Director of the Newark Earthworks Center 

R124514 Director of the Newark Earthworks Center 

The Ohio State University at Newark 

Position Overview 

The Ohio State University at Newark invites applications for Director of the Newark Earthworks Center at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure. We seek a scholar whose research employs Native American and Indigenous Studies methodologies, foregrounding Indigenous peoples’ intellectual traditions, histories, aesthetics, geographies, and other ways of knowing. We welcome applications from publicly engaged scholars with leadership and administrative experience whose research and teaching demonstrates accountability to Indigenous communities.

The Newark Earthworks Center is an academic research center at The Ohio State University, housed on the Newark campus. The mission of the Newark Earthworks Center is to promote and support research, teaching and engagement by faculty, students, scholars, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders with an interest in the ancestral and contemporary Indigenous places, peoples, cultures and experiences within and around Ohio.

In addition to serving in the leadership role, the director will also be a dedicated teacher and productive scholar. The departmental home of the position is open. Possibilities include, but are not limited to, Anthropology, Comparative Studies, English, Geography, History, and History of Art. At The Ohio State University, while faculty teach primarily on their home campus, all faculty members’ Tenure-Initiating Units are based in Columbus.

This hire follows a concentrated emphasis of hiring faculty in Indigenous studies at Ohio State’s Columbus campus over the past several years. The director will have the opportunity to collaborate with the American Indian Studies program in the Center for Ethnic Studies in developing programming.

The director will have a unique opportunity to contribute to the efforts of World Heritage Ohio to celebrate Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The new director will be expected to develop a clear research focus, based on the NEC mission and the recognition of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks as a serial World Heritage Site (2023); to collaborate across disciplines, universities, and other Indigenous World Heritage sites; and to communicate the NEC mission effectively with media and constituencies.

 

Performance Objectives 

• Lead the Newark Earthworks Center, building its profile as an academic research center and its profile on campus and across Licking County, connecting with stakeholders beyond the campus, and bringing attention to the Midwest Indigenous cultures who created the earthworks at the core of the Center’s mission;
  • Expand meaningful research and outreach opportunities for students on the campus;
  • Develop impactful, productive scholarship consistent with the ongoing missing of the Newark Earthworks Center;
  • Cultivate productive relationships with tribal governments;
  • Collaborate with scholars across departments and engage diverse constituencies (including Indigenous communities) inside and outside of the university;
  • Teach and advise graduate and undergraduate students; and
  • Seek out external funding that emphasizes the strengths of the NEC’s research and outreach efforts (as directed by the Office Academic Affairs).

 

Education and Experience Requirements

Required:

• A PhD in Indigenous Studies or American Indian Studies or PhD in an allied field (including but not limited to Anthropology, Comparative Studies, English, Geography, History, and History of Art), with a research specialization in Indigenous or American Indian Studies;
• Prior academic experience at a research-intensive university;
• Demonstrated track record of academic leadership, management and collaboration;

Desired:

• • A record of teaching excellence.

• Demonstrated ability to facilitate, articulate, execute and/or steward a strategic vision; 

• • Familiarity working with campus administrators and leaders;
  • Demonstrated experience working with external stakeholders to establish and maintain collaborations;

• Experience collaborating with alumni, campus leadership, and external stakeholders to expand financial resources.

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday. Application materials must include the following required documents:

Required:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vita (CV)
• Statement of Research
• Statement of Teaching and Mentoring

 

The College 

With more than 80 majors and 100 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the university. The Arts and Sciences provides extraordinary opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, blending creativity and analysis to truly be at the forefront of thought. The breadth and depth of knowledge in the college gives students and researchers the critical thinking and adaptability essential for a lifetime of success.

 

The Campus 

The Ohio State University at Newark offered its first classes in 1957 with a mission to provide affordable, open access to Ohio State for all Ohioans. The Newark campus sits on 188 acres and shares the campus with Central Ohio Technical College. The two institutions have a strong partnership whereby they share all buildings and general-purpose classrooms, approximately 100 staff, operating expenses, and a number of capital equipment investments. Shared departments include Advancement; Business and Finance; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Facilities, Planning and Operations; Library; Marketing and Public Relations; Purchasing and Auxiliary Services; Student Financial Services; and Student Life.

 

Ohio State Newark currently enrolls more than 2,200 students who are taught and mentored by 45 tenure-track faculty who are members of their university-level academic department. Students can complete eight bachelor’s degree programs at the Newark Campus and start any of Ohio State’s 200+ majors. In addition to excellent academic offerings, students can participate in the Honors program, service learning, education abroad, and a wide variety of student clubs and organizations.

 

Ohio State Newark is situated near the Ohio State University Columbus campus, presenting great opportunities for new and innovative partnerships to benefit students, faculty, and staff. The future of the campus will be impacted by the significant growth and development in Licking County, including a new Intel facility, expansion of Meta and Google facilities, and more. Students are creating innovative pathways to their degree completion due to the proximity to multiple campuses.

 

The University 

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

Grounded in Ohio State University’s Shared Values, our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established central resources to focus on offering support to new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual career partner consultation, potential employer and/or employment opportunity identification, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community.  While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are available.  More information about dual career and faculty recruitment can be found here. 

 

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies.  Ohio State is a member of the Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia HERC. 

 

Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and vibrant metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. Beyond its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.  

 

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit, which could include drug and health screenings, as well as faculty misconduct checks depending on the rank of the position.