Assistant Professor of Media, Culture, & Identity (Reducing Inequalities Cohort)

University of Wisconsin Madison
United States, Wisconsin, Madison
21 North Park Street (Show on map)
Nov 13, 2024
Job Summary: The Department of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level in the field of media, culture, and identity beginning in August 2025. The successful candidate will have a primary appointment and tenure home in the Department of Communication Arts, will teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, will engage in scholarly research, and will participate in university and professional service. Research specialization will focus on media and social inequalities, in areas such as representations of marginalized groups in relation to race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and/or disability; the role of media in social movements and activism; and/or social inequalities in relation to digital media. Research could also connect to the use of media narratives and/or technologies to address social inequalities. The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and student mentoring. Our understanding of mentoring is expansive and includes a wide range of practices, such as: offering undergraduate research opportunities, advising graduate students, connecting students with professional networks, creating an inclusive learning environment, offering culturally responsive guidance and support, facilitating peer mentorship initiatives, and other activities. This position is part of UW-Madison's Excellence in Mentoring Initiative and the College of Letters & Science's "Reducing Social Inequalities" Cohort. The Excellence in Mentoring Initiative is designed to recruit outstanding faculty who, in addition to their demonstrated excellence or strong potential in research and teaching, have demonstrated the ability and commitment to mentor first-generation and/or underrepresented undergraduate or graduate students to help them achieve academic success. The "Reducing Social Inequalities" Cohort in Letters & Science brings together three scholars from the fields of Sociology, Social Work, and Communication Arts who share a commitment to nurturing and developing the next generation of scholars who share an academic focus and pedagogical commitment to reducing social inequalities. While their individual research areas will remain independent, members of the cohort will be encouraged to engage in cross-disciplinary research communities and regularly connect with their fellow cohort members for support and continued success. Responsibilities: The successful candidate will have a primary appointment and tenure home in the Department of Communication Arts, will teach undergraduate and graduate students, will engage in scholarly research, and will participate in university and professional service. They will provide ongoing mentorship to first-generation and/or underrepresented undergraduate and/or graduate students to help them achieve academic success. As a member of the College of Letters & Science, they will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college's commitment to equity among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service. Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion Education: Required PhD in the field of Communication or similar by start of appointment. Qualifications: Candidates should demonstrate evidence of or the potential for excellence in scholarly research, teaching, and mentoring first-generation and/or underrepresented undergraduate or graduate students. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate experience with fostering or the ability to foster an inclusive and equity-centered teaching, learning, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive. Work Type: Full Time: 100% It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Appointment Type, Duration: Ongoing/Renewable Anticipated Begin Date: AUGUST 18, 2025 Salary: Negotiable ACADEMIC (9 months) Additional Information: University of Wisconsin-Madison is ranked highly in communication programs (https://www.top universities.com/university-subject-rankings/communication-media-studies). Our department is multidisciplinary and has a highly collegial environment. Students and faculty in the Department of Communication Arts analyze the production and consumption of communication in all its forms: its influence and effects, its history and industry structures, the uses to which it is put, its characteristic forms and texts, and the technologies through which it is made, distributed, and used. Communication Arts offers graduate programs in Communication Science, Film, Media and Cultural Studies, or Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture. Communication is one of the fastest-growing fields in the humanities and social sciences today. Madison is the state's capitol city and is well known for offering a smalltown feel in a medium-sized city. It is a great place to raise a family and offers an ideal combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural events, excellent healthcare, and outstanding schools and outdoor recreation. Madison is regularly listed at the top of best places to live in the United States. The College of Letters & Science is committed to creating an inclusive environment in which all of us - students, staff, and faculty - can thrive. Ours is a community in which we all are welcome. Most importantly, we strive to build a community in which all of us feel a great sense of belonging. There is no excellence without diversity in all its forms; diverse teams are more creative and successful than homogeneous ones. We are better when we are diverse and when we acknowledge, celebrate and honor our diversity. In acknowledging and honoring our diversity, we also assume a responsibility to support and stand up for each other. How to Apply: Apply online at "Jobs at UW" (http://jobs.wisc.edu) under job number 307093. Applications must be received through UW- Madison's online application system. Applications submitted outside of this system will not be considered. Click the "Apply Now" button to start the application process. Applicants should submit the following 5 items: 1. CV 2. Cover Letter 3. Research Statement and Teaching Statement 4. Evidence of Commitment to Excellence in Mentoring First-Generation and/or Underrepresented Students 5. 3 Samples of written work Candidates will be asked to provide contact information for three references; we will only contact references for letters of recommendation for finalists. For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59pm on November 22, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant's dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant's ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of application materials must be created by the applicant that may include supporting letters. It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others. Employment will require an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct. To be considered, applicants must upload a signed 'Authorization to Release Information' form as part of the application. The authorization form and a definition of 'misconduct' can be found here: https://hr.wisc.edu/institutional-reference-check/ Contact: Jonathan Gray jagray3@wisc.edu 608-263-2541 Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. Official Title: Assistant Professor(FA040) Department(s): A48-COL OF LETTERS & SCIENCE/COMMUN ARTS/COMM ART Employment Class: Faculty Job Number: 307093-FA The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/ Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.