The Kress Foundation Department of Art History at the University of Kansas seeks a colleague specializing in the history of the art, architecture and/or material culture of Early Modern Europe, ca. 1400-1800, for a tenure-track appointment as the Judith Harris Murphy Assistant Professor in Early Modern European Art beginning August 18, 2024. We hope to attract a wide range of applicants and especially welcome candidates with research expertise in Europe’s intersection with cultures beyond the European peninsula.

The Kress Foundation Department of Art History currently employs nine full-time faculty members and has a flourishing, nationally recognized doctoral program. Affiliated faculty members in Classics contribute to the department’s curriculum. Private endowments support visiting lecturer programs and research travel for faculty and graduate students. The department is located in the Spencer Museum of Art, whose collections and exhibitions provide a rich resource for teaching. The 170,000-volume Murphy Library of Art and Architecture and an excellent digital visual image collection offer essential support for research and instruction. The Murphy Assistant Professor could play an active role in interdisciplinary units, programs, and centers, including the Program in Medieval and Early Modern Studies; the Center for Global and International Studies; the Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies; the Max Kade Center for German-American Studies; and the Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

The University of Kansas is a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive university with a $1.4 billion endowment and a faculty of 2,600. Current enrollment is 28,500 (19,000 undergraduate), with students drawn from 110 nations and all 50 states; 20.6% of KU students are members of minority groups. The University values global engagement with more than 150 programs of international study and cooperative research and offers more than 130 study abroad programs. The 1,000-acre main campus is in Lawrence, a community of 95,000 in hilly northeast Kansas that lies about 35 miles west of Kansas City. Lawrence has a lively downtown and a thriving arts and music scene, and its local government has enacted ordinances supporting equality for all members of its population. Lawrence also offers numerous sports and recreational opportunities, local shops, and a wide range of good restaurants. Along with the music, arts, culture and sports experiences offered at KU and in Lawrence, the short drive to Kansas City provides quick access to historic jazz clubs, museums, world-class music and theatre venues, and professional sports teams.

At the University of Kansas, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are an important part of our culture and university strategic plan. In a continuing effort to enrich our academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education. Candidates who will contribute to the climate of diversity, including a diversity of scholarly approaches, are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

40% – Teaching: Teach four courses per year (undergraduate and graduate courses); guide research of undergraduate and graduate students and supervise dissertations; advise undergraduate and graduate students.

40% – Research: Maintain and sustain an active and productive program of research in the area of specialization disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and public presentations.

20% – Service: Provide service to the department, College, University, and the profession.

1. Ph.D. in Art History or a related discipline.
2. Ability to teach college-level courses.
3. Active and productive research program as demonstrated by scholarly presentations and/or publications.

For further details, see the full position description at https://employment.ku.edu/academic/26164BR. A complete online application includes the following materials: (1) cover letter; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) research agenda; (4) teaching philosophy statement; and (5) the names, email addresses and contact information for three professional references. When you complete your application, your reference writers will be contacted directly by KU with instructions for uploading their letters of recommendation separately. Please alert them to respond quickly, so your file will be complete.

In addition to the materials above, learning about each applicant’s contribution and engagement in areas of diversity is an important part of KU’s mission. As a result, applicants will be presented the following question at the time of application. The response must be within 4,000 characters or less:

• Describe your experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds and explain how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Applicants are also encouraged to include or expand upon how they have contributed to building a culture of belonging through DEI initiatives within the required application materials provided.

Application review will begin October 5, 2023 and will continue until a large, high quality, and diverse applicant pool is obtained.