophy across the globe. In addition to teaching the humanistic skills of critical thinking, reading, writing, and speaking, the department seeks to develop in students an appreciation of the diversity of social, cultural, moral, and aesthetic values in human experience. A humanities-based education provides students with multiple career capabilities that are vital for our increasingly complex world. As part of Simmons University, we embrace Simmons traditions in leadership and practice for the social good. The undergraduate and graduate History programs form an integral part of the Humanities department. Undergraduates can pursue either a major or minor in History, as well as a minor in Public History. The curriculum offers students a wide degree of flexibility as they meet department expectations to achieve both a breadth of historical understanding as well as achieving depth in a particular area of specialization culminating in the student’s capstone project. In addition to our undergraduate major and minor, the History program offers two graduate programs. The first, a stand-alone Master's in History, serves educators, public historians, and others interested in furthering their research skills. We also share a large and thriving dual degree Master's program with the School of Library and Information Science. Students pursue two degrees: an MLIS with a specialization in Archives Management or Cultural Heritage Informatics and an MA in History. All dual degree students complete a History thesis based on original research. History faculty contribute to these programs by teaching seminars and advising graduate research in their fields. The Humanities Department is housed in The Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences which was launched in 2018. As a pioneering Black woman journalist, Gwen Ifill '77 '93HD broke through barriers of prejudice and stands as a model of professional excellence and a purposeful life. The Ifill School aims to carry on that legacy for the next generations. To that end, we are a community of educators and learners guided by intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and generosity of spirit. We derive strength from our differences and pursue civic engagement through humanistic inquiry that values language, lived experience, artistic expression, and imagination. We give voice to our stories, past and present, individual and global, told and untold, to influence a future whose questions have yet to be asked. Our students view society through the multi-faceted lenses of language, narrative, art, music, film, and contemporary media. Job Summary The Simmons University History program welcomes applications for a full-time tenure track position to begin in Fall 2025. The position is open with regard to the geographic region of specialization, but we would welcome applicants who could teach courses on Latin America and the Caribbean or the Middle East/Islamic World. We especially seek applicants whose research and teaching trace the social and cultural construction of gender and the history of sexuality. In addition to their specific region and time period, the successful candidate will complement what our department’s current faculty members offer in terms of region, chronology, or methodology. Particularly desirable areas of additional interest include: public humanities, African diaspora, world history, labor history, migration history, environmental history, and the history of science and medicine. Primary Responsibilities We seek a colleague who will teach a range of history courses, from in-person, on-the-ground, undergraduate surveys to both synchronous online and in-person graduate seminars. In a typical semester, depending on their areas of specialization, the faculty member might teach a 100-level introductory course (such as Latin American History or World History II), a 200-level course (such as Understanding Islam in Global Perspective or African Diaspora), and a 300/500 level advanced undergraduate/graduate level seminar (such as “Insurgency and Revolution in Latin America and the Caribbean” or “Cross-Cultural Encounters”). In addition to existing classes, the faculty member can develop new history courses in their areas of specialization or teach general education courses as part of the Simmons PLAN (Purpose Leadership ActioN). The faculty member is expected to advise undergraduate History majors, supervise the work of Master's student research and theses, maintain an active research agenda, and actively engage in service to the Simmons community. Qualifications Candidates must have received a PhD in history or a related field by the position start date; experience in teaching courses at the college level and a commitment to providing high-quality education; potential for and/or demonstrated ability to teach students with diverse backgrounds at the undergraduate and graduate level; potential for and/or evidence of scholarship related to the candidate’s areas of specialization; demonstrated commitment to collegiality when interacting with others within the university community. Application Instructions Interested candidates should submit the following electronically through Simmons Workday with their application: a letter of application addressing teaching experiences, teaching philosophy and course or content interests, and research interests; a curriculum vitae; and a writing sample. Additional supporting materials to document excellence in teaching, such as course evaluations or syllabi of courses taught, are optional and welcomed. Letters of recommendation and transcripts will be requested from short-listed candidates at a later date. We will begin reviewing applications on November 30.

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