Assistant Professor in Archival Studies (Tenure Tack), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Posted November 28, 2022
Description:
The University of British Columbia’s School of Information, one of the world’s leading iSchools, invites applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Archival Studies. The position is expected to commence on July 1, 2023.
We are seeking a new faculty member for our Master of Archival Studies (MAS) program, the first, and one of the only standalone archival programs in North America. The program has an international reputation for academic leadership and strong connections with local and international communities. As our new archival studies colleague, you will have the potential to contribute to the ongoing vision and future direction of the MAS program and the school. You will join a distinguished, multi-disciplinary, and growing group of faculty and become part of a unit that hosts top-ranked professional graduate programs, including in Library and Information Studies, as well as an MA in Children’s Literature, a Doctoral Program, and a new undergraduate program in Informatics. Located in beautiful Vancouver, Canada, on the Traditional, Ancestral and Unceded Territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People, the University of British Columbia is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world, and was recently lauded as the Most International University in North America.
Qualifications:
We invite candidates with expertise in archival studies, demonstrated through an advanced degree (PhD) in archival studies. We welcome applications from candidates who hold (or are completing) advanced degrees in cognate disciplines with a substantial focus on archival studies; or who hold (or are completing) advanced degrees in a cognate discipline and have demonstrated contributions to the advancement of archival disciplinary knowledge. Applicants should have a PhD in a relevant field by the start of this appointment. We welcome applications from candidates who are defending their dissertation during the time of the search. The successful candidate has an active research agenda in archival studies; a record of publications and contributions within the field (commensurate with career stage); a demonstrated record of excellence in teaching and course development, ideally at both the graduate and undergraduate level; the potential to contribute to the ongoing vision and future direction of the MAS program; and demonstrated capacity or the potential for academic service and leadership.
We seek candidates who will complement existing expertise and particularly welcome those with
one or more of the following demonstrated strengths:
- Digital approaches to archival and recordkeeping processes and problems, including but not limited to:
- Digital transformation and preservation of archival material;
- Theories, perspectives and practices at the intersection of emerging technologies, archives and recordkeeping.
- Global archival and recordkeeping theories, perspectives, and practices, including but not
limited to:- Indigenous archival theories, perspectives, and practices;
- Community-centred archival and recordkeeping theories, perspectives and
practices;- Archives and evidence in the context of humanitarian crises.
We seek applicants with a record of demonstrated research impact, as well as potential to
publish, teach effectively, and secure external research funding. We acknowledge that within
higher education in Canada, traditional or conventional academic pathways can reinforce biases
in the filling of faculty posts. We encourage applications that may not fit this mold and challenge
our ideas of teaching, scholarship and research.
Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will be expected to undertake an active program of original research, publication, and other knowledge mobilization; to teach courses and undertake student supervision in archival and recordkeeping studies at the graduate and potentially undergraduate level; and contribute to leadership and service initiatives within the School of Information. Other activities include student advising and membership of administrative committees as assigned by the director. Additional responsibilities may include participation in ongoing revision of the MAS curriculum.
As member of a small archival faculty contingent, you will have the opportunity to develop your
own specialized courses as well as to teach in one or more of the following areas:
- Digital preservation;
- Digital archives;
- Archival diplomatics;
- Archival appraisal;
- Archival and recordkeeping systems;
- Indigenous and non-Western recordkeeping models and practices;
- Reference, advocacy and outreach;
- Non-textual archives and records;
- Histories of recordkeeping;
- Community archives.
This is a tenure-track position in the Research Professoriate Stream and the successful candidate will be reviewed for reappointment, tenure, and promotion in subsequent years, in accordance with the Collective Agreement. For a description of the rank Assistant Professor and the criteria for tenure and promotion, see https://hr.ubc.ca/working-ubc/faculty-collective-agreement-and-
policies.
To Apply:
Applications are to be submitted before December 1st, 2022 via this online form:
https://lais.air.arts.ubc.ca/tenure-track-assistant-professor-position-in-archival-studies/
Applicants should be prepared to upload in the following order and in a single PDF:
- Letter of application;
- Curriculum vitae;
- Statement of teaching philosophy (1-2 pages);
- Statement of experience working with a diverse student body and contributions or potential contributions to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion (1-2 pages);
- Evidence of teaching effectiveness (2-3 pages), for example teaching evaluation, peer assessment, lesson plan, and/or course syllabus;
- Two scholarly writing samples;
- Name, title, and affiliation, and contact information of three references.
In addition, applicants should arrange to have three confidential letters of reference sent directly by their referees, by the application deadline, via email to [email protected] with the subject line “Assistant Professor Position in Archival Studies”.
Enquiries may be addressed to Dr. Erik Kwakkel, iSchool Director and Chair of the Faculty Search Committee at: [email protected]. Review of applications will begin November 20, 2022* and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by that date are assured of full review. This position is subject to final budgetary approval. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.