Andrew W. Mellon Chair (History of Art and Architecture Department)
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 an accomplished historian of modern or contemporary African, African American, or African Diasporic art to the Andrew W. Mellon Chair, with a start date of September 1, 2022. The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure. This endowed position provides an opportunity for its holder to undertake significant scholarly initiatives at the departmental, university, and extra-institutional level. It carries substantial research funds and a teaching load of three courses per year. Applicants are expected to have an accomplished record of research and teaching. The successful applicant will be asked to develop and teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervise doctoral students, undertake service, and participate actively in the life of the department and university. We seek a colleague whose teaching, research, mentorship, and leadership will contribute diverse perspectives and experiences to departmental and university initiatives.
The History of Art and Architecture Department is based in the Frick Fine Arts Building on the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus. We recognize that the University of Pittsburgh occupies the ancestral land of the Adena culture, Hopewell culture, and Monongahela peoples, who were later joined by refugees of other tribes (including the Delaware, Shawnee, and Haudenosaunee), driven here from their homelands by colonizers. 17 full-time faculty members work together to serve the needs of our approximately 30 PhD students; post-baccalaureate Hot Metal Bridge diversity fellows; the 200 majors and minors in our programs in Architectural Studies, the History of Art and Architecture, and Museum Studies; and the hundreds of undergraduate students who enroll in our courses to fulfill General Education requirements. Our faculty includes specialists in the art and architecture of the Americas, East and South Asia, the Islamic Near East, and Europe, across centuries. Our interpretative approaches and lines of inquiry find intersections within our Constellations working groups on Agency, Environment, Identity, Mobility & Exchange, Temporalities, and Visual Knowledge. Our interest in the history of exhibitions and museums finds expression in our research, activities related to the Collecting Knowledge Pittsburgh consortium, and our Museum Studies major and minor. The University Art Gallery, Visual Media Workshop, and Fine Arts Library, all of which are housed within the Frick Fine Arts Building, function as situated learning environments for department members. The appointment of a senior scholar of modern or contemporary African, African American, or African Diasporic art will both strengthen and help connect our research and teaching missions at a crucial inflection point within the history of the department, the University, and the discipline.
To apply, visit join.pitt.edu. The requisition number for this position is 21006726.
Applications should include:• Cover letter addressed to Prof. Mrinalini Rajagopalan, Chair, HAA Department, that discusses the applicant’s approaches to research, teaching, and mentoring (of peers, graduatestudents, and undergraduates).• Current CV. Please include a list of students mentored and courses taught.• 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, 2021, and will continue until the position is filled. Questions may be directed to Mrinalini Rajagopalan, Chair, HAA Department (mrr55@pitt.edu) or Karoline Swiontek, Administrative Officer, HAA Department (karoline@pitt.edu).
Duties• Teach 3 (3-credit) courses (undergraduate and graduate) in the History of Art and Architecture per academic year• Meet with undergraduate and graduate students beyond the classroom as may be appropriate to their educational needs• Direct and serve on PhD committees in the History of Art and Architecture Department• Carry out departmental and university service by way of, for instance, mentoring, participating on committees, and leading select initiatives
Minimum Requirements• PhD in the history of art, architecture, or a closely related field• Record of publications demonstrating original insight and sustained engagement with innovative methodological approaches• An active, forward-looking research agenda in the fields of modern or contemporary African, African American, or African Diasporic art• Demonstrated excellence in university-level teaching in the history of art, architecture, or a closely related field • An openness to innovative pedagogical practices• Commitment to the values of equity, inclusion, accessibility, and diversity• Commitment to departmental and university citizenship
Preferred Requirements• Experience teaching graduate-level courses and directing or serving on PhD committees• Experience mentoring faculty colleagues• Interest in Museum Studies and Curatorial Practice• Record of university and/or disciplinary service• Potential to engage collaboratively on strategic initiatives
The Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences is committed to building and fostering a culturally diverse environment. Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in support of a diverse community are required.
The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.
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