The Department of History at Southern Methodist University, a prestigious research and teaching institution, invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Mexican American History, to begin Fall 2025. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds. The candidate selected will be expected to be a significant partner in connecting the Department to an increasingly diverse and globally connected community at the University and in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue a rigorous research agenda in Mexican American history, with a focus on producing high-quality scholarship for publication in peer-reviewed journals and academic presses. They will teach courses at all levels, from introductory surveys to specialized graduate seminars, covering topics such as Chicano history, Latino/a/x/e experiences, and broader themes in American history.

As one of ten tenure-line positions associated with Southern Methodist University’s faculty cluster in urban research, this position also offers opportunities for rich interdisciplinary connections among new and existing SMU faculty [https://www.smu.edu/dedman/research/clusters]. The cluster fosters research on cities and urbanization from local and global perspectives. SMU’s location in Dallas, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, is an ideal setting for studying the opportunities and inequities that individuals, groups, and communities confront as they navigate and shape urban life. SMU is committed to community engagement in a variety of ways including the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center housed in the Dedman School of Law. Current faculty are involved in a breadth of projects in North Texas including early psychosis care, mental health care for underserved communities, infrastructure deserts, urban education and culturally sensitive teaching.

As the largest and oldest academic unit at SMU, Dedman College offers several advantages:

Diverse Academic Programs:

• 16 academic departments
• Nearly 100 undergraduate majors and minors
• Over 30 postgraduate programs

Interdisciplinary Approach:

The Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute brings together experts from diverse fields to share knowledge and create innovative programs.

Research Opportunities:

Students have access to cutting-edge research across various disciplines, including computing, humanities, earth sciences, psychology, and biological sciences.

Experiential Learning:

Students benefit from study abroad programs, research opportunities, and local and international internships.

The Department of History at SMU has particular expertise in the following areas:

• History of the Southwest borderlands and the American West
• American political history
• History of race in the United States
• Latin American history
• European history

SMU places strong emphasis on innovative and effective teaching:

• The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) supports academic innovation and empowers faculty to transform their teaching practices.
• SMU professors use innovative tools and techniques to engage students, such as applying big data tools to historical topics.
• The university has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, allowing students to build strong relationships with outstanding faculty.

Research is also a key priority:

• SMU aims to fuse teaching and research into breakthrough academic experiences.
• Even first-year students become hands-on contributors to significant discoveries.

SMU is a nationally-ranked, private, non-sectarian research institution located in one of the nation’s fastest growing metropolitan areas. Our colleagues are part of an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of internationally recognized scholars across the humanities, social sciences, mathematical sciences, engineering, and business. The City of Dallas is one of the nation’s most cosmopolitan commercial and cultural centers, and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is the fourth largest in the US. To learn more about Dedman College and SMU, please visit htps://www.smu.edu/dedman, and http://www.smu.edu.

Southern Methodist University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.  

Minimum qualifications: completed requirements for a doctoral degree in History by August 1, 2025; expertise to teach courses in Mexican American history, with a preference for fields in Borderlands/US Southwest history, and demonstrated potential as a teacher-scholar.

Preferred qualifications: completed Ph.D.; experience teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in Mexican American history as well as courses in any of the following areas:  (Borderlands/US Southwest, U.S.-Mexico transnational history, and Latino/a/x/e history,); research and/or creative scholarship which has led to publication in refereed journals and/or academic presses; experience mentoring culturally diverse students. Position begins August 1,2025.

We welcome applications from women, underrepresented scholars, military veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Apply at http://apply.interfolio.com/150766.

About Southern Methodist University

SMU is a nationally ranked, comprehensive research university with seven degree-granting schools. It is a vibrant center of distinguished teaching and research located in the heart of Dallas. SMU’s nearly 12,000 students benefit from small classes, international studies, and an array of innovative programs, along with the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, a rapidly growing center of commerce and culture. The Clements Department of History is home to renowned scholars recognized nationally and internationally as leaders in their fields of expertise as well as home to the Clements Center for Southwest Studies and the Center for Presidential History. The University features the Meadows Museum of Art which holds the finest collection of Early Modern Spanish art outside the Prada and the DeGolyer Library which holds major manuscript and photographic collections on nineteenth and twentieth century transportation and travel in the Southwest; scholars working on Latin America also have the opportunity to engage with SMU’s Texas-Mexico Center, the Dallas Mexican American Historical League, the Dallas Museum of Art’s Latin American collections and related exhibits, and the city’s Latino Cultural Center. For more information go to our website http://www.smu.edu/history.

Connections working at Southern Methodist University