Horwitz Professor - Department of Political Science

About the Role

The Department of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst seeks an established scholar at the full professor or advanced associate professor rank for the Leonard J. Horwitz Professorship in Latin American Politics and Studies. The anticipated start date for the appointment is September 1, 2027.

The department is especially interested in candidates with expertise in comparative politics and deep area knowledge of South America, Central America, Mexico, and/or the Caribbean. The areas of specialization in comparative politics or related fields are open, but we are particularly interested in innovative scholars in areas that include contentious politics, gender and sexualities, race and ethnicity, indigeneity and colonialism, political economy and development, environmental politics, violence, democracy, and authoritarianism.

The selected candidate will have the opportunity to affiliate with the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies (CLACLS), which promotes research, training, and public engagement on the histories, cultures, and politics of Latin American and Caribbean peoples across the Americas and throughout the world.

Responsibilities

• Offer undergraduate-level courses in Comparative Politics and Latin American Politics.
• Teach graduate-level courses in their area of expertise.
• Contribute to the training of doctoral students.
• Secure external funding and develop communities of research, learning, and engagement.
• Contribute to the intellectual growth of undergraduate and graduate programs in Political Science and related fields.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Political Science or a closely related field by the appointment start date.
• Demonstrated record of internationally recognized excellence in Latin American politics and studies.
• Qualifications consistent with appointment at the rank of Professor. Candidates applying who currently hold the rank of Associate Professor must have achieved tenure, must have a minimum of five (5) years of experience following the award of tenure at the time of appointment, and must be prepared to seek promotion to full professor.
• Demonstrated record of scholarly achievement, including publications that have earned national and international recognition.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in Spanish or Portuguese.
• Field experience in the region.

Additional Information

UMASS Amherst has a long-established and active, interdisciplinary community of scholars and students in Latin American studies. Outstanding resources of support include the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (CLACLS) and the Five College Consortium, connecting faculty across neighboring colleges of Amherst College, Mt Holyoke, and Smith Colleges. Many faculty and students are also connected to Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies, and to the Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) programs through the consortium.

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Pay

The University of Massachusetts Amherst expects to pay within an approximate range between $107,065 and $213,109 for this position. The low-end of the pay range is the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA. The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median of salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty experience. The specific pay will be determined based on all relevant factors, including faculty rank and required certifications.

Schedule

This is a full-time, hybrid position with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2027.