The University of New Orleans (UNO) is seeking an experienced professional to serve in our Justice Studies Department as our Mellon Research Associate for Collaborative Public Humanities at UNO.

About Us

·       Located on the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, only 15 minutes from the French Quarter, the University of New Orleans occupies a 195-acre campus in one of the finest residential areas of the city.

·       Ranked Top 50 in the Nation for Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report.

·       The Brookings Institution ranked UNO third in the nation for providing equal access to higher education for students from all income levels.

·       For years, UNO has appeared on U.S. News & World Report’s least debt list (schools whose graduates have the least amount of debt) among national universities.

UNO Welcomes Job Applicants from Diverse Backgrounds

Founded in 1958, the University of New Orleans was the first integrated university to open in the South.  Given its history of educational access for all, UNO is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion - core values that inform all we do. 

Job Summary

A full-time staff position funded for an initial two academic years by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Research Associate will support the research projects of the “Collaborative Public Humanities at UNO” grant by coordinating and executing community-engaged research activities, public programming, and other administrative tasks.

The successful candidate will conduct oral history and ethnographic research as well as related activities to support collaborative research projects led by the directors of Justice Studies, the Ethel and Herman L. Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies, and the Neighborhood Story Project.  Additionally, this position will help plan and execute public humanities events; facilitate internal and external communications; coordinate a microgrant program for Justice Studies students and faculty; and complete related office tasks and financial procedures.

The Research Associate’s initial work will focus on developing projects on labor, economic, and racial justice, led by the Director of Justice Studies.

Established in 2020, the Ph.D. program in Justice Studies fosters interdisciplinary, collaborative, community-engaged scholarship. Students and affiliated faculty conduct community-based participatory research projects that combine ethnography, archival research, oral history, textual analysis, critical program evaluation, activist research, survey research, and other humanities and social science approaches.

Job Duties

80% Community-Engaged Research and Related Activities

·      Under the director’s supervision and guidance, coordinate and execute community-engaged research activities, utilizing ethnography and conducting oral history interviews, archival research, and related methodologies

·      Identify, build, and maintain relationships with community collaborators and help Justice Studies and other UNO students connect with appropriate partners

·      Plan, promote, advertise, and execute public humanities events and other public programming at UNO and off-campus, including coordination of event logistics

·      Assist with preparing external grant applications and other fundraising efforts, reporting to UNO and external agencies, and maintaining a calendar for deadlines

·      Coordinate Mellon-funded faculty and student microgrant programs

·      Coordinate the program’s website, social media, print publications, and other advertising, marketing, and promotional efforts

·      Serve as a liaison among UNO’s Mellon-funded entities—Justice Studies, the Midlo Center, and the Neighborhood Story Project—and other collaborators on- and off-campus

·      Other duties as assigned

20% Program Administrative Support

·      Assist with the hiring and onboarding of student workers, graduate assistants, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty as needed (when funding is available)

·      Initiate relevant business processes and financial forms for speakers, community collaborators, and other partners

·      Assist with purchasing and serve as a liaison with a business manager in the College, University Accounts Payable, and the UNO Foundation

·      Maintain a well-stocked inventory of supplies for the office

·      Maintain records of activities for reporting purposes

·      Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

·      Master’s degree in History, Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, Sociology, or kindred humanities or qualitative social science disciplines is required.

·      Commitment to and previous experience in community-engaged ethnography and oral history research as well as public programming.

·      Excellent reading and writing competency.

·      Some familiarity with social media, websites, advertising, marketing, and promotional campaigns;

·      Facility with Microsoft Office software.

·      Willingness to learn and apply new skills.

·      Demonstrated work or volunteer experience in grassroots community organizing, the nonprofit sector, and/or higher education.

Preferred Qualifications

·      A Ph.D. in one of the above fields (History, Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, Sociology, or kindred humanities or qualitative social science disciplines) or a nearly complete degree-in-progress (advanced ABD) is strongly preferred.

Salary

Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Excellent Employee Benefits Package

We offer an outstanding work/life balance.  Our employees enjoy 14 holidays per year and two weeks off around Christmas.  We offer generous vacation and sick leave; affordable health, dental, and vision insurances; retirement plans; and more. 

The University of New Orleans is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer. 

The University of New Orleans participates in Louisiana's State As a Model Employer plan and invites qualified individuals with disabilities to apply.