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Assistant Professor of Legal Studies/Political Science

Job Details

Job no: 509281
Work type: Faculty Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department: Political Science
Union: MSP
Categories: Faculty, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Assistant Professor of Legal Studies/Political Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Description

The interdisciplinary Legal Studies Program in the Department of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for a tenure track faculty position expected to start on September 1, 2022. We are seeking talented applicants qualified for an assistant professor position. Under exceptional circumstances, highly qualified candidates at other ranks may receive consideration. We welcome applications from scholars studying law and inequality. Substantive areas could include access to justice; bias in the administration of justice; human and civil rights; social inequality and discrimination; crime and criminal justice; gender, race, and the law; the impact of terrorism; environmental and technological injustices; law and social movements; disparities in the labor force; and other interdisciplinary areas of study. We encourage applications from scholars studying American, comparative, and/or international law and inequality topics.

Requirements

The successful candidate should exhibit significant promise in scholarly publishing, a commitment to teaching excellence, and the ability to contribute to the intellectual growth of the Legal Studies Program. The capacity to secure extramural funding will be looked upon favorably.

Applicants must have earned a PhD in Political Science, Sociology, Criminology, Anthropology, or a closely related social science discipline by the starting date of the appointment.

Additional Information

Legal Studies at UMass is the oldest undergraduate liberal arts program for the study of law and society in the country, and the only one in New England at a public university. The Program is housed in the Department of Political Science and maintains its own undergraduate major. The expanding Legal Studies Program is a center for ambitious intellectual activity and research that addresses important questions about the place of law in societies around the world while helping to produce the next generation of law and society scholars. The Program also hosts the Center for Justice, Law, and Societies at UMass Amherst, a new institute dedicated to building a collaborative, interdisciplinary space for public-facing law and society research. The Department of Political Science is committed to teaching and research that crosses traditional disciplinary and sub-field boundaries and engages a broad range of methodological approaches.

Applicant Instructions

Applicants should submit the following materials:

1. A letter of interest addressed to Professor Lauren McCarthy, Search Committee Chair, Thompson Hall, 200 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003 USA

2. Curriculum vitae

3. Up to three samples of written work

4. Evidence of quality teaching (such as summaries of teaching evaluations and/or a teaching statement)

5. Names and contact information for three references who are willing to submit letters upon request, through the UMass online applications system.

In addition to the materials noted above, applicants should also submit a one-page diversity statement that discusses the candidate’s skills, experiences and commitment to: teaching and mentoring diverse and historically underrepresented student populations, professional service that assists in achieving equity, inclusion, and diversity, and how the candidate’s past or future research addresses fundamental questions important to an increasingly diverse and global society.

Applicants are required to apply online, unless unable to do so because of lack of computer access or disability. Inquiries about the position can be addressed to Professor Lauren McCarthy, the Search Committee Chair, at mccarthy@legal.umass.edu.

Review of applications begins on September 15, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled.

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the University are committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members. Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the University’s goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individual’s record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic career and degree.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Jul 16 2021 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:

Organization

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is one of the preeminent public research universities in America. Nestled in idyllic Amherst, Massachusetts—often called “The top college town in North America”—the campus is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the nation, and offers a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. 

As one of the nation's top public research universities – as measured by national and international rankings, academic citations, and research funding – the campus spends more than $180 million on research each year, demonstrating its contribution to the nation’s position as a technological and economic leader. The university works in conjunction with academic, government, and private partners to translate new knowledge and scientific discoveries into technical innovations and scholarly works that create opportunities for students, faculty and the public. 

Eight schools and colleges offer more than 85 undergraduate majors, 68 master’s and 48 doctoral degree programs, many counted among the top programs in the nation and world. UMass Amherst is also home to New England's premier honors college.

The 1,159 full-time faculty members are dedicated teachers and world-renowned researchers and the campus has regularly been listed among the top performers in terms of faculty awards. With over 24,000 students from all 50 states and over 70 countries, the student body is the most academically successful in the history of the campus. Students participate in 240 organizations, 21 NCAA Division I athletic teams, extensive intramurals, living-learning residence halls, community service, and internships. With one of the largest residential life systems in the nation, UMass Amherst houses approximately 12,000 students on campus. The university is enjoying a facilities renaissance, including new buildings in the sciences, the arts, and recreation. UMass Amherst is part of the Five College consortium with Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire and Amherst colleges.

As an employer, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a national leader in developing family-friendly policies, benefits and amenities designed to help faculty members develop both productive careers and satisfying personal lives. The university offers one of the nation’s most generous parental leave policies. The university is also part of the Academic Career Network, a regional consortium formed to serve dual-career couples and encourage greater diversity in the academy.

 

Company info
Website
Telephone
4135454894
Location
181 PRESIDENTS DR
Whitmore Administration Building
Amherst
Massachusetts
01003
US

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