Faculty Position for Indigenous Scholar

Indigenous Scholar Appointment, Religion and Culture and Archaeology and Heritage Studies

Abderrahman Beggar, Religion and Culture
Jason Neelis, Religion and Culture
Bonnie Glencross, Archaeology and Heritage Studies

Seeking Indigenous Scholar in Material and Visual Cultures

Position Location: Waterloo with program courses offered in Waterloo and online.

Area of Specializations:

An Indigenous scholar engaged in innovative research in areas at the intersection of material and visual cultures, cultural heritage and religion. Potential specializations might include, but are not limited to material culture, visual arts, visual ecologies and the environment and human influences on the landscape, cultural heritage management, and digital humanities for rock art, epigraphy, and paleography.

Rank/s of the Position: Assistant Professor

Type of Position: Tenure-track

Department:
The Archaeology and Heritage Studies undergraduate program is recognized for its academic excellence with many graduates going on to world-class graduate programs in archaeology, museum studies and related fields, and careers in all parts of the world. Archaeology and Heritage Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University is also renowned for its experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students. It is the only undergraduate Archaeology program in Ontario that has mandatory field courses, and undergraduate students can gain additional hands-on learning experience through faculty-led research, the Work Study program and volunteer opportunities.

Religion and Culture undergraduate program requirements can be fulfilled with a robust curriculum of intramural and online courses (https://students.wlu.ca/programs/arts/religion-and-culture/index.html). The MA program in Religion, Culture and Global Justice shared with the Global Studies Department fosters strong inter-cultural competencies for confronting global- and local-level challenges and transformations. The joint PhD program with the University of Waterloo in Religious Diversity in North America trains scholars in multidisciplinary theories and methods with an emphasis on the diverse nature of religious interactions. 

Position Summary:

Archaeology and Heritage Studies and Religion and Culture are seeking a scholar engaged in innovative research that explores mediums, methods and the meaning of material and visual cultures from an Indigenous perspective using an interdisciplinary approach. The successful candidate will be an effective teacher and active participant in shaping curriculum and programming in both units while directly addressing strategic priorities to develop teaching and research strengths in cultural heritage and also establishing the study of Indigenous material/visual cultural heritage and religion as a comprehensive strength at Wilfrid Laurier University. This includes developing and expanding on existing experiential learning opportunities for students, and engaging with scholars from other programs, departments and faculties at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Qualifications:

A strong scholar with a promising record of research whose work engages with material and visual cultures, and who will build and enhance interdisciplinary strengths in the fields of archaeology, heritage studies, and religious studies. Successful candidates will be emerging or respected scholars and teachers in all career stages, including those who are suitable for appointment at the rank of lecturer, as well as assistant, associate and full professor. Outstanding candidates without a PhD will be considered if they are a recognized Indigenous knowledge-holder, hold connection to Indigenous communities, employ Indigenous research and teaching methodologies, and have notable scholarly outputs recognized by other Indigenous scholars. Successful candidates’ scholarships should support and enhance at least one area of priority listed above under Area of Specializations. Able to teach a selection of existing courses  and to assist with development of online courses in the undergraduate programs of Archaeology and Heritage Studies and Religion and Culture, and to offer graduate-level seminars and to contribute to graduate advising for programs in Religion, Culture and Global Justice and Religious Diversity in North America. The successful candidate will also have opportunities to develop additional courses within their area of expertise.