Overview of the Department & the School of Arts & Sciences
The Department of Africana Studies is an interdisciplinary department devoted to the critical and systematic examination of the cultural, political, social, economic, and historical experiences of peoples of African descent around the world, including North America, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. The Department is committed to a rigorous, cooperative, and cross-regional approach that brings fresh perspectives to the study and teaching of a new Global Black Studies. The Department works closely with the Center for Africana Studies, a research hub for scholars across the campus doing intellectual work that highlights the impact of Africa and the African diaspora on humanity. We are housed within the School of Arts & Sciences, which is comprised of 28 academic departments, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate Division, and the College of Liberal and Professional Studies. Interdisciplinary research and collaboration are supported as much by the breadth and depth of academic pursuits at Penn as well as the proximity of resources on our contiguous green urban campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Department offers a major and minor for undergraduate students, a graduate certificate program, and a Ph.D. Our curriculum represents a broad range of disciplines and thematic interests, including: Political Theories and Movements; Cultural and Literary Studies; Arts and Performance; Gender and Sexuality; Social Justice; and History. Ours is a unique approach to the study and teaching of Global Black Studies, with a dedication to training the next generation of scholars in this field.
We are especially interested in historians whose research and teaching focus on religious and/or sociocultural practices in sub-Saharan Africa.
Qualifications include
All candidates should have:
- Publications appropriate to rank
- Demonstrable commitment to teaching undergraduate and graduate students, and mentoring and supporting a diverse student body in Africana Studies
- Expertise/training in the history of sub-Saharan Africa and its relationship with the African diaspora
- Active research agenda, preferably in religion and/or socio-cultural practices in Africa
- Ability to direct graduate/undergraduate research for a diverse student body
- Willingness to provide service in the department and school, and to assume leadership positions in the Department and Center as appropriate
- Candidates are expected to have the PhD in hand by July 1, 2027.
Application instructions/Required documents:
Please provide the following application materials:
- CV
- Cover letter that includes a description of Research, Teaching, and Mentoring
- A writing sample of no more than 30 pages—could be a published article, book chapter, chapter of a manuscript, or chapter of a dissertation.
- Contact information for no more than three referees.
Additional supporting materials may be requested at a later date.
We will begin reviewing applications by October 16, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
