Research Chair and Director of the Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Institute for Studies in Canadian Art

Job title: Research Chair and Director of the Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Institute for Studies in Canadian Art
Position code: 23_C_ARTH_O
Date posted: September 30, 2024
Application deadline: December 15, 2024
Advertised until: Position is filled

Situated on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka people, Concordia University is North America’s top university under the age of 50, celebrated for advancing transformative learning, convergent thinking and public impact.  

Position description:

The Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Institute for Studies in Canadian Art, founded in 1998, invites applications for the position of Research Chair and Director of the Institute to begin August 1, 2025. We are searching for emerging leadership in this rapidly evolving field. The Research Chair and Director will hold a full-time tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Associate or Professor in the Department of Art History; applications will be accepted from external and internal candidates. The position presents considerable opportunities to lead a dynamic and innovative arts institute in the heart of a multi-lingual, multi-cultural milieux. We welcome applicants who are leaders in Canadian art, broadly conceived. This may include, but is not limited to, specialization in art history and visual culture, First Nations, Metis and Inuit Studies, diasporic studies, craft and design history, photo history, architectural history, curatorial studies, art historiography and/or new pedagogies. 

As a member of the Department of Art History, the successful candidate will contribute to the teaching of Canadian art and visual culture at both undergraduate and graduate levels, including active supervision of students in MA and PhD programs. They will also participate actively in the collegial governance of the department. In their capacity as a Research Chair, the successful candidate will engage in an original program of research, as well as develop and support research networks and partnerships related to Canadian art and visual culture. In the capacity as Institute Director, the core responsibilities for the position are to develop and support research initiatives promoting scholarship in Canadian art. As Director, this will include developing strategic directions for the Institute and facilitating its activities including programming, outreach, and student training. Other duties will involve managing a sizable budget, annual reporting, consultation and communication with Institute members, Concordia stakeholders, and external partners. The incumbent will also be expected to actively seek external funding to support the Institute’s research activities and to engage in a broad and ongoing dialogue with educational and cultural institutions dedicated to studies in the visual arts across Canada and beyond. The Research Chair appointment (five-year term) and directorship (four-year term) are subject to renewal; annual reporting and mid-term reviews are required. Both the directorship and Research Chair positions include annual research and salary stipends, as well as teaching remissions totalling six credits per academic year. 

Qualifications and assets 

The successful candidate will have a PhD in Art History or a related field, and will provide evidence of high-quality scholarly output, an important grant-funding profile, and excellence in teaching and leadership in academic administration. They will be an outstanding researcher with a strong record   of university teaching, research, service, and administration, as well as considerable expertise in one or more facets of Canadian art as broadly conceived. Candidates are encouraged to share any career interruptions or personal circumstances that may have had an impact on their career goals in their letter of application. These will be carefully considered in the assessment process. The Department of Art History values diversity among its faculty and strongly encourages applications from those who will contribute to that profile. Concordia University is an English-language institution of higher learning at which the primary language of instruction and research is English. Since this position supports academic functions of the university, proficiency in English is required. Working knowledge of French, including reading and grading student work in French, is an asset. The ability to actively participate in the bilingual inter-university doctoral program is considered an added advantage.       

How to Apply 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and Permanent Residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. While applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship, all applicants must include one of the following statements: 

Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. 

or 

No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

Electronic applications should be submitted to art.history.positions@concordia.ca on or before December 15, 2024, but will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Submissions should consist of a single PDF file that is clearly identified with the candidate’s name and position code (23_C_ARTH_O), and includes the following items in the order specified below: 

• A cover letter emphasizing key qualifications for this multi-faceted position 

• A detailed curriculum vitae 

• A vision statement sketching a five-year plan for the Institute (2-3 pages)

• A research statement in relation to the chair, laying out a detailed plan for the next five years (up to 3 pages)

• Links to any relevant research including publications, exhibitions, etc. 

• A teaching statement that includes the applicant’s teaching philosophy and approaches to mentorship (2-3 pages), and may further include supporting materials: sample assignments, teaching evaluations and/or syllabi of courses taught 

• Names and contact information of three referees

• An Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion statement (see below)

All inquiries regarding this position may be directed to Dr. Nicola Pezolet, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Art History at nicola.pezolet@concordia.ca. 

Concordia University is strongly committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and recognizes the importance of inclusion in achieving excellence in teaching and research. As part of this commitment to providing our students with the dynamic, innovative, and inclusive educational environment of a Next‐Generation University, we require all applicants to articulate in their cover letter how their background, as well as lived and professional experiences and expertise have prepared them to teach in ways that are relevant for a diverse, multicultural contemporary Canadian society. 

Possible examples to demonstrate a diverse experience may include, but are not limited to: 

• teaching about underrepresented populations 

• mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds 

• committee work 

• offering or organizing educational programming 

• participation in training and workshops 

All applicants will receive an email invitation to complete a short equity survey. Participation in the survey is voluntary and no identifying information about candidates will be shared with hiring committees. Candidates who wish to self-identify as a member of an underrepresented group to the hiring committee may do so in their cover letter or by writing directly to the contact person indicated in this posting.