Overview
The Center for Latino and Latin American Studies and the Department of Psychology seek a tenure-track Assistant Professor in any area of Psychology whose research and teaching center on the U.S. Latinx population. We are seeking an interdisciplinary scholar who works at the intersection of Psychology and Latinx Studies and who holds research and pedagogical expertise in areas such as (but not limited to): acculturation, immigration, mental and physical health disparities and community-based research; studies of racial justice and/or racial/ethnic biases in relation to social processes; identity and identity formation; or language and psycholinguistics.
This position will be jointly appointed in the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies and the Department of Psychology. The Center for Latino and Latin American Studies is one of six academic diversity centers at NIU and is home to a network of twenty-six faculty associates across campus. The Center offers an undergraduate minor in Latino and Latin American Studies and a graduate certificate in Latin American Studies. The Psychology Department is in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and includes twenty-four full-time faculty members. In addition to being one of the largest undergraduate majors on campus, the department offers a terminal M.A. degree in School Psychology and Ph.D. degrees in Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior, School Psychology, and Social Psychology.
The Psychology Department will serve as the tenure home for the joint appointment. The Center for Latino and Latin American Studies will play an equal role in evaluating and supporting the successful candidate through the tenure and promotion process.
Northern Illinois University (
NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, an affordable and growing community that is a commutable distance from Chicago and Rockford metropolitan areas. Our 16,000+ student body is diverse, with many first-generation and racially and culturally diverse students.
NIU prides itself on student-centered approaches to teaching and research, and has social mobility, equity, and inclusion at the heart of its mission. Recently,
NIU was nationally recognized as a top college for
diversity and
LGBTQ+ students and staff, and has been named one of the
Great Colleges to Work For two years in a row. NIU’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion includes a thriving Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, six cultural resource centers, and six academic diversity centers.
Position Summary
The ideal candidate is expected to establish an active and innovative research program that directly engages Latinx Studies. The ideal candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Latinx Studies as well as meeting curricular needs of the Department of Psychology. The successful candidate will teach courses in their areas of expertise as well as Introduction to Latinx Studies, an interdisciplinary course that can be tailored to the candidate’s expertise. Additional responsibilities include mentoring and supporting students as well as service to the center, department, college, and university. Qualified candidates who are dedicated to empowering students from underserved communities through their research, teaching, community engagement, service, and/or mentoring are strongly encouraged to apply.
This position is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Social Mobility Cluster Hire. The Social Mobility Cluster Hire initiative aims to increase faculty diversity, interdisciplinary research, and innovative and inclusive curriculum with an emphasis on scholarship related to social mobility. This year’s cluster hiring cycle also includes the position of
Assistant Professor of Gender & Sexuality Studies and Social Mobility.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses
- Engaging in appropriate scholarly activities in the field
- Collaborating and contributing to ongoing research projects with faculty
- Providing service to the university and the profession
- Working collaboratively with faculty and administration to meet accreditation requirements
- Developing university/school partnerships to enhance programs.
- The candidate will be able to contribute to exam committees, thesis committees, and dissertation committees as needed.
Minimum Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Psychology, Latinx Studies, or related field
- Research agenda and/or graduate coursework that directly engages Latinx Studies
- Demonstrable interest in teaching and mentoring a diverse undergraduate and graduate student community
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Additional Requirements
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience utilizing interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies
- Community engagement in research related to Latinx Studies
- Teaching experience in Latinx Studies, Ethnic Studies, or related fields
