Submitted: 31 August 2023
Department: The Department of Anthropology
Institution: East Carolina University
Job type: Department chair
Apply by: 1 January 2024
Application URL: https://ecu.peopleadmin.com/postings/64693

East Carolina University

Chairperson Vacancy #: 600009 Recruitment Range: Commensurate with Qualifications Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Organizational Unit Overview East Carolina University enrolls around 28,000 students, with over 5,500 pursuing graduate or professional degrees and is a Doctoral/Research-Intensive University with a large health sciences component including the Brody School of Medicine (https://medicine.ecu.edu/) and the School of Dental Medicine (https://dental.ecu.edu/). ECU is a member of the 17-campus University of North Carolina System and is located in Greenville, NC (pop. 95,000) and is the lead institution in the multi-institutional Coastal Studies Institute (https://www.coastalstudiesinstitute.org). Greenville is a vibrant, growing, and diverse community that lies 80 miles east of Raleigh and a short distance to the Atlantic coast with an affordable cost of living. It offers a college-town atmosphere, a temperate climate, and a vibrant Uptown district with restaurants, breweries, and shopping. Greenville hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year and offers numerous recreational opportunities, including access to the Tar River, more than nine miles of greenways, nearly 30 parks and recreational facilities, and a growing arts scene. (https://www.greenvillenc.gov/)

The Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences (https://thcas.ecu.edu/) is home to 16 academic departments, a number of research centers including the Center for Survey Research (https://surveyresearch.ecu.edu/), Geographic Information Science Center (https://geography.ecu.edu/gis-science-center/), and the Water Resources Center (https://water.ecu.edu/), as well as over twenty inter- and multi-disciplinary programs (https://thcas.ecu.edu/undergraduate-programs/) including Coastal and Marine Studies (http://coas.ecu.edu), African and African American Studies (https://aaas.ecu.edu), and Environmental Studies (https://environmentalstudies.ecu.edu/). The College is committed to enriching the lives of students, faculty, and staff by providing a diverse academic community where the exchange of ideas, knowledge and perspectives is an active part of living and learning. The Department of Anthropology (https://anthropology.ecu.edu/), which counts around 100 majors and 20 graduate students, offers both a BA and MA in Anthropology, a Minor in Medical Anthropology, and several certificates at the undergraduate level including Global Cross-Cultural Competency, Forensic Anthropology, and Cultural Resources Management. The department offers a holistic approach to culture, adaptation, and health to promote a better understanding of human diversity, both past and present. The department’s faculty cover a wide spectrum of specialization, broadly representative of Anthropology’s four-field approach to the study of the human condition. These include gender studies, medical anthropology, social-ecological systems, ethnoarchaeology, historical archaeology, primate behavior, and human evolution. Shared across all faculty is an applied research focus and engagement in locally relevant research: from Black heritage studies to environmental justice to economic and health inequalities.

Faculty engage in myriad research, teaching, and other activities with colleagues in other units and schools such as the Departments of History, Geological Sciences, Sociology, and Biology, as well as the Brody School of Medicine, and contribute expertise to a number of inter- and multi-disciplinary programs. The Department of Anthropology, like the discipline itself, recognizes that diversity and respect for human differences within the academy is a key source of intellectual vitality and innovative spirit, and encourages genuine respect for individual backgrounds, lifestyles, experiences, perspectives, and opinions.

Job Duties The Department of Anthropology seeks to fill the position of Chairperson at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, with the anticipated start date of January 1, 2024. This is a 12-month, leave-earning position. Primary responsibilities for this position include: overseeing administration and leadership of the department; leading implementation of the department’s five-year strategic plan; promoting excellence in faculty research and teaching; mentoring faculty members; assisting in efforts to secure external funding; ensuring quality, integrity, and growth of student degree programs; supporting departmental, college, and university policies and standards; fostering collegial relations in departmental governance; and effectively representing the department to internal and external constituents. The chair is expected to spend at least 50% of their time on administration and leadership duties, with the remaining 50% devoted to research, teaching, and service. The chair will be committed to fairness in hiring, resource allocations, promotion, research, engagement, and teaching. Contingent upon the availability of funds.

Minimum Education/Experience Qualifications for the position include: 1) A Ph.D. in Anthropology or a closely related discipline; 2) A strong and continuing record of scholarly publications and productivity, commensurate with an appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor; 3) Demonstrated excellence in teaching and service; and 4) Administrative experience or evidence of management skills commensurate with the position. Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education Applicants should have the ability to utilize identity-conscious, culturally sensitive, and inclusive teaching strategies that engage with diverse experiences and worldviews. Special Instructions to Applicant To apply, complete a candidate profile and submit application materials online at www.jobs.ecu.edu using the position number 600009. Required application materials include: 1) A CV; 2) A cover letter indicating interest in the position and relevant administrative experience; 3) A statement of leadership philosophy; and 4) The names and email addresses for three references. Three official letters of reference will be requested later for candidates selected for interviews via the PeopleAdmin tracking system. Official transcripts are required upon employment. Screening begins 9/18/2023 and will continue until the position is filled. Inquiries regarding the University’s policies and goals regarding diversity may be directed to: Office for Equity and Diversity (https://oed.ecu.edu/). Other questions may be addressed to Dr. Heidi Bonner ([email protected]), Search Committee Chair. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Additional Instructions to Applicant In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit any requested documents. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable. Applications will be considered until position is filled. Please submit an online ECU application for vacancy # 600009 to ECU Human Resources at http://jobs.ecu.edu.

Eligibility for Employment Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. East Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Visit this job posting at https://ecu.peopleadmin.com/postings/64693

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