Director, Center for Latin American Studies

Classification Title:

Director & Professor 

Job Description:   A place of becoming—beyond expectations!   Join UF’s distinguished cohort of professional educators and researchers whose Momentum Moves Our World! This five-year appointment as the Director and Professor of UF’s Center for Latin American Studies includes a tenured faculty appointment. The ideal candidate is an excellent leader and communicator, with demonstrated administrative experience and skills along with a proven track record of combining scholarship with program leadership and development. The role offers a unique opportunity to define the future strategic and academic directions for the oldest research center on Latin America in the United States.   About the University of Florida    Come for a job. Grow a career. Gain a community!   The University of Florida is a dynamic community of collaborators attracting the brightest minds across disciplines and connecting them with world-class resources. As a top-ranked public land-grant institution and a proud member of the Association of American Universities, UF enrolls more than 55,000 students and fosters a rich, diverse academic environment. Located in a state with deep historical, cultural, economic, and business ties to Latin America and the Caribbean, UF offers over 100 undergraduate programs, 200 graduate programs, and professional degrees in dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. Consistently ranked among the Top 10 Public National Universities by U.S. News & World Report, UF is a hub for innovation, research, and academic excellence.   As UF embarks on building its strategic vision for the next decade, the next Director of the Center for Latin American Studies will have a unique opportunity to shape the Center’s trajectory in alignment with the university’s long-term goals. goals.   Center for Latin American Studies   The University of Florida has a long-standing commitment to Latin American Studies, dating back to the 1890s. Officially established as the Institute for Inter-American Affairs in the 1930s and renamed the Center for Latin American Studies in 1963, it was among the first institutions designated a National Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI program and has been continuously funded by that program since then.   Today, the Center is one of the world’s leading Latin American Studies institutions, uniquely positioned as an independent unit reporting directly to the UF Provost. Its mission is to advance knowledge about Latin America and the Caribbean through research, teaching, and outreach. Some 21 core faculty members are appointed in the Center, and more than 180 other UF faculty across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, law, business, and health sciences are Center affiliates. The Center fosters a dynamic and supportive scholarly community that values interdisciplinary collaboration and student engagement. Academic programs include the Master of Arts in Latin American Studies, the Master of Sustainable Development Practice (MDP, jointly offered with the UF Center for African Studies), an undergraduate minor, and graduate certificates from the Center’s distinctive Tropical Conservation and Development (TCD) program.   Director, Center for Latin American Studies The Director for the Center for Latin American Studies reports directly to the UF Provost. This is a five-year renewable appointment as Director with a tenured faculty line appointment as Full Professor. The successful candidate will provide visionary leadership, guiding the Center strategically and academically to advance its standing as a preeminent institution in the field.   The Director serves as both an academic leader and an administrator, holding a tenured faculty appointment within an appropriate UF academic unit, which may include the Center for Latin American Studies. We seek accomplished and distinguished administrators and educators with a record of excellence in research, teaching, and leadership. The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator with demonstrated administrative experience, the ability to foster a scholarly community and cultivate collaboration across disciplines, and a track record of program development and external engagement. Experience with U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant writing is highly desirable.   Key Responsibilities Include:   • Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a forward-thinking vision that aligns with the Center’s mission and UF’s strategic priorities. • Academic & Faculty Leadership: Oversee faculty recruitment, teaching assignments, tenure and promotion processes, and career development for faculty and staff. • Program & Budget Management: Manage academic p