Message from the ASAM Coordinator:
Greetings and welcome to our new website! I am very pleased to be taking over as the Coordinator of Asian American studies from the two previous ones, Gayatri Reddy and Kevin Kumashiro. Kevin and Gayatri both did a fantastic job of moving Asian American studies forward and we are all grateful for their efforts. As a result, we are now on the verge of becoming an official program. The proposals to establish a program and a minor in Asian American studies are making their way through the review process and we hope that they will be approved next year. The push for Asian American studies came initially from students, staff and a few faculty members, and after a series of efforts over the course of a decade, it is extremely exciting that the program is about to become a reality at UIC. This would not have happened, though, without the support of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and especially its Dean, Dwight McBride. Dean McBride has been a strong advocate of the program since his appointment in LAS in 2007, and he has already provided us with offices on the eighth floor of University Hall, alongside Asian Studies. Our new staff member, Bill Gallaga, is handling administrative and advising work for both programs. His office is in 809 UH and you can contact him at gallaga@uic.edu, or at (312) 355-3448. In addition to the news about the proposals and our offices, the most exciting announcement for us is that we will hopefully be adding two new faculty members to our ranks next year. The job ad is below and we are anticipating a large number of applicants for both positions, so we are very optimistic that we will be able to recruit two outstanding colleagues to help us build the program. We will be bringing candidates to campus for talks early in the spring semester so keep an eye out for announcements. I have always felt that Asian American studies was essential to UIC’s mission as a public university and that it can make an important contribution not just to the school and the campus community but to the city of Chicago as well. Now we have an opportunity to fulfill some of that promise. I am thrilled to be part of this endeavor.
-- Mark Chiang, Associate Professor of English and Asian American Studies
Job Announcement for Two Faculty Positions in Asian American Studies at UIC
The University of Illinois at Chicago invites applications for two positions in Asian American studies, one senior or advanced assistant, and one beginning assistant, tenure track. For both positions, we seek scholars in the social sciences and/or historical studies, although the ideal candidate’s work would connect to at least one of the core emphases of our program, namely, transnational/diasporic studies, intersectional race/gender studies and community engagement. Both appointments can be either 100% in Asian American studies, or split with another unit.
- Senior or Advanced Assistant Professor: We seek a nationally recognized senior/advanced assistant professor with a strong publication record and experience in program and curriculum development. To apply, please send a letter of application, curriculum vita, sample publication, and the names of three references to the address below.
- Assistant Professor: A beginning tenure-track appointment. Candidates must have received the PhD before the date of appointment. To apply, please send a letter of application, curriculum vita, and a brief writing sample, and arrange to have three confidential letters of reference sent to the address below.
Located in the heart of Chicago, UIC serves a racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse student population with over 16,000 undergraduates and 8,200 graduate and professional students. UIC also offers a vibrant community of scholars working in a number of interdisciplinary units, including the department of African American studies, the Latin American and Latino studies program, the program in gender and women's studies, and the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy. UIC is currently building on this rich tradition of interdisciplinarity by creating a new PhD program in comparative race and gender studies and by offering a growing number of Asian American studies courses for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Review of applications will begin Nov. 15, 2009. The appointment will begin in Fall 2010. Teaching load is 2/2. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Please send the materials requested to: Prof. Mark Chiang, Chair, Asian American Studies Search Committee, 601 South Morgan Street (M/C 231), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607. UIC is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. Final authorization of these positions is subject to the availability of state funding.