Robert M. Beren Assistant/Associate Professor in Jewish Studies

The University of Kansas seeks a tenure-track Assistant or tenured Associate Professor of Modern Jewish Studies in the Jewish Studies Program to begin 8/18/2025. This position is a full-time, academic year appointment. The faculty member will participate in the teaching mission of the Jewish Studies Program, which includes courses at the undergraduate and graduate level; conduct research in Jewish Studies leading to publication in appropriate venues; and engage in department, College, University, and national service. Ph.D. is expected by the start date of the appointment.

About the University of Kansas/CLAS
The University of Kansas is located in the city of Lawrence, a thriving community 40 minutes from the Kansas City metropolitan area and 30 minutes from the state capital, Topeka. Lawrence, a vibrant college town of 95,000, boasts a lively downtown with many music venues, award-winning restaurants, and a nationally celebrated independent bookstore among its many independently owned small businesses. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the largest school within the campus and plays a central role within the University. Founded in 1865, KU is a designated Carnegie comprehensive doctoral and research university and is one of only 38 public members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). The University enrolls more than 28,000 students and offers students and faculty opportunities to collaborate in its graduate and professional programs, which include education, public health, medicine, law, and a number of allied social science and humanities disciplines.

About Lawrence
KU's research residential campus is in the center of a vibrant and culturally-rich community - a quintessential college town. Visitors, students and new employees from outside the area enjoy discovering the many wonders of Lawrence, including a thriving downtown, a wide variety of local and regional events, area lakes, vibrant arts and music scenes, and an indelible history. Home to nearly 95,000 people, Lawrence is located 45 minutes west of Kansas City and 30 minutes east of Topeka, the state capital. Along with the music, arts, culture and sports experiences offered at KU and in Lawrence, the short drive to Kansas City provides quick access to historic jazz clubs, museums, world-class music and theatre venues, and professional sports teams.

Culture & Community Statement
KU's excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other's success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The College emphasizes interdisciplinary, experiential learning and global awareness, houses a vibrant university wide Honors Program that highlights undergraduate research and service activities, and has created strong affiliations with outstanding cross-disciplinary research centers. Faculty and academic staff have emphasized the importance of continuing and expanding on relationships with centers and entities including the Biodiversity Institute, Kansas Biological Survey, Kansas Geological Survey, the Hall Center for the Humanities, the Life Span Institute, the Institute for Policy and Social Research, the Spencer Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum. These relationships have brought a broad range of disciplines together to pursue and conduct sponsored research and education at the international, national, state, regional and local levels, and have created employment structures in which faculty and academic staff share appointments to emphasize collaboration. College faculty and research staff are welcomed as members in all KU's designated research centers and institutes. The College is home to internationally recognized scholars and scientists who brought in $44M in research funding in FY 2021, nearly 30% of the total funded research at KU Lawrence.

About the Jewish Studies Program
The Jewish Studies Program offers an undergraduate major (BA) and a minor, co-sponsoring and cross-listing courses in History, Political Science, Anthropology, Religious Studies, Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Global and International Studies, and Linguistics. Current strengths include the Hebrew language program, Israel studies, Jewish theatre and performance studies, Jewish languages and narratives, and Judaism and Jewish thought. Members of the Program enjoy a collegial and supportive atmosphere and benefit from a rotating leadership structure where faculty anticipate holding leadership positions in the Program at various stages in their careers.

Job Duties

40% RESEARCH: Tenure-track and tenured faculty are expected to develop and maintain an active research program which gains national recognition and is advanced substantially beyond the level of the Ph.D. dissertation (for Assistant) or beyond tenure (for Associate level) leading to the next promotion. The research program and resulting publications should provide solid evidence that the faculty member is a dedicated scholar whose research will continue to develop in depth and importance throughout their career.

40% TEACHING/ADVISING: The normal teaching load in the Jewish Studies Program is four courses per year. Duties include course development, preparing and attending all class meetings, developing assignments, evaluating student work, providing feedback to students, assigning grades, holding regular office hours, and adhering to department, College and University policies. All faculty are expected to be active in advising undergraduate students. While we do not have a graduate program, advising and mentoring graduate students who have Jewish Studies interests is encouraged and supported. Faculty are expected to treat students with courtesy and with respect for their rights, including, but not limited to, academic freedom and those rights as outlined in the Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities.

20% SERVICE: Tenure-track faculty are expected to participate in appropriate professional activities, such as attending department meetings, carrying out departmental committee assignments, attending national meetings or conferences, and refereeing or reviewing manuscripts for research journals, presses, and/or grant proposals. The faculty member should establish a record that demonstrates professional responsibility and develops capacity for the faculty member to assume future departmental, college, university and professional roles.
The Robert M. Beren Professor is expected to engage in outreach activities to the KU community as well as to the greater Kansas City community and the State of Kansas through such activities as giving lectures, serving on committees, and providing information on subjects in the area of expertise in Modern Jewish Studies.

Faculty Code
Faculty members are expected to carry out their responsibilities in accordance with the Faculty Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, currently viewable at: http://policy.ku.edu/FacultyCodeKULawrence/faculty-code-of-rights

Evaluation of the following requirements will be made through: (a) descriptions of research agenda and teaching philosophy in letter of application, (b) record of accomplishments and productivity included in curriculum vitae, and (c) information provided from three professional references.

For appointment at rank of Assistant Professor:

1. Ph.D. in Jewish Studies or in a related field expected by the start date of appointment (August 18, 2025).
2. Research expertise in any area of Modern Jewish Studies.
3. Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching as evidenced by teaching philosophy statement and reference letters that address teaching.
4. Demonstrated commitment to excellence in research as evidenced by graduate coursework, dissertation research, publications, and/or externally funded research grants.

For appointment at the rank of Associate Professor:

1. Ph.D. in Jewish Studies or in a related field
2. Demonstrated record of excellence in teaching and mentoring in a university setting
3. Demonstrated record of research commensurate with the rank of Associate Professor at an R1 university, as demonstrated by publications, portfolios, research grants, and/or awards.

A complete application packet will include the following materials: (1) cover letter; (2) curriculum vitae including record of accomplishments and productivity; (3) research statement including a description of research agenda; (4) a teaching philosophy statement; and (5) the names, email and contact information for three professional references.

Please note that in case of hiring a candidate with tenure at the Associate level, the Jewish Studies Program will solicit three additional external letters of recommendation from colleagues at R1 institutions. No action is required from the candidate.

Application review will begin November 11th and will continue until a pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

Commensurate with experience and rank

Monday November 11, 2024

Monday August 18, 2025