Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change 

 The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC), York University, invites highly qualified candidates to apply for a professorial stream tenure-track appointment in Black Studies in Geography and Environment at the Assistant Professor level, to commence July 1, 2021. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval.

This opportunity is open to qualified individuals who self-identify as Black peoples of African Descent (e.g., Africans and African heritage people from the Caribbean, Americas, Europe). Recognizing the underrepresentation of Black faculty, this opportunity is to support the University’s Affirmative Action program and has been developed based on the special program provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code. The position is part of a cohort hire of fourteen new colleagues across York University. The successful candidate will be joining a vibrant scholarly community at York, where we aspire to achieve equity and diversity in all areas, including race equity.

A PhD (or a PhD near completion; must be completed by the start of the appointment) is required, with a demonstrated record of excellence or promise of excellence in scholarly research and in teaching. Applicants should have a clearly articulated program of research. We are seeking candidates who work at the intersection of (i) critical race theory, environmental justice, Black ecologies, or Black studies in diaspora and transnational migration; and (ii)  the arts, environmental ethics, ecology, urban studies, global political ecologies, or environmental management. A demonstrated research and teaching specialization in the interrelationships between race, class, gender, geography, and the environment, broadly defined, would be an asset.

The successful applicants will be expected to engage in innovative externally funded research at the highest level. Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence, or promise of research excellence, of a recognized international caliber as demonstrated in: the research statement; a record of publications (or forthcoming publications) with significant journals in the field; presentations at major conferences; awards and accolades; and strong recommendations from referees of high standing.

We seek candidates who can contribute at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, including supervision of doctoral research and are suitable for prompt appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Evidence of experience teaching with attention to questions of equity and diversity is expected. Experience with online learning and/or experiential education (which may include arts-based inquiry, production and dissemination), and the ability to contribute to one or more of the Faculty’s undergraduate programs, certificates and diplomas, are expected.

Evidence of excellence or promise of excellence in teaching will be provided through: the teaching statement; teaching accomplishments and pedagogical innovations including in high priority areas such as experiential education and technology enhanced learning; teaching evaluations; and strong letters of reference.

The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change at York University explicitly addresses the distinct, yet interconnected, challenges of environmental change and urbanization, with a focus on innovating diverse transitions to a sustainable and just future. EUC champions interdisciplinarity through curricular programs and scholarship; emphasizes field-based and experiential learning to enhance understanding of biophysical processes and social potentials; embraces global perspectives so that this understanding is derived from a broad range of places; and pursues community-engaged endeavours to generate meaningful scholarship and to train active citizens, innovators and leaders.  As a community, we believe that making positive change requires bold and diverse thinking, ambitious action, and community engagement.  We are inclusive and devoted to making the world a better place for all. EUC is currently home to five undergraduate programs leading to BES, BA, and BSc degree, Master’s programs in Environmental Studies (MES and MES/JD), Geography (MA and MSc), Planning (MES); doctoral programs in Environmental Studies (PhD); as well as a number of undergraduate certificates and graduate diplomas.  See https://euc.yorku.ca/programs/.

York University has a policy on Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities and is committed to working towards a barrier-free workplace and to expanding the accessibility of the workplace to persons with disabilities.  Candidates who require accommodation during the selection process are invited to contact Professor Joseph Mensah, Chair of the Search Committee at: euchires@yorku.ca.

This position will be limited to individuals who self-identify as Black. York University is an Affirmative Action (AA) employer and strongly values diversity, including gender and sexual diversity, within its community. York University encourages Black peoples to self-identify as a member of one or more of the four designated groups: women, members of visible minorities (racialized groups), Aboriginal (Indigenous) people and persons with disabilities.  The Affirmative Action program can be found at www.yorku.ca/acadjobs? or by calling the AA line at 416-736-5713. Applicants wishing to self-identify as part of York University’s Affirmative Action program can do so by downloading, completing and submitting the form found at: http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/affirmative-action/self-identification-form.  All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Indigenous peoples in Canada will be given priority. No application will be considered without a completed mandatory Work Status Declaration form which can be found at http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/affirmative-action/work-authorization-form. 

We invite suitable candidates to summit the following:

1. a cover letter outlining their qualifications for the position as described above; 
2. a curriculum vitae; 
3. a statement of self-identification and their research interests (maximum of two pages); 
4. sample of publications (a maximum of two);  
5. a statement describing their teaching philosophy, a list of possible courses in our curriculum that they could teach, and additional teaching interests (maximum of two pages); 
6. The contact information for three referees with knowledge of their work and/or recognized expertise (at least two of the references must be academic). Letters of references will be solicited by the Search Committee for long-listed candidates, and should not be sent with the initial application.

Materials should be sent electronically to the email address below by January 7, 2021. 

Lisa Dennis

Secretary, Black Studies in Geography and Environment Hiring Committee

Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change

Email: EUCHires@YorkU.ca