Arizona State University: Department of English, Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow

The Department of English at Arizona State University (ASU) invites applications for a postdoctoral scholar position in the area of U.S. Latina/o/x Studies with desirable subspecialties in African American, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx Literature, Visual Culture Studies, and/or Women of Color Feminisms.

The Department of English, part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, seeks a postdoctoral scholar to join our Film and Media Studies program. ASU’s program in film and media studies provides a comprehensive look at film, television, and digital media, including screenwriting, videogames, and social media. Offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees, the program provides students with skills that can be applied to careers within and outside of the film and media industries. We seek a specialist in U.S. Latina/o/x Studies, with desirable subspecialties in African American, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx Literature, Visual Culture Studies, and/or Women of Color Feminisms. The postdoc would teach one course per semester while focusing on developing a publishing profile, national/international conference attendance, and building connections within the Department of English and across ASU.

The Department of English’s motto— “Start here, go anywhere”—captures the unique value of our undergraduate and graduate English degrees, ones that can serve students in any art form, any discipline, and any profession. The Department of English faculty is internationally renowned for innovative research and teaching and explores the pan-world expression of the English language and its literature, which span the global yet connect directly to the local. The department takes as its purview not just historical positioned work, whether linguistic or textual, but includes all forms of expression and all modes of new media, whether analogical or digital. Our goal is to educate citizens who can think, read, write, and act in robust and significant ways to meet new challenges.

The postdoctoral scholars selected will join the 5^th cohort of postdoctoral scholars at ASU as part of the Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship Program with a start date of August of 2025. The goal of the program is to support the career development of outstanding Ph.D. recipients from underrepresented populations with great potential for advancing the ASU Charter. After successful completion of the program, scholars will have an opportunity to transition to a tenure track appointment at ASU.

The program seeks applicants whose professional preparedness, experience, and accomplishments are informed by experiences working with and within groups historically underrepresented or underserved in higher education in the United States. Where pools of qualified applicants are strong, priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate, through prior actions and achievements, intentional and actioned commitment to inclusive excellence.  Examples of such contributions are research, teaching, mentorship, service or creative activity focused on empowering underserved populations that increases equitable access and inclusion in fields where historically excluded populations are underrepresented.

The Department of English has committed to providing individualized mentorship and career development to ensure each candidate is well prepared to succeed in a future tenure track appointment. Career development and community building will also occur through programmatic support through the Office of Inclusive Excellence in partnership with the ASU Graduate College’s Postdoctoral Affairs Office. Scholars will have the opportunity to engage with previous cohort members and their own cohort for professional development opportunities but also social/networking events and activities to ensure scholars have the best experience at ASU and develop a strong sense of belonging and engagement.

About Arizona State University

ASU is a large, comprehensive, research university and for nearly two decades, has transformed into the “New American University,” one dedicated to the simultaneous pursuit of excellence, broad access to quality education, and meaningful societal impact. By our Charter and Design Aspirations, we center inclusion and success as values that drive the enterprise; adopt inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning as ways to address society’s greatest challenges; and develop innovative partnerships to produce master learners across the lifespan. To learn more about ASU, visit http://www.asu.edu.

Successful candidates will engage in scholarly research and may be asked to perform duties common to academic personnel including grant writing and limited but focused teaching and service in order to devote as much time to developing scholarship and a strong research path.

Minimum qualifications: 

• PhD in English, Film and Media Studies, or related field in hand by start of the position; candidates should not be more than 5 years removed from the completion of the terminal degree
• Experience in and knowledge of the field of U.S. Latina/o/x Studies and/or one of the listed subspecialities
• Potential for developing a successful research agenda
• Evidence of strong commitment to teaching
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Desired qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership experience
• Ability to strengthen connections between Film and Media Studies and other programs within the Department of English 
• Evidence of activities consistent with the ASU Charter and Design Aspirations

This position is located at Arizona State University at the Tempe campus. All postdoctoral fellowship positions are funded for two years on an annual contract basis and include relocation cost in addition to yearly professional development funds to support scholar research, conference attendance and other professional development activities. Options for an additional one or two years of funding or a transition to a tenure track position may be offered, depending on the fellow’s progress, training needs, and department funding capacity. The scholar will complete a document of expectations with their unit to help guide their work and monitor progress for both the scholar and their units. Transition to faculty tenure track appointments will require a process of review within the designated tenure home unit.

Application materials should include:

• a curriculum vitae;
• a letter of interest describing how you meet the qualifications noted above;
• contact information for 3 references including email addresses.

The initial application deadline is December 20, 2024. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool.  Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. Inquiries can be directed to Manushag N. Powell at Manushag.Powell@asu.edu.