Assistant Professor in Indigenous Literatures and Intercultural Understanding

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Assistant Professor in Indigenous Literatures and Intercultural Understanding
Job ID: 36255
Location: Main Campus

The University of Calgary is located in the heart of Southern Alberta, the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

Description:

The Department of English in the Faculty of Arts invites applications for a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in Indigenous Literatures and Intercultural Understanding. We welcome candidates with strengths in one or more of Creative Writing, Critical Research, and Research-Creation (as defined by SSHRC). The anticipated start date is July 1, 2026.

We seek a colleague whose research, teaching, and creative practices centre Indigenous literatures, knowledges, and cultural expressions. The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching (which may include courses such as ENGL 212: Critical Writing and Indigenous Literatures; ENGL 251 Literature and Society [dedicated section for the Indigenous Student Access Program]; ENGL 376: Indigenous Literatures of Turtle Island; and ENGL 493: Global Indigenous Literatures). The candidate will also supervise students; maintain an active program of research/creation; and participate in service at the departmental, faculty, and university levels. The regular workload in the research stream is 40% research, 40% teaching, and 20% administration/service.

The Department of English and the Faculty of Arts are firmly committed to ii’ taa’poh’to’p, the University’s Indigenous Strategy (https://www.ucalgary.ca/indigenous/about-ii-taapohtop/explore-strategy), with its recommendations and foundational concepts relating to ways of knowing, doing, connecting, and being; ethical space; transformation and renewal. This position is a grounded expression of that commitment and aligns also with the Faculty of Arts’ priorities of Connection, Community and Culture, and Justice, Equity, and Transformation. The Department of English is dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and to advancing intercultural dialogue. By supporting Indigenous literary works and creative practice, we aim to contribute to decolonial justice and to advance the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Qualifications:
• PhD preferred in English or a closely related field with a focus on Indigenous Literatures and Cultures
• Evidence of excellence (or clear potential) in research-creation, creative practice, and/or critical scholarship commensurate with career stage. Outputs may include research-creation works (integrated creative and scholarly forms), creative publications (e.g. poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, performances, digital storytelling), and/or critical scholarship (e.g. peer-reviewed articles, monographs, edited volumes)
• Demonstrated commitment to Indigenous and intercultural pedagogies with a strong record of teaching effectiveness commensurate with career stage
• Evidence or strong potential for securing external research funding and building community-engaged scholarship

About the Department of English:

We offer the successful candidate an opportunity to join a collegial community of researchers, instructors, and writers. We have thriving undergraduate and graduate programs as well as established and emerging strengths across Indigenous Literatures; Canadian and Global Anglophone Literatures; Black Literatures; Creative Writing; Historical and Popular Forms; and Digital, Print, and Cultural Studies.
We look forward to welcoming a new colleague whose research, teaching, and creative practices will enrich our community, contribute to the ongoing renewal of our department and discipline, and strengthen our connections to Indigenous communities. For more information about the Department of English, please visit https://arts.ucalgary.ca/english.

How to Apply:

Interested individuals are encouraged to apply online via the ‘Apply Now’ link on our UCalgary Careers webpage: https://careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/16998852-assistant-professor-in-indigenous-literatures-and-intercultural-understanding.

Please be aware that the application process allows for only four attachments, which may require you to merge documents.

Applications must include the following:
• Cover letter detailing how you meet the requirements of the position
• Current curriculum vitae
• Teaching dossier including statement of teaching philosophy, sample syllabi, and evidence of teaching effectiveness (suggested length: 10 pages)
• A statement outlining your conscious contributions to Indigenous engagement and intentions on how to advance Indigenous engagement within a culture of diverse excellence, equity, and inclusion respectful of multiple ways of knowing, doing, connecting, and being
• Names and contact information for three referees (letters will be requested for short-listed candidates only)
• Writing sample: representative selection of your best creative and/or critical work (suggested length: 30 pages)

Materials and questions should be directed to:

Dr. Jenny McKenney, Professor (Teaching) and Head
Department of English
Faculty of Arts
englhead@ucalgary.ca

Closing Date: December 10, 2025

The selection committee will begin reviewing applications after this date and will continue until the position is filled. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous
Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, and is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding equity and accessibility at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)

The University of Calgary recognizes that candidates have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged but not
required to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Selection committees have been instructed to give careful consideration and be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions when assessing the candidate’s research productivity.

For a listing of all academic opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Academic Careers website (http://careers.ucalgary.ca/pages/academic-careers). For more information about the Faculty of Arts, click here (https://arts.ucalgary.ca/).

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups (https://ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-top-startup-creator-amongst-research-institutions-canada). Start something (https://www.ucalgary.ca/startsomething) today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The university’s commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of eighteen Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming, and polices at the University of Calgary.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world’s cleanest cities and has been named one of the world’s most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America. With a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people, there are several Indigenous organizations and many events and ceremonies taking place in the city throughout the year.

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