Teaching Assistant Professor in Art History and Museum Studies at University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

Teaching Assistant Professor in Art History and Museum Studies

Department of History of Art and Architecture

University of Pittsburgh

Overview of Position

The Department of History of Art and Architecture (HAA) in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh seeks to appoint a Teaching Assistant Professor in Art History and Museum Studies to start in Fall 2025, pending budgetary approval. This position carries a 3-3 teaching load, in the core curriculum of HAA’s undergraduate Museum Studies major and in the applicant’s own area of specialization.

The successful applicant will join a rapidly growing undergraduate program and a robust academic community dedicated to collaboration both internally and externally. The Museum Studies program is enhanced by the University Art Gallery (housed within HAA), a partnership and joint faculty position with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and the partner institutions of Collecting Knowledge Pittsburgh, relationships overseen by HAA’s Academic Curator.

We seek a forward-thinking colleague who can tackle pressing ethical, political, and epistemological issues in the museum field, collaborate in student exhibitions and experiential learning, and extend our curriculum with new courses in their own area of specialization. The position is open to applicants with expertise in any time period or geography, but we especially invite applications from candidates whose work concerns:

• Indigenous knowledge and other decolonial interventions in the museum or
• Revisionist or reparative forms of exhibition making and community engagement, and/or
• Artist-centered curatorial approaches, including self-taught or craft-based practices.

Duties

• Teach 6 (3-credit) courses each academic year. These will include rotational teaching in the core curriculum of Museum Studies, including museum history and practice requirements, as well as new courses in the candidate’s own area of specialization. Depending on departmental needs, one or more courses may be replaced with an equivalent time commitment in service/leadership.
• Contribute to the Museum Studies internship program and mentorship of independent projects
• Collaborate with HAA’s Academic Curator and the Director of the University Art Gallery on curriculum planning and exhibition development within the Museum Studies program.
• Meet with students beyond the classroom as may be appropriate to their educational needs.
• Carry out departmental and university service by way of, for instance, mentoring, participating in committees, and leading initiatives that will strengthen our program

Requirements

Minimum:

1. ABD in history of art and/or architecture, museum studies, or an allied field; PhD in hand by Fall 2025.
2. Professional experience in museums, galleries, tribal cultural centers, or other comparable cultural institutions; and/or research expertise on museums or comparable institutions.
3. Teaching experience at the undergraduate level.
4. Commitment to the ongoing work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the university and cultural sectors.

Preferred:

1. PhD in hand.
2. Experience working on collaborative or public-facing projects in museums or comparable cultural institutions.
3. Teaching experience in undergraduate courses on museum histories or practices.
4. Evidence of forward-thinking approaches or practices in one or more of the following: exhibition making, object-based research, museum ethics, community partnerships.
5. Experience in DEIA initiatives in the university or cultural sectors.

Applications should include:

1. Cover letter of 1-2 pages, addressed to Christopher Nygren, Chair, Department of History of Art and Architecture. Include a brief synopsis of your scholarship and professional experience. ABD applicants should outline their timeline to completion and dissertation defense.
2. Current CV, including a list of courses taught.
3. Teaching Statement of 1-2 pages, in which you detail your teaching philosophy and pedagogical practice in art history and/or museum studies, including object and practice-based approaches.
4. Diversity Statement of 1-2 pages, in which you share how your past, planned, or potential contributions or experiences relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion will advance the University of Pittsburgh’s commitment to inclusive excellence.

Review of applications will begin on November 15, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Further materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, will be requested from shortlisted candidates.

Please direct all questions to Christopher Nygren, Chair, Department of History of Art and Architecture (cnygren@pitt.edu), or Evan Zajdel, Department Administrator, Department of History of Art and Architecture (ewz5@pitt.edu).

Applications should include: Cover Letter (1-2 pages), CV, Teaching Statement (1-2 pages), and Diversity Statement (1-2 pages). See description for further details.

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.

PI249708417