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Director, Detroit Center for Black Studies

Wayne State University is searching for an experiencedDirector, Detroit Center for Black Studiesat its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

Wayne State University seeks an accomplished, engaged and dynamic Black Studies scholar to serve as director of its new Detroit Center for Black Studies (DCBS). This position is supported in part by a grant from the Mellon Foundation to fund Wayne State University's Black Studies Faculty Enhancement Initiative. Through this initiative, Wayne State University (WSU) seeks to enhance areas of scholarship and pedagogy that are critical to a deeper understanding of historical and current issues relevant to the members of the African diaspora and the people of Africa. The DCBS director will lead the center’s continuing efforts towards strengthening the Black Studies curriculum across the university while building collaborations and partnerships with Black Studies Scholars throughout the state and nation and engaging the Detroit community.

The center will be led by a director appointed by the president, or their designee, and will serve at the president’s pleasure. The Center Director will oversee all strategic planning for the Center, convene the External Advisory Board, hire personnel, lead advocacy, and community engagement initiatives. The Director will be advised in academic matters by a faculty Internal Advisory Board. The Center Director is a full-time administrative position devoted to the operation and functioning of the Center with an appointment in the Department of African American Studies. Joint appointments with other departments in the humanities are also welcomed.

Essential duties:

The director will work with stakeholders to continue establishing the Center, including overseeing staff hires, defining a vision to support the mission, and establishing a governance structure for roles, reporting, and decision making. The Center director will have significant collaboration with the Department of African American Studies as the academic unit most closely aligned with the DCBS mission.

Administrative responsibilities include:

Create and implement a strategic plan; establish benchmarks for the Center’s success; use empirical findings from evaluation efforts to make refinements and advancement to the Center; monitor documented outcomes for continuous quality improvement; supervise all staff associated with the center; oversee programming and activities of the center.

Coordinate and administer the hiring of faculty hired as part of the Black Studies Faculty Enhancement Initiative. Establish a robust mentorship program and wrap-around support for these faculty.

Work collaboratively with university leadership and new and existing faculty across all appropriate academic units to create a plan for a campus-wide curriculum transformation that centers Black Studies.

Create opportunities that support undergraduate and graduate student research, creative work and engagement.

Development and fundraising efforts; Lead efforts to secure grants and create partnerships.

Create and lead advocacy, and community engagement initiatives.

Represent DCBS within and outside the university community, collaborating with similar centers within the state and nationally, and elevating the center’s visibility and impact across the local, regional and national Black Studies intellectual landscape.

Qualifications:

Candidates for this role must hold a doctorate and be a leading scholar in Black Studies or a related field with clear evidence of sustained engagement with the disciplines and intellectual traditions that comprise Black Studies.

Candidates must have a strong track record of research productivity and professional visibility, meriting appointment as a tenured associate or full professor at an R1 institution.

Candidates must demonstrate experience in fundraising, administrative leadership, grant funding and management, stewarding community relationships and other partnerships.

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in personnel management, setting up and/or establishing centers and programs, and navigating university bureaucracy.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter addressing their experience and leadership, administrative philosophy, research trajectory, and a statement of commitment to Black Studies. A CV and the names and contact information for three references should also be included. Review of complete applications will begin October 10, 2025.

School/College/Division:

WSU - Wayne State University

Primary department:

H32 - Provost & VP Acacdemic Affairs

Employment type:

+ Regular Employee

+ Job type: Full Time

+ Job category: Academic/Faculty

Funding/salary information:

+ Compensation type: Annual Salary

+ Salary minimum: TBD

+ Salary hire maximum: TBD

Job openings:

+ Number of openings: 1

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.