Assistant Professor of Public History

University of North Carolina Wilmington; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of North Carolina Wilmington invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Public History starting August 2027. The successful candidate will teach U.S. survey and undergraduate and graduate public history courses and supervise M.A.

theses and public history projects. Preference will be given to candidates who can teach museum studies and/or historic preservation, with a temporal focus on America prior to the Civil War.

Qualifications

• Requires Ph.D. in history or a related field and demonstrated commitment to teaching and scholarship.
• ABD applicants may apply; PhD must be confirmed by Aug 1, 2027 to be eligible for employment.
• Preference for ability to teach museum studies and/or historic preservation; regional context pre-Civil War is valued.

Responsibilities

• Teach U.S. survey courses and undergraduate/graduate public history courses.
• Supervise MA theses and public history projects.
• Engage with museums and historic sites in the region to provide experiential learning opportunities.

Skills

Teaching commitment

Outreach service

Public history

Education

Ph.D. in history or related field

ABD considered; PhD must be confirmed by Aug 1, 2027

Tools

Storymapping

Job description

Assistant Professor of Public History

College: College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and The Arts - 321 College

Dept/School: History - 32231

Vacancy Number: 16F-825

Position Number: 6056

Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus

Brief Summary of Work for this Position

The Department of History at the University of North Carolina Wilmington invites applications for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Public History, beginning August 2027.

The successful candidate will teach U.S. survey and undergraduate and graduate public history courses and will participate in the supervision of M.A. theses and public history projects. Preference will be given to candidates with the ability to teach courses in museum studies and/or historic preservation, and with a temporal focus on America prior to the Civil War.

A strong commitment to teaching, scholarship, and outreach service is required. Research-active faculty at the rank of Assistant Professor in the department teach a 3-3, 3-1 rotation. UNCW's Public History program has a strong relationship with the many museums and historic sites in the region, which provide extensive opportunities for both students and faculty. Its colonial, antebellum, Civil War, New South, World War II and postwar histories, resources, and institutions make it an engaging environment in which to teach U.S. and public history.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• Ph.D. in history or a related field
• Please note: ABD applicants will be considered; however, PhD must be confirmed by August 1, 2027 to be eligible for employment, and one of the references included in application must be dissertation chair.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching and scholarship
• Demonstrated commitment to outreach service

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• The ability to teach courses in museum studies and/or historic preservation
• A temporal focus on America prior to the Civil War

Primary Function of Organizational Unit

The Department of History at University of North Carolina Wilmington is first and foremost a community of scholars who love

• Use and create interactive timelines
• Make and listen to podcasts
• Create exhibits for public and university display
• Use Storymapping and other digital programs

We are proud of the team-teaching our faculty engages in, the applied learning opportunities we provide, and the attention we give to each student.

We are especially proud of our nationally recognized unique online MA for working teachers launched in 2014.

In our Public History Program, students have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with community partners. They participate in in-depth practica learning experiences with these partners, and help create diverse historical projects displayed and used throughout the community. History graduate and undergraduate students intern or work with a dozen different regional historic sites and institutions, including Fort Fisher, The Bellamy Mansion, the Burgwin-Wright House, Wilmington Railroad Museum, The Latimer House, and Moore's Creek National Battlefield.

College/School Information

The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA) is home to 14 academic departments and offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs including the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, and Master of Public Administration as well as combined bachelor's/master's degree programs in Spanish and English. CHSSA also houses the Interdisciplinary Studies program(s), Gender Studies and Research Center and the Academic Resource Center, which offers full-service, professional advising for all CHSSA undergraduate students.

In addition, CHSSA offers a full complement of interdisciplinary minors and post baccalaureate certificates including: Africana studies, American studies, Asian studies, classical studies, conflict management and resolution, emergency and disaster management, forensic science, Hispanic studies, journalism, Latin American studies, medical humanities, Middle East and Islamic studies, Native American studies, professional writing and publishing, science and medical writing, and women's, gender, and sexuality studies.

CHSSA contributes significantly to the curriculum that comprises UNCW's University Studies Program, through which all undergraduates gain a foundation in the liberal arts and develop the transferable skills essential for life in the twenty-first century. CHSSA strives in its undergraduate programs and in its University Study offerings to nurture creative thinking, intellectual curiosity, and academic integrity in students while providing them with a solid foundation of knowledge in their chosen fields. Graduate programs in CHSSA are designed to develop intellectual competence and to prepare the student for careers in business, industry, government, teaching or for further study at the doctoral level.

Applied learning is a hallmark of the student experience in CHSSA. Each of CHSSA's departments requires an applied learning experience as a part of the curriculum for its undergraduate majors. Examples include faculty-directed research, internships, service learning, and capstone courses and projects, all of which challenge students to integrate various strands of knowledge and to apply that knowledge to broader, real-world or real disciplinary situations.

Upon completion of their studies, all CHSSA students will have the necessary preparation for rewarding careers, advanced study, effective citizenship, and meaningful lives. CHSSA offers limitless opportunities to engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary research and service while also making a positive societal impact. Come and join our vibrant academic environment that values discovery, innovation, and creativity.

University Information

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Number of Openings: Single Incumbent

Position Type: Permanent

Job Posting Date: 10/28/2026

Job Close Date: 01/05/2027

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.