"Assistant Professor in Human Development & Africana"

Connecticut College welcomes applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position with joint appointments in Human Development and Africana, starting on July 1, 2026. We are looking for a scholar who specializes in the foundations of Child Development and Africana Studies, particularly someone knowledgeable in African-centered and/or African-American perspectives on child development.

The tenure home for this faculty member is in the Department of Human Development. However, as mentioned above, the position is jointly appointed with our Africana program. Due to the joint appointment, the applicants’ tenure file would be reviewed by scholars in both Human Development and Africana Studies.

The teaching load for this position is five courses per academic year: two in Human Development, two in Africana Studies, and one that will be cross-listed between both departments (with the option to cross-list additional courses). For Human Development, the candidate is expected to teach child development courses, including Children and Learning Environments and Individual Differences in Development. For Africana, the candidate should be able to teach the interdisciplinary introductory course (AFR 237: Inquiry in Black) that includes the history, culture, and intellectual traditions of Africa and the diaspora and an upper-level core course.

We welcome a candidate who is well-versed in African-centered and/or African-American approaches to early child development and could possibly integrate the Connecticut College Child Development Lab School and the New London community in their research. The Lab school is a model child and family-focused early childhood preschool program for young children of diverse backgrounds and abilities. It provides a laboratory setting for student placements and gives them an opportunity to apply theory and concepts to real-life cultural settings.

This search in Human Development and Africana is one of two tenure-track joint positions with Africana Studies at Connecticut College. The other position is in Education and Africana Studies, and the Education Department is housed in the same building as the Human Development Department. The faculty hired in this position will participate in the growth and development of the Africana Studies program at Connecticut College, which includes the advising of Africana majors and minors, programming, and serving on the advisory board.

Connecticut College offers ongoing support for teaching through our Center for Teaching and Learning and for research through internal funding sources, including the Dean of the Faculty’s office, the Center for the Critical Study of Race and Ethnicity, and the Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy. Connecticut College offers pre-tenured faculty members support in developing their research agenda. First-year faculty members are awarded a course release in their first year and are expected to teach a 2/2 load (two for Human Development and two for Africana Studies). In addition, new faculty are supported by a supplementary research fund and are awarded a semester’s sabbatical at full salary after a successful third-year review. (For additional information on faculty resources, see http://www.conncoll.edu/employment/faculty-resources/).

Connecticut College is a private, highly selective institution with a demonstrated commitment to outstanding faculty teaching and research. The College seeks creative scholars excited about working in a liberal arts setting, with its strong focus on engaged teaching, participation in shared governance, and active involvement in an institution-wide advancement of access and opportunity for all students, faculty, and staff. Connecticut College is an equal opportunity employer. The College complies with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances prohibiting discrimination in private post-secondary education institutions. The College does not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student, or applicant for admission on the basis of the following protected characteristics: age, citizenship, status, color, creed, disability (physical or mental), domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information (including family medical history), lawful source of income, marital status, national origin (including ancestry), pregnancy or related conditions, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran or military status (including disabled veteran; recently separated veteran; active-duty, wartime, or campaign badge veteran; and Armed Forces Service Medal veteran), any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Currently, the College is not sponsoring visas for this position.

Effective June 8, 2023 Connecticut College no longer mandates the COVID-19 vaccine or boosters. The College strongly recommends that all students and employees be vaccinated and remain updated with their COVID-19 boosters.

Please submit the following materials addressed to The Search Committee https://apply.interfolio.com/174240: (1) Curriculum Vitae; (2) cover letter summarizing all qualifications for the position (2 pages max); (3) statement of teaching philosophy (2 pages max), along with sample syllabi; (4) research statement (3 pages max); (5) writing sample (10,000 words, max); (6) contact information for three references (letters will be requested for finalists).

Candidates with a PhD in hand by August 1, 2026, are preferred. Review of applications will begin November 15 and will continue until the position is filled.

Connecticut College is a private, highly selective institution with a demonstrated commitment to outstanding faculty teaching and research. We recognize that intellectual vitality and diversity are inseparable. The College seeks creative scholars excited about working in a liberal arts setting, with its strong focus on engaged teaching, participation in shared governance, and active involvement in an institution-wide advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion. AA/EOE