Visiting Assistant Professor in Byzantine Studies and Greek American Oral History

University of Missouri, St. Louis; Clayton (MO); On-site; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

The Department of History at the University of Missouri-St. Louis invites applications for a full-time Visiting Assistant Professor in Byzantine Studies and Greek-American Oral History.

The appointment is a two-year, benefits-eligible position beginning Fall 2027. The successful candidate will teach courses on Greek history and culture with Byzantine content, direct the Oral History Project of the Greek Professorship, and supervise student interviews while contributing to public programs and the

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Byzantine history or closely related field by start date.
• Teaching and research specialization in Byzantine history or culture.
• Experience with oral-history projects and methods.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills to coordinate students and participants.
• Evidence of effective university-level teaching or potential for excellence.
• Ability to teach students from diverse academic backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Teach three courses per semester at undergrad and possibly graduate levels.
• Teach Greek history and culture with Byzantine content and related Ancient History courses.
• Direct the Oral History Project of the Greek Professorship.
• Train and supervise students in oral-history methods and conduct interviews.
• Oversee recording, documentation, transcription, and preservation of interviews.
• Contribute to introductory and general-education courses in History.
• Participate in departmental and Greek Professorship activities and organize public lectures.
• Advise and mentor students with interests in Byzantine and Greek studies.

Skills

Teaching experience

Oral-history methods

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

University teaching ability

Diversity awareness

Education

Ph.D. in Byzantine history/related field

Job description

Hiring Department

The Department of History, University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL)

Job Description

The Department of History and the Greek Professorship at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) invite applications for a full-time, benefits-eligible Visiting Assistant Professor in Byzantine Studies and Greek-American Oral History, beginning in Fall 2027. The position is a two-year appointment, subject to a satisfactory performance review at the end of the first year. The successful candidate will teach courses in Greek history and culture with significant Byzantine content and direct the Oral History Project of the Greek Professorship. The project engages UMSL students in documenting the history and experiences of members of the St. Louis Greek community through recorded interviews. The successful candidate will also contribute to the broader curriculum of the Department of History and participate in the academic and public programs of the Greek Professorship.

Position Responsibilities

• Teach three courses per semester at the undergraduate and, where appropriate, graduate levels.
• These courses will cover Greek history and culture with significant Byzantine content, but other courses in Ancient History may be required as per the needs of the Department of History.
• Direct the Oral History Project of the Greek Professorship.
• Train and supervise students in oral-history methods and arrange interviews between students and members of the community.
• Oversee the recording, documentation, transcription, organization, and preservation of the interviews in accordance with applicable professional and institutional standards.
• Contribute to introductory and general-education courses offered by the Department of History.
• Participate in the academic activities of the Department of History and the Greek Professorship.
• Organize public lectures and events relating to Greek studies.
• Advise and mentor students with interests in Byzantine, Mediterranean, Greek, and Greek-American studies.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Byzantine history, Byzantine studies, Greek History, classics, religious studies, art history, or a closely related field by the beginning of the appointment.
• A teaching and research specialization in Byzantine history or culture.
• Demonstrated experience with oral-history projects and methods.
• The organizational and interpersonal skills necessary to coordinate students and community participants.
• Evidence of effective university-level teaching or demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching.
• The ability to teach students from a range of academic backgrounds.
• The ability to contribute effectively to the Department of History and the Greek Professorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting oral-history projects with Greek-American or other North American ethnic communities.
• A research and teaching profile that places Byzantium within the broader history of the Mediterranean, southeastern Europe, or the eastern Mediterranean.
• The ability to teach broadly across more than one historical period or geographical area.
• Experience teaching introductory or general-education history courses.
• Competence in Byzantine-Greek and other languages relevant to the field.
• Experience organizing lectures, conferences, or public programs.
• A record of engagement with audiences beyond the university.

Salary

The salary is $75,000 per year, plus benefits. This is a full-time, 100-percent FTE, benefits-eligible position with no rights to tenure at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Other Information

The Department of History offers undergraduate and graduate instruction across a broad range of chronological and geographical fields. Its faculty are committed to excellence in teaching, research, student mentoring, and public engagement. The Greek Professorship is an interdisciplinary academic and community-engagement initiative dedicated to the study of Greek history, language, archaeology, literature, and culture from antiquity to the present. It supports academic courses, study-abroad opportunities, lectures, conferences, cultural programming, and engagement with the Greek-American community. Its programs serve approximately 300 students annually and support the Certificate in Greek Studies.

References will be requested from finalists.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted through January 2027.

Contact

Applicants must be able to start on August 20, 2027. If you have questions regarding this position, please contact Prof. Michael Cosmopoulos, [e-mail]