Urgently Require Assistant Professor of Sociology and Southern Studies (Cluster Hire) in Mississippi
Posted 2025-03-14Job title: Assistant Professor of Sociology and Southern Studies (Cluster Hire)
Company: University of Mississippi
Job description: Note for Current UM Employees
Current employees must apply internally via connectU
Position Description
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology ( ) and the Center for the Study of Southern Culture ( ) at the University of Mississippi invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Sociology and Southern Studies, beginning August 2022. We seek a scholar interested in sociological approaches to the study of culture, broadly defined, with a teaching and research agenda that centers Black intellectual thought and popular culture of the American South. Preference will be given to those whose work addresses African American musical traditions, including blues, jazz, hip-hop, gospel, soul, and brass band music, among others. This jointly-hired faculty member will hold a PhD in sociology or an adjacent field. Advanced ABD students are encouraged to apply, and will be given full consideration.
Applicants should be prepared to teach interdisciplinary courses at all levels, including 100-level classes in Southern Studies and sociology as well as more specialized upper-division courses for advanced undergraduates and graduate students in both areas. Since the University of Mississippi is a Research 1 institution, applicants should evidence an emerging publication record and research agenda commensurate with the applicant's career stage. In addition, we are interested in scholars whose work has the potential for community engagement and a public-facing component. Both Southern Studies and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology have a rich tradition of interpretive methodologies, and we welcome applicants who complement this shared strength. Teaching responsibilities include a 3/2 course load with undergraduate and graduate-level classes and thesis supervision split between Southern Studies and Sociology.
This position is included in the University of Mississippi, College of Liberal Arts multi-year faculty cluster hire initiative. This initiative is designed to expand the understanding of multicultural competence in a number of areas including successful, effective, and ethical leadership, inclusive pedagogy in STEM, and Black intellectual thought in the social sciences, fine and performing arts, and the humanities. The initiative seeks scholars and scholarship with a focus on the experiences of African Americans and other underrepresented groups and attention to identities with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. Its goal is to attract and support a diverse cohort of scholars who will produce cutting-edge research, scholarship, and creative achievement around one of these broad themes in their fields of specialization. For more information and a list of the other positions included in this cluster hire, please visit the College of Liberal Arts website at .
About Southern Studies and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
The Center for the Study of Southern Culture, founded in 1977, defines its mission as investigating, documenting, interpreting, and teaching about the U.S. South through academic inquiry and publications, documentary studies of film, photography, and oral history, and public outreach programs. The cross-disciplinary Southern Studies faculty and the undergraduate and graduate degree programs (MA and MFA) are the core of the Center's work. Its curricula incorporate traditional disciplines of the arts, humanities, and social sciences to form an interdisciplinary framework for studying the South. The Center promotes research on the region's varied cultures by supporting the work of its faculty, staff, students, alumni, and visiting scholars.
Position Description continued
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology is a vibrant intellectual community of scholars with a strong interdisciplinary focus. Faculty within the department are award-winning teachers and scholars, with national and international reputations. Both the Sociology and Anthropology programs offer BA and MA degrees, and cross-disciplinary efforts - from team teaching to collaborative research - are welcomed. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the College of Liberal Arts offer resources and support for scholars conducting community-engaged research, and for scholars who incorporate undergraduate and graduate students into their research activities.
Both the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology are committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and supportive environment for scholars and students from historically underrepresented groups.
University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts Equity Statement
The University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts is committed to equity in higher education. We seek to build diversity, equity, and inclusion into the heart of our research, teaching, and service missions. We strive to create an environment of learning and discovery where students, faculty, and staff are supported and can expect respect and a sense of belonging as they pursue their best work. Our view of diversity is rooted in the recognition that access to higher education has been blocked or hindered for groups of people based on race/ethnicity and gender (and other systems of power, including socio-economic status/class, sexual orientation, ability, nationality, religious beliefs and practices, among others). As the largest academic area at the University of Mississippi, the flagship university in the state, we have a deep responsibility to reflect the diverse public we serve in order to effectively educate and train problem-solving leaders and lifelong learners. To foster this work and build the strongest College possible, our goal is to collectively create policies and practices in the College that ensure that power, resources, and decision-making are equitably distributed. We will strive to develop authentic relationships and partnerships in this ongoing academic and civic journey and we will hold one another accountable for our progress towards equity, learning from our failures and celebrating our successes as we go.
How to
Interested candidates should apply online at . For full consideration, candidates will submit the following documents: (1) a cover letter outlining your research and teaching qualifications for the advertised position, (2) a C.V., (3) a research statement. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates who are selected for further review will be asked to provide a writing sample and letters of reference (to be submitted by the candidate's referees through the online application website). If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Minjoo Oh, chair of the search committee at or (662) 915-7421. Individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups (Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic/Latino, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) are especially encouraged to apply.
Position Details
Appointment (9 Month)
Assignment Type (Tenure Track)
Application Procedures
Combine the documents into two individual documents and utilize the "cover letter" and "resume" upload feature.
About the University of MS & Oxford, MS
Founded in 1848, the University of Mississippi (UM), affectionately known to alumni, students and friends as Ole Miss, is Mississippi's flagship university. Included in the elite group of R-1: Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, it has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics and business. The University of Mississippi, consistently named by The Chronicle of Higher Education as a ?Great College to Work For,? is located in Oxford, MS, which is ranked one of the ?Top 10 Best College Towns.? With more than 24,000 students, UM is the state's largest university and is ranked among the nation's fastest-growing institutions. The University of Mississippi, which has aggressively implemented many health and wellness initiatives for its more than 2,900 employees, has consistently been named one of Mississippi's Healthiest Workplaces.
Touted as the ?Cultural Mecca of the South?, creativity abounds in Oxford as musicians, artists and writers alike find inspiration in Oxford's rich history, small town charm and creative community. Oxford is a one-hour drive south of Memphis, TN and is known as the home of Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner. Over the years Oxford has also been known for offering exceptional culinary experiences and as the home of the University of Mississippi and the Ole Miss Rebels, there is always something here to immerse yourself in. Oxford has also been featured as a literary and arts destination in such publications as The New York Times, Southern Living, Cond? Nast Traveler, and GQ. Among other cultural activities, annual events include the Oxford Film Festival, a thriving local music scene, and the Ford Center Performing Arts Series. Oxford is a vibrant university town, filled with unique shops and galleries, eclectic restaurants and clubs, historic landmarks, and comfortable inns.
Background Check Statement
The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safe campus community. UM conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.
EEO Statement
The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons. The University complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunity and affirmative action and does not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based upon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.
Expected salary:
Location: Mississippi