Skip to main content

In the fall of 2020, with the generous support of the John L. Nau Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the University of Virginia’s Democracy Initiative and College of Arts & Sciences are launching a multiyear faculty hiring project. Over the next four years, we will hire a dozen or more new faculty members at all ranks in the departments of Classics, History, Philosophy, Politics, and elsewhere.

The mission of the Democracy Initiative is to promote excellence in research, teaching, and public engagement on democracy at a global scale —bringing together a diverse range of scholars, government leaders, and practitioners to study and advance the prospects of democracy around the world. The Democracy Initiative is interdisciplinary. It supports and advances the work of faculty, as well as graduate and undergraduate students, in the humanities, the arts, and the social sciences. To that end, the Initiative supports a variety of labs built on models of collaborative work. The Democracy Labs will consist of the John Nau III History and Principles of Democracy Lab (the Core Lab) and a group of rotating labs. In addition to holding appointments in their home departments, each new faculty member hired under this initiative will also be a member either of the core lab—an interdisciplinary hub of research, teaching, and outreach devoted to the study of the history and principles of democracy—or one of the Initiative’s other research labs or projects.

With the generous support of the John L. Nau Foundation, nine of these new faculty members will hold positions in the core lab on the history, principles, and philosophy of democracy. The core lab will serve as the nerve center of the entire Initiative, catalyzing key questions, research agendas, and forums for debate. It will find opportunities for cross-lab collaboration by identifying broader concerns that transcend those investigated by any single lab. It will gather philosophers, artists, and scholars of the ancient, modern, and post-modern worlds to research fundamental questions and possibilities of the democratic experiment in its varied global forms.

In addition to the Core Lab, the Democracy Initiative sponsors a series of rotating labs (current labs are focused on corruption and the rule of law, democracy and new media, democratic statecraft, and race, religion, and democracy) and a range of other research projects (including initiatives on Democracy and Public Memory and Race and Democracy). Three or more of the faculty hired through this initiative will be invited to contribute to those projects and/or help develop new programs for the broader Initiative.

As part of this hiring program, with the support of the John L. Nau Foundation, the Department of Classics at the University of Virginia is pleased to invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Classics whose primary research is focused on the study of democracy. Applications are welcome from those in all subfields of Greek and Latin literary studies whose research and teaching address questions of democracy. We especially welcome applications from candidates who work in early Greek poetry and drama. In addition to holding a tenure-track position in the Department of Classics as a tenure home, the successful applicant will join the Democracy Initiative’s core lab on the history, principles, and philosophy of democracy.

Candidates should have a PhD in Classics or a related field by the time of the appointment and demonstrate excellence in both research and teaching. We will aim to appoint a scholar whose research interests complement those of the current faculty. In addition to conducting research, the new colleague will teach graduate students and undergraduates at all levels and contribute to the running of the Department, its collaboration with the Democracy Initiative and the larger academic community of the University. UVA Classics is part of a lively community of faculty who work across departments in classical studies and the premodern world. The new colleague will strengthen and expand those links both through collaboration in the Democracy Initiative and otherwise.

Review of applications will begin December 18, 2020. The position will remain open until filled. The anticipated appointment start date will be August 25, 2021.

TO APPLY:

Apply online at https://uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs: search for posting #R0020025, complete the application, and attach the following:

1. Cover letter of application describing (1) research agenda and teaching experience (2) how you will contribute to the UVA Democracy Initiative (3) your demonstrated past experience working on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and/or working with diverse populations.

2. Current curriculum vitae.

3. Writing sample of no more than 30 pages

4. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to: clas-job@virginia.edu.

*** Please note all required documents must be uploaded in the 'Resume' box.***

***Applications that do not contain all the required documents will not receive full consideration.***

Questions regarding the application process should be directed to: Kati Runkle, kar9x@virginia.edu. Questions for the Department of Classics may be directed to Ivana Petrovic, Chair of the Search Committee, at Ivana.Petrovic@virginia.edu.

The University will perform background checks on all new faculty hires prior to making a final offer of employment.

UVA assists faculty spouses and partners seeking employment in the Charlottesville area. To learn more please visit https://dualcareer.virginia.edu. For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.