Associate Professor / Professor - Indigenous Histories of Environmental Justice

Date Posted: 12/17/2024
Closing Date: 02/18/2025, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 39116
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: University of Toronto Scarborough
Department: Department of Historical & Cultural Studies
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Description:

The Department of Historical and Cultural Studies and the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Sustainability Transitions at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) invite applications for a full-time tenure stream position in Indigenous Histories of Environmental Justice. The appointment will be at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous. Recognizing that there are a variety of terms that potential candidates may use to self-identify, the University uses the term “Indigenous” in this search, which forms part of the U of T Response to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to encompass the people of Turtle Island, including those who identify as First Nations, Métis, Inuk (Inuit), Alaska Native, Native American, and Native Hawaiian people.

The successful candidate will join the Department of Historical and Cultural Studies (HCS) and the Canada Excellence Research Chair Network for Equity in Sustainability Transitions (CERC NEST) research program. The CERC NEST uses a transdisciplinary, comparative and action-centred approach with communities and city actors in Toronto and internationally to examine how to enhance participation in decision-making, address inequities in regulations and investments, and ensure fair distribution of benefits, livability and a good life for all.

Applicants must have earned a PhD degree in Indigenous Studies, Indigenous History, or a related area, with a clearly demonstrated record of excellence in research, participatory methodologies, and teaching. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths, dovetail with the CERC NEST research vision and methodologies, and support critical areas of research and teaching in HCS, including Decolonized Knowledge, Environmental Humanities, Histories of Social Justice Movements, and North American History. Candidates must bring Indigenous ways of knowing to bear on histories of extractivism, racial capitalism, and settler colonialism through the study of histories of Indigenous socio-environmental justice movements and organizing. The successful candidate must have an established international reputation as an expert in Indigenous Histories of environmental justice. They will be expected to sustain and lead innovative and independent research, and to maintain an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program.

Candidates must provide evidence of excellence in research and participatory methodologies which can be demonstrated by a record of sustained high-impact contributions and publications in top-ranked and field-relevant journals, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, and other noteworthy activities that contribute to the visibility and prominence of the discipline, the CERC NEST, as well as strong endorsements from referees.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be provided through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier submitted as part of the application (with required materials outlined below), as well as strong letters of reference.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. We seek candidates who value diversity and whose research, teaching and service bear out our commitment to equity. Candidates must also show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and to the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment, as demonstrated through the application materials. Candidates are asked to submit a 1- to 2-page statement of contributions to equity and diversity, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): research or teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities, the development of inclusive pedagogies, or the mentoring of students from underrepresented groups. The statement should describe how the candidate’s lived experience has influenced their understanding of and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment, as well as examples of how it is reflected in their research or teaching.

Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Department of Historical and Cultural Studies comprises of four undergraduate academic programs—Classical Studies, Global Asia Studies, History, and Women's and Gender Studies—which work in synergy to offer a critical lens on the processes that shape our world, situating them in multiple global and local contexts. As a department, HCS is marked by the exceptional strength of its diverse faculty and our commitment to the wellbeing of our students, staff, faculty and instructors, and the UTSC campus and wider Scarborough and Eastern GTA communities. HCS faculty share a focus on equity, decolonization and anti-racism, academic freedom, faculty governance, and transparency. For more information about the Department, please visit https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/hcs/.

The successful candidate will also be a full member of the Graduate Department of History, where they will teach and supervise MA and doctoral students. The Graduate Department of History is one of the largest and most vibrant graduate history programs in North America. Housed on the St. George campus, it is the research and graduate teaching home for historians across the University of Toronto’s three campuses, offers a broadly diversified program of graduate studies leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. With 75 faculty members and an additional 16 cross-appointed faculty to support them, we accept and train students in a wide range of geographic and thematic areas. Members of the Department have an impressive track record in winning grants and communicating to an international audience through publication in leading journals and top-ranked university presses. Many among our faculty are or have been the presidents of professional associations, chairs of major conferences, and editors of leading journals. Information about the Graduate Department may be found here.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must submit a cover letter; a current curriculum vitae; a research statement outlining current and future research interests; one recent publication; and a teaching dossier which includes a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations; as well as an EDI statement as described above.

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. At least one of these letters should comment on the candidate’s Indigenous community engagement. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee the day after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that references submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated, and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. If you have any questions about this position, please contact the department chair, Professor E. Natalie Rothman at hcschair.utsc@utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by February 18, 2025.

The University of Toronto has adopted the AAU Principles on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Academia, including the requirement that applicants release personnel information from prior employers regarding sexual misconduct. Full details and requirements can be found here.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.