Assistant Professor of Anthropological Archaeology

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Millsaps College invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in anthropological archaeology beginning on 1 August 2025. We are seeking a Maya archaeologist with active field research. Topical area of expertise is open, but we are particularly interested in applicants with four-field training in anthropology, a desire to include undergraduate students in research, and an ability to teach a variety of courses.  

Millsaps has an ongoing archaeology research program at the Kaxil Kiuic Biocultural Reserve in the heart of the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico. Our facilities include an off-the-grid Research and Learning Center at Kiuic as well as a laboratory and research facility in the nearby Maya town of Oxkutzcab. We are looking for a Mayanist who will integrate their research activities with Millsaps’ archaeology program at Kaxil Kiuic.

The teaching load is three courses per semester. The successful candidate will be expected to teach Archaeology of Ancient Civilizations, Introduction to Anthropology, courses in the core curriculum, and courses in the candidate’s area of expertise.

A Ph.D. in anthropology must be in hand by August 2025. 

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Anthropology or a related field required by the start of the appointment. Candidates who are ABD may be considered
• Record of, or potential for, scholarly productivity
• Commitment to inclusive pedagogy, diversity and equity

Application Instructions 

To apply, please submit the following documents as a single PDF:

1.  a cover letter (two pages maximum)

2.  curriculum vitae

3. the names and contact information for three references

Letter writers will be contacted at a later stage in the review process. Candidates who advance to a shorter list will be asked to provide a research statement and a statement of teaching philosophy, both of which should outline how the candidate addresses inclusion and diversity in their work.

Application materials should be submitted to soansearch@millsaps.edu as one PDF document. Questions about the position can be sent to the Search Chair, Dr. Louwanda Evans, at evansl@millsaps.edu.  

Review of applications will begin on October 25, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. 

Millsaps College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds. All offers of employment will be contingent on confirmation of work authorization and successful completion of a background check.  

About the Department of Sociology and Anthropology 

The primary goal of the Department of Sociology-Anthropology is to offer a rigorous undergraduate major in the related fields of sociology and anthropology. We aim to offer a curriculum that integrates sociology and anthropology, making explicit the shared concerns, understandings and methodological approaches of, as well as the distinctions between, the two disciplines. Secondarily, therefore, we aim to 1) provide a quality major with rigorous in-depth study in either, or both, of the two available concentrations, anthropology or sociology; 2) challenge and support students to excel in critical, reflective thinking, in oral and written communication, and in gathering and evaluating qualitative and quantitative data; 3) foster ethical decision-making and action in research and service activities; and 4) provide students with experiential learning opportunities that will strengthen their skills and prepare them for the job market.   Besides Yucatán, our students have opportunities to engage in archaeological fieldwork in Jackson, MS and Cusco, Peru. These and other opportunities consistently rank Millsaps as one of the top schools in the United States for studying abroad.

As a departmental community, we seek to participate fully in the general education of Millsaps undergraduates and support the goals of the College. We also work to support faculty development and growth in teaching, scholarship, and service to the college and the wider community.  

About Millsaps 

Millsaps College is a selective institution of higher education located on 100 beautiful acres in the heart of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi — a progressive southern metropolitan city of nearly half a million. Millsaps is dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of the region. The college was founded in 1890 by members of the Methodist Church and is consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education. 

Millsaps has an enrollment of approximately 600 students and employs 80 full-time faculty members. The faculty/student ratio at Millsaps is 1:9, and the average class size is 14. Millsaps has graduated 25 Fulbright Award recipients, seven Rhodes Scholars, six Goldwater Scholars and two Truman Scholars. Millsaps is a member of the NCAA Division III and Southern Athletic Association and competes in 18 intercollegiate sports. 

The Department of Sociology-Anthropology and Millsaps College are committed to cultivating an environment that embraces diversity across all of our communities. In demonstration of this commitment, the college strives to be a place where our investments in equity, inclusion and belonging are clearly demonstrated and visibly intertwined with our mission of academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression. Through practices that respect and recognize the inherent value of every member, across all of our communities, we seek to provide opportunities for personal and institutional transformation that extend beyond our campus.  

In pursuit of these goals, Millsaps College aims to attract, support and empower talented faculty, staff and students from diverse cultures, ethnicities, races, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, national origins, socio-economic backgrounds and abilities. As an institution we are committed to developing and implementing policies and programs that promote the thriving of every member of our community and the communities with whom we engage, so that we can contribute in a meaningful way to eliminating acts of discrimination that undermine dignity, access and self-efficacy. 

For more information about Millsaps please visit: https://millsaps.edu/about-millsaps/