AY2025-2026 Position #50060 History - Assistant Professor of Mexican American History (Urban Research Cluster)

Description

Position No. 50060. The Department of History at Southern Methodist University, a prestigious research and teaching institution, invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Mexican American History, to begin Fall 2025. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds. The candidate selected will be expected to be a significant partner in connecting the Department to an increasingly diverse and globally connected community at the University and in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

As one of ten tenure-line positions associated with Southern Methodist University’s faculty cluster in urban research, this position also offers opportunities for rich interdisciplinary connections among new and existing SMU faculty [https://www.smu.edu/dedman/research/clusters]. The cluster fosters research on cities and urbanization from local and global perspectives. SMU’s location in Dallas, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, is an ideal setting for studying the opportunities and inequities that individuals, groups, and communities confront as they navigate and shape urban life. SMU is committed to community engagement in a variety of ways including the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center housed in the Dedman School of Law. Current faculty are involved in a breadth of projects in North Texas including early psychosis care, mental health care for underserved communities, infrastructure deserts, urban education and culturally sensitive teaching.

As the largest and oldest academic unit at SMU, Dedman College offers several advantages:

Diverse Academic Programs:

16 academic departments

Nearly 100 undergraduate majors and minors

Over 30 postgraduate programs

Interdisciplinary Approach:

The Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute brings together experts from diverse fields to share knowledge and create innovative programs.

Research Opportunities:

Students have access to cutting-edge research across various disciplines, including computing, humanities, earth sciences, psychology, and biological sciences.

Experiential Learning:

Students benefit from study abroad programs, research opportunities, and local and international internships.

 The Department of History at SMU has particular expertise in the following areas:

• History of the Southwest borderlands and the American West
• American political history
• History of race in the United States
• Latin American history
• European history

 SMU places strong emphasis on innovative and effective teaching:

• The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) supports academic innovation and empowers faculty to transform their teaching practices.
• SMU professors use innovative tools and techniques to engage students, such as applying big data tools to historical topics.
• The university has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, allowing students to build strong relationships with outstanding faculty.

Research is also a key priority:

• SMU aims to fuse teaching and research into breakthrough academic experiences.
• Even first-year students become hands-on contributors to significant discoveries.

  SMU is a nationally-ranked, private, non-sectarian research institution located in one of the nation’s fastest growing metropolitan areas. Our colleagues are part of an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of internationally recognized scholars across the humanities, social sciences, mathematical sciences, engineering, and business. The City of Dallas is one of the nation’s most cosmopolitan commercial and cultural centers, and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is the fourth largest in the US. To learn more about Dedman College and SMU, please visit htps://www.smu.edu/dedman, and http://www.smu.edu."  

   

Qualifications

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue a rigorous research agenda in Mexican American history, with a focus on producing high-quality scholarship for publication in peer-reviewed journals and academic presses. They will teach courses at all levels, from introductory surveys to specialized graduate seminars, covering topics such as Chicano history, Latino/a/x/e experiences, and broader themes in American history.

Minimum qualifications: completed requirements for a doctoral degree in History by August 1, 2025; expertise to teach courses in Mexican American history, with a preference for fields in Borderlands/US Southwest history, and demo