The Department of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst seeks a Director for the UMass Alliance for Community Transformation (UACT), the University’s curricular alternative spring break program. The position is a 9-month
lectureship, three-year appointment, possibility for renewal.
UACT is a 15-year-old collaboration of faculty, students, and community partners that serves to promote social justice and cross cultural collaboration through alternative curricular breaks and other experiential learning opportunities that focus on
grassroots community development and grassroots community organizing (www.umass.edu/uact). UACT employs peer teaching and critical and experiential pedagogies to promote civic leadership skills among its students.
The Director is responsible for the oversight of all components of UACT including teaching or supervising a minimum of 4 academic courses/year, oversight of student thesis research, planning UACT’S 5 annual leadership retreats, oversight and training of UACT’s student staff, facilitation of community partnerships including their associated alternative spring break trips and advising students within the Department and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences on experiential learning opportunities.
Requirements: PhD in anthropology or related field, demonstrated record of teaching excellence, demonstrated experience in critical or engaged pedagogy, and previous experience with community organizing are essential. Previous experience with
community service learning, alternative spring breaks, and grantsmanship are desirable. We seek candidates who will complement departmental strengths in issues of power and structural inequality and help expand the curricular commitment to experiential learning. The Department of Anthropology at UMass Amherst is committed to developing a more diverse
faculty, student body, and curriculum.
Applications should be submitted online at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/1420. Please include a letter describing interests and qualifications, a CV, and list of 3 referees. Alternatively, applications may be mailed to “UACT DIRECTOR SEARCH, Anthropology Department, 240 Hicks Way, Amherst MA 01003.” Application screening commences on February 15, 2012. No applications will be accepted after March 15, 2012.