Assistant or Associate Professor, History and Theory of Landscape Architecture

Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Open Date:
Aug 1, 2023
Description:

The Department of Landscape Architecture at the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, welcomes highly qualified individuals to apply for an Assistant or Associate Professor position to offer graduate-level instruction in the area of the history and theory of landscape architecture. Scholars whose research and teaching addresses the topics of landscape and the environment though urban histories and ecologies; the histories of race, ethnicity, and colonialism as they relate to the landscape; the history of the natural sciences; emergent histories of plant humanities; circular ecologies and discard studies; the histories of gender, labor, and the environment; and/or the complexities of cultural landscapes are particularly welcome to apply.

The Department of Landscape Architecture is recognized internationally for its innovative ecological approach to the design of landscapes, public works, public spaces, and infrastructures. This approach addresses the rich and entangled web of everyday environmental relationships between living things—humans, plants, and animals—as well as the mineral world. A rich understanding of these ecologies is necessary to both address the ongoing climate crisis and seek reparative social and environmental justice.

In addition to the Department of Landscape Architecture, the Weitzman School includes the departments of Historic Preservation, City & Regional Planning, Architecture, and Fine Arts, providing potential for collaboration with other disciplines and departments. The Weitzman School prepares students to address complex sociocultural and environmental issues through thoughtful inquiry, creative expression, and innovation. As a diverse community of scholars and practitioners, we are committed to advancing the public good—both locally and globally—through art, design, planning, and preservation. 

This position is a full-time tenure-track or tenured appointment at either the Assistant or Associate Professor level, with responsibilities for teaching, research, and administration, including engaged participation within the school’s design curriculum as a critic. The specific rank of the successful candidate will be determined based on experience and qualifications.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach graduate lecture and seminar courses in landscape architectural history and theory, including courses in areas of specialization that reflect the candidate’s research. Teaching will include required theory courses in the Department of Landscape Architecture and elective seminars open to the entire Weitzman School of Design. In addition to demonstrating effectiveness in teaching, successful applicants must provide evidence of a strong capacity for the production of scholarly work through a record of past publications and plans for future research. The position may also include the advising of PhD students in the Weitzman School’s cross-disciplinary areas. We also welcome the new faculty member to participate in the various research centers located at the School and University, particularly the Department of Landscape Architecture’s McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology.

Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications: a PhD in the history of landscape architecture, history of architecture, urban studies, art history, geography, or another related field. A professionally accredited master’s degree in landscape architecture is preferred, but not required.

Application Instructions:

Applicants should submit a cover letter that includes a succinct description of their agenda for research and scholarship; a curriculum vitae; two recent publications or writing samples; two recent course syllabi; a teaching statement; and a diversity statement describing how underrepresented, diverse, and global perspectives are incorporated into their research and teaching of history and theory. As part of the cover letter, candidates are encouraged to identify if/how their research and teaching interests connect with any of the school's other departments.

 

In addition, applicants should provide the names of three references who will be contacted at a later time. Applications from women candidates and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

Applications should be addressed to the Chair of the Search Committee for the History and Theory of Landscape Architecture.

Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled. The position will begin on July 1, 2024, and the selected candidate is expected to begin teaching in fall 2024.

Questions should be directed to Eric Baratta, Assistant Director of Administration / Department Coordinator, Landscape Architecture, at: landarch@design.upenn.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.  Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class. Questions or concerns about this should be directed to the Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street,  Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205; or (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 898-7803 (TDD).