Tenure Track Position in Sociology – Popular Culture

Located in downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada, Ryerson University, is on the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and the Wendat Peoples and is known for innovative programs built on the integration of theoretical and practical learning. Our undergraduate and graduate programs are distinguished by a professionally focused curriculum with a strong emphasis on excellence in teaching, scholarly research and creative activities. Ryerson is known for its culture of entrepreneurship and innovation and is recognized as a city builder, as it continues its growth through award-winning architecture and expansion of its campus.

Dedicated to a people first culture, Ryerson is proud to have been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and a Greater Toronto’s Top Employer for every year since 2015. To learn more about our work environment, please visit us on Twitter:  @RyersonU, @RyersonHR and @RyersonECI and our LinkedIn company page. We invite you to explore employment at Ryerson. Aboriginal candidates who would like to learn more about working at Ryerson University are welcome to contact Tracey King, Indigenous Human Resources Lead at t26king@ryerson.ca.

The Opportunity

The Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Arts at Ryerson University invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in popular culture (envisioned in its broadest sense in terms of sports, music, literature, festivals, foodways, collective memory and other forms) with an emphasis on Caribbean cultures.  The appointment shall be effective July 1, 2020, subject to final budgetary approval.

The Sociology Department consists of 22 full-time faculty members, has a solid and growing reputation for high-quality teaching and excellent, innovative, and socially-relevant research. The Department is strongly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, interdisciplinarity, social activism, and community-engaged teaching, learning, and research. Our undergraduate degree program offers a curriculum that highlights the study and practical application of research methods, classical and contemporary social theory, and themes of diversity, inequality and social justice, popular culture, media, and contemporary urban experience.

This position falls under the jurisdiction of the Ryerson Faculty Association (RFA) (www.rfanet.ca).

The RFA collective agreement can be viewed here and a summary of RFA benefits can be found here.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will engage in a combination of teaching, research and service duties, maintaining an inclusive, equitable, and collegial work environment across all activities. Responsibilities will include: teaching and supervising at the undergraduate and graduate levels; contributing to the undergraduate and graduate programs; establishing and maintaining a strong, independent research agenda; and participating in the academic life of the Department of Sociology, the Faculty and the University. The successful candidate will be able to apply research and scholarship on Caribbean cultural expression to their teaching in the area of popular culture, in order to teach in the Sociology Program and Liberal Studies courses at the undergraduate level.

Qualifications 

The successful candidate will have completed a PhD in Sociology or a related discipline (or expect to do so by July 2020).  In addition, the successful candidate must present evidence of:

• strong or emerging scholarly research that is active, innovative and impactful resulting in achievements such as peer reviewed and community-oriented publications, working papers, book chapters, public policy contributions, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, writings or creative productions disseminated by other suitable means and other noteworthy activities that contribute to the visibility and prominence of the discipline;
• expertise in theories of culture and media representation, a rich analysis of culture through an equity lens, and a program of research focussed on Caribbean cultural forms, current issues affecting Caribbean communities (both in the region and the diaspora); and a commitment to representation of the Caribbean in all its diversity and complexity;
• excellence in teaching through a teaching dossier that outlines the teaching philosophy, teaching accomplishments (including experience with course/curriculum review/development), excellent pedagogical practice, sample syllabi and teaching evaluations;
• strong communication and expository skills and a demonstrated ability or the potential to supervise undergraduate and graduate students;
• commitment to our values of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion as it pertains to service, teaching, and scholarly research or creative activities, including a demonstrated ability to make learning accessible and inclusive for a diverse student population; and
• an ability to contribute to the life of the Department, Faculty and the University through collegial service.
• evidence of  a record of collaboration with Caribbean communities and organizations.

Equity at Ryerson 

At the intersection of mind and action, Ryerson is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

Ryerson University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal (click on “Start Application Process” to begin). The review of applications will begin February 1, 2020, and will continue until the position is filled. The application must contain the following:

• a letter of application and a curriculum vitae;
• three (3) recent research publications;
• results of teaching evaluations (or equivalent evidence, such as a teaching dossier); and
• names of three individuals who may be contacted for references.

Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Candidates must therefore indicate in their application if they are a permanent resident or citizen of Canada.

Confidential inquiries can be directed to the Department Hiring Committee Chair Alan Sears at asears@ryerson.ca.

Ryerson is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. For any confidential accommodation needs and/or inquiries regarding accessing the Faculty Recruitment Portal, please contact Renee Gordon, HR Advisor at renee.gordon@ryerson.ca.