Seeking Black Scholar in Religion and Culture

Department EDI Committee:
Abderrahman Beggar, Religion and Culture
Carol Duncan, Religion and Culture
Jason Neelis, Religion and Culture

Department: Faculty of Arts, Department Religion and Culture
Position Location: Waterloo with program courses offered in Waterloo and online.

Area of Specializations:
A Black scholar who specializes in the academic study of religious literature is sought for this position in the Department of Religion and Culture. Applicants with specializations in Black religions and Biblical Studies are especially encouraged to apply. Applications from strong scholars with interdisciplinary training in various fields of Humanities are welcome.

Rank/s of the Position: Assistant Professor
Type of Position: Tenure-track

Department Description:
Religion and Culture undergraduate program requirements can be fulfilled with a robust curriculum of intramural and online courses. 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:
The Religion and Culture Department is seeking a scholar with demonstrated research expertise in the academic study of religious literary texts, understood very broadly to include Hebrew Bible and/or Early Christian Texts, the interpretation and reception of which have been historically foundational and remain contemporarily relevant to Black communities in North American and global contexts. Candidates who employ methodological and theoretical approaches developed within a range of humanities disciplines and specializations such as history and philosophy of religions, comparative literature, and textual criticism are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will complement existing faculty strengths by teaching courses in the department’s undergraduate curriculum, the MA program in Religion, Culture and Global Justice shared with Global Studies, and a Joint PhD program with the University of Waterloo in Religious Diversity in North America. The scholar hired for this position is expected to have facility or willing to acquire experience with delivery and innovative development of remote / online courses. The potential to fulfill department service roles and to engage with other programs, departments and faculties at Wilfrid Laurier University and the wider community will also be considered. 

Qualifications:
Applicants must have earned a PhD in Religious Studies or Humanities disciplines related to the academic study of religion, such as Comparative Literature, History, Near Eastern or other Area Studies. Applicants who are ABD will be considered. Evidence of teaching excellence and the ability to engage students in seminar as well as larger lecture settings, intramurally, and through an online learning management platform is required. Applicants should be able to demonstrate capacity to offer undergraduate and graduate courses such as Legacy of the Bible, Reading Religious Texts, and Textual Studies and to enhance and build strengths in their areas of specialization by introducing new courses. A successful applicant would be expected to contribute to graduate teaching and advising at the MA and PhD levels and to show evidence of a program of research sufficient to support appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The department values collegiality and requires appropriate commitment to committee service for the level of seniority and career development.