Job Details

Assistant or Associate Professor of History

Position Number: 6797057
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Liberal Arts - History

Assistant or Associate Professor of History

Requisition Number: 69115
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date:
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Department of History at the University of Colorado Boulder seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor or early Associate Professor specializing in Native American history with a focus on the North American West, broadly defined. The successful applicant will have access to funds associated with the Walter and Lucienne Driskill Professorship in Western American History. Specialization is open, but the department particularly encourages applications from scholars whose research focuses on the early American West (pre-1920s) and engages with legal history, the history of women and gender, environmental history, and/or the history of medicine and public health. Scholars with demonstrated commitments to engaging Native American communities and/or supporting Native and Indigenous students are especially encouraged to apply, as are those who bring relevant lived and individual experiences and achievements to this position. CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

Established in 1901, the History Department at the University of Colorado Boulder is the home of nationally and internationally renowned historians. The History Department has an energetic group of award-winning faculty who specialize in premodern and modern history in regions across the globe, including China, Japan, India, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Europe, and North America. Our faculty pursue multiple historical methodologies, we are committed to innovative and inclusive pedagogical approaches, and we are dedicated to community outreach. We also have a robust mentoring program for junior faculty.
CU Boulder's History Department has a rich tradition of scholarship in Native American history, and the campus offers excellent opportunities to engage with scholars in other fields through the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies (CNAIS), the Center of the American West, the Law School's renowned Indian Law Program, and other units. In recent years, our state legislature has mandated that students from tribes with historic relationships to Colorado receive in-state tuition. CU-Boulder has also appointed a distinguished and energetic Associate Vice Chancellor for Native American Affairs, Benny Shendo, Jr., who is stepping up efforts to recruit Native and Indigenous students.
The Department of History is a part of the Division of Arts and Humanities which is currently engaged in collaborative strategic planning to sustain and advance our vital fields. This process aims to expand the visibility of our disciplines and to forge meaningful connections between them, particularly for undergraduates. This position is designed to help support these goals through the interdisciplinary and community networks mentioned above, along with encouraging students to major in Arts and Humanities, supporting their journeys, and contributing to curricular innovations.
The Department of History is committed to creating an inclusive, culturally rich, and intellectually diverse departmental community. This position is open to all applicants who meet the minimum requirements (PhD or equivalent in History or related field with a specialization in Native American History). The department does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, political philosophy, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in accordance with state, federal, and Regent law.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The successful applicant will be expected to maintain an active research agenda, teach a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in Native American and American/U.S. History (including lower-division, general education courses, especially one of the two American/U.S. history surveys, with a preference for the early American survey), and provide service to the department, the campus, and the larger professional community.

What You Should Know

The Driskill Professorship has access to an endowed fund that generates an annual distribution to be used for research and instructional support, programming and memberships, summer salary in accordance with university restrictions and policy, and other relevant purposes. The successful hire will be expected to use these funds in ways that support their work to advance and promote the history of the American West as well as Native American and Indigenous History and to build connections with campus and community groups related to those areas. The successful candidate will also be expected to play a major role in supporting CU's membership and participation in the Newberry Consortium in American Indian and Indigenous Studies.
Candidates being considered for appointment at the Associate Professor rank must meet University standards and unit criteria for tenure and promotion to the designated rank. These criteria generally include having an established and ongoing program of original research, a strong publication record, a demonstrated ability to obtain external funding, and a record of high-quality teaching and mentoring.
The University of Colorado Boulder's campus has implemented a reference check program with respect to final candidates for tenured faculty appointments. The reference check program is intended to allow CU Boulder to collect and review information about a candidate's conduct at their previous institutions, specifically conduct related to sexual misconduct, harassment, and/or discrimination - before making hiring decisions. All final candidates for tenured faculty appointments are required to complete an Authorization to Release Information.

What We Can Offer

Assistant Professor: $80,000-$95,000
Associate Professor $95,000-$100,000
The final candidate will also be eligible to receive startup funds

For either rank:

Summer salary up to 3/9th of your base institutional salary available through the Driskill endowment. (https://www.colorado.edu/researchinnovation/media/6069) (https://www.colorado.edu/researchinnovation/node/8478/policies-guidelines-and-procedures)
Moving allowance available to the final candidate, in accordance with University policies.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

For the rank of Assistant Professor: Ph.D. degree or its equivalent in History, Native American and Indigenous Studies, or a related field must be conferred by August 13, 2026.
For the rank of Associate Processor: 1) Ph.D. degree or its equivalent in History, Native American and Indigenous Studies, or a related field; 2) attainment of promotion and tenure at another institution; 3) meets CU Boulder History department criteria for promotion to associate professor with tenure.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume/CV
Cover Letter
Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Statement of Research Philosophy
Writing Sample(s) Combined into one PDF
optional Syllabus/Syllabi
optional Teaching/Course Evaluations

During the application process you will need to enter contact information for three references who will be contacted to provide letters of recommendation as the search progresses. For full consideration, please apply by January 12, 2026. Position will remain open until filled.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Assistant-or-Associate-Professor-of-History/69115