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The College of Design at the University of Minnesota invites applications and nominations for a tenured or tenure-track position in Heritage Preservation, rank open, to begin Fall Semester 2008. The successful candidate will contribute to shaping the University of Minnesota’s newly established M.S. in Architecture-Heritage Conservation and Preservation and have the opportunity to participate in its Center for World Heritage Studies. The successful candidate will have a record of teaching, research, and/or practice connected with heritage preservation and a terminal professional degree or a Ph.D. in a related field, including (but not limited to) Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Architectural or Landscape History, Planning, Public History, Cultural Studies, Geography, Anthropology, Archaeology or Historic Preservation. 

The M.S. in Architecture-Heritage Conservation and Preservation will offer an interdisciplinary approach, expansive vision, and global perspective. Through fieldwork, case studies and courses that examine regional, national and global heritage, the program will focus on the philosophy, policy, technology and methods involved in the interpretation and conservation of buildings and landscapes within their varying cultural contexts. The academic program is complemented by the activities of the Center for World Heritage Studies, which has a unique cooperative agreement with UNESCO’s World Heritage Center. This partnership links regional and national historic preservation agencies, global policy development and law, and heritage conservation practices through an exchange of faculty expertise and student education and research related to UNESCO World Heritage Sites (most recently in Azerbaijan, the Philippines, and China).  

We are seeking candidates who can situate heritage preservation as an academic discipline in the context of a design college and a research university. The candidate’s own field of research is open; it may be based in heritage-related issues grounded in the candidate’s discipline, or it may address contemporary or emerging challenges (globalization, cultural and ecological sustainability, politics, the impacts of tourism, as well as tangible and intangible relationships to changing cultural landscapes). We are especially interested in candidates who bring a broad cultural and global perspective to the field and whose work poses probing questions concerning the implications of preservation practice and research as well as its methods and policies. 

Responsibilities will include developing and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses related to the candidate’s specialization; scholarship and/or creative work in the field; pursuing external funding and partnerships in support of research and education; and participating in faculty governance at the department, college and university levels.  

The position will be based in the College of Design, a newly founded college that builds upon the University of Minnesota’s strong tradition of excellence in design education and research. By joining together a full range of design disciplines and forging connections within the University and beyond, the new College of Design promotes work that is interdisciplinary, sustainable, and publicly engaged. The College offers rich opportunities for research and public engagement through its highly regarded research and outreach centers, including the Metropolitan Design Center, the Center for Sustainable Building Research, and the Goldstein Museum of Design, as well as the Center for World Heritage Studies. More information about the College of Design may be found at www.design.umn.edu . As a leading research institution, the University of Minnesota supports a broad range of disciplines and research centers related to heritage preservation, including anthropology, art history, American studies, cultural studies, geography, the Humphrey Institute for Public Policy, the Institute for the Environment, and the Institute for Advanced Studies. See www.umn.edu. 

The position is a 100%-time, nine-month appointment. Faculty rank will depend upon the qualifications and experience of the candidate, with the possibility of tenure at the associate or full professor level. Tenure at the time of hire requires a record of excellence and productivity that merits tenure consistent with the College of Design and University of Minnesota policy. The appointment will be in a College of Design unit, determined as appropriate to the successful candidate’s interests and qualifications. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. The desired starting date is August 25, 2008.  

Required qualifications

For all ranks:

·     Terminal professional degree or Ph.D. in a field related to heritage preservation.

·     Record of achievement and excellence (teaching, scholarship, and/or practice) related to heritage preservation.

·     Commitment to disciplinary and interdisciplinary teaching, research/creative production, public engagement, and service.

·     Clearly defined agenda for teaching and scholarship.

·     Commitment to cultural diversity in teaching and scholarship.

For a rank other than assistant professor, qualifications include those listed above plus a significant record of distinction in scholarship, practice, and/or professional experience in historic preservation or a combination thereof.  The rank of professor requires a demonstrated national or international reputation resulting from distinction and achievement in the field. Tenure requires a record of excellence and productivity that merits tenure consistent with policies at the University of Minnesota and in the department where tenure is to be held.  

Preferred qualifications

·     A significant record of achievement (through teaching, research, and/or practice) addressing heritage from a global perspective. 

·     Strong leadership abilities and collaborative and interpersonal skills.

·     Experience working collaboratively across disciplinary boundaries in teaching research, and/or practice.

·     A strong record of community/public engagement. 

How to apply

The application procedure is online.  Applicants should:

1)      Complete the online at: http://www.umn.edu/ohr/employment using Requisition #152845.

2)      Submit the following materials: a cover letter that includes a statement concerning the candidate’s research and teaching interests as they relate to this position; curriculum vitae; contact information for three academic or professional references; sample of scholarship or a selected (no more than 10 pages) portfolio of work, submitted either as PDF attachments in the on-line employment system or by e-mail attachments sent in PDF format to the Search Committee Chairs, at mcollins@umn.edu   

Review of applications will begin February 15, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries about the position may be addressed to the Search Committee Chairs: Professor Leon Satkowski at satko001@umn.edu or Adjunct Professor Robert Mack at bobm@mmarchltd.com .