Director of the School of Human Evolution and Social Change (SHESC), Arizona State University

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU) invites applications for the position of Director of the School of Human Evolution and Social Change (SHESC) with a concurrent appointment as a tenured Full Professor. The position serves as a liaison between faculty, staff, students, alumni and other ASU units, external organizations and visitors on issues that may impact the School. ASU serves more than 150,000 students both online and across five campuses in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, the fifth largest in the US. SHESC is located on ASU’s Tempe campus. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2023.

Research and teaching at SHESC (https://shesc.asu.edu) have contributed to ASU ranking #1 in anthropology in both research funding and output. A vibrant community of scholars, teachers, and professionals, SHESC is a unique School that integrates diverse approaches, pursues cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, and includes more than 55 tenure-track faculty members that serve ~1100 undergraduate majors in anthropology and global health and ~120 PhD and Master’s students across four graduate programs. A highly engaged and collaborative unit, SHESC is a leader in research and educational initiatives in traditional anthropology subfields (archaeology, bioarchaeology, evolutionary anthropology, sociocultural anthropology) and problem-based fields of environmental social science, and global health. SHESC faculty are affiliated with a wide diversity of transdisciplinary research groups, including the Institute of Human Origins, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Teotihuacan Research Laboratory and the Centers for Archaeology and Society, Bioarchaeological Research, Digital Antiquity, Evolution and Medicine, Global Health, and Social Dynamics and Complexity, the Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research program, and the Deer Valley Rock Art Preserve, a public facing site that SHESC manages.

The Director will sustain and extend a comprehensive plan and strategic initiatives related to the faculty, staff, and students, providing leadership, vision, and the capacity to engage faculty across a range of disciplines while sustaining an equitable, inclusive culture, fostering collaboration both within and beyond the School and strengthening links with other academic units at ASU and with the wider community. The Director will also maintain an internationally recognized research program and contribute to the teaching mission of the university. The Director will foster growth and innovation in the School’s research endeavors; attract, develop, and retain exceptional faculty members and staff from diverse backgrounds and disciplines; provide advocacy and support for anthropology collections; promote and support student success and career readiness for on-campus and online degree students; develop interdisciplinary research and teaching initiatives; advance entrepreneurial opportunities; and enhance productive relationships within and outside the university community.

Minimum Qualifications:
Demonstrated commitment to cultivating and supporting a diverse faculty, staff, and student population; A PhD or equivalent in anthropology, environmental social science or global health, or a related field or discipline; A distinguished scholarly record commensurate with the rank of tenured Professor; A record of excellence in teaching and service in an academic setting; Demonstrated administrative leadership experience.

Desired Qualifications:
Demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and research; Demonstrated ability or articulated potential to catalyze cutting-edge research; Commitment to supporting innovative teaching in various modalities, including online; Demonstrated ability for mentorship and professional development of faculty, staff and students; A record of externally-funded research; Potential for innovative and strategic leadership in an academic setting; Commitment to building and enhancing community-based initiatives; Commitment to developing donor relations and fundraising.

Application Instructions

This is a paperless search. To apply, please submit to http://apply.interfolio.com/113983 : (1) a cover letter outlining how you meet the above qualifications and your vision for leading a transdisciplinary academic unit such as SHESC, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a statement addressing how your past and/or potential contributions to diversity and inclusion will advance ASU’s commitment to inclusive excellence, and (4) contact information including emails for three references. References may be contacted at a later stage of the search and only with the candidate’s approval. Initial deadline for receipt of complete applications is November 4, 2022. If the position is not filled, reviews will occur every week thereafter until the search is closed. Cover letter can be addressed to Professor Krista Ratcliffe, Search Committee Chair. Questions about the position should be directed to the search committee chair at krista.ratcliffe@asu.edu.

The College values our cultural and intellectual diversity, and continually strives to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment. We are especially interested in applicants who can strengthen the diversity of the academic community. Learn more about what The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has to offer by visiting https://thecollege.asu.edu/faculty

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

A background check is required for employment.

Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. (See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.)

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