Fitzgerald Distinguished Professor of the Humanities - Announcement for 2009-2011

Fitzgerald Distinguished Professors (formerly University Distinguished Professors):

Dennis Cronan, English, 1999-2001

David Fenimore, English, 2001-2003

Michael Branch, English, 2003-2005

Jen Hill, English, 2005-2007

Aaron Santesso, English, 2007-2008

The Fitzgerald Distinguished Professorship is funded by the Western Traditions Endowment, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and a trust established by Meta Fitzgerald in her name and her husband's, Lincoln Fitzgerald.

UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO
CORE HUMANITIES PROGRAM

The Core Humanities program announces the availability to faculty of the Fitzgerald Distinguished Professorship in the Humanities.  This is the second of the endowed professorships to be funded from the Western Traditions Endowment created under a Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1994.  The goal of the endowment is to encourage faculty commitment to general education in the humanities, to stimulate creative teaching in the Core Curriculum, and to reward humanities departments for their support of teaching in the Core Humanities program.

Description of the Professorship.  A successful applicant will become Distinguished Professor for a term of two years.  During that period, the Distinguished Professor will lecture in Core Humanities each semester, develop and teach one other course (preferably a new topics or Capstone course) each year, and give a public lecture on a topic of general humanities interest each semester.  The Fitzgerald Distinguished Professor will also carry out the program of study, development, and service outlined in her or his application proposal, and submit a written report of accomplishment at the end of the appointment.  The Distinguished Professor will receive a stipend of $10,000 (plus benefits) per year in addition to regular university salary.  For the two years of the appointment, the faculty of the Distinguished Professor’s home department will be augmented with a Post-Doctoral Fellow to be chosen by the department.

Eligibility.  The Fitzgerald Distinguished Professorship is available to any full-time, active faculty member of the university who can demonstrate a continuing and active interest in the Core Humanities program and a record of distinguished teaching.  College policy says that a faculty member cannot receive more than one stipend during any contract period.

Application Process.  Candidates must submit to the director of Core Humanities a letter of application that: 1) outlines the reasons for wishing to focus more fully on Core Humanities teaching; 2) proposes a plan for organized study, personal development, curriculum development, and/or program service in support of that teaching, to be accomplished during the period of the award; and 3) summarizes the candidate’s involvement in the Core Humanities program.  Letters of application should be accompanied by a current curriculum vitae.

Deadline.  Applications must be turned in to Jodie Helman in MSS 120 by 12:00 noon, Friday, January 30, 2009.  Announcement of the award will be made by mid-February.

Selection Process. The Fitzgerald Distinguished Professor of the Humanities will be appointed for two years by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, with the advice of a selection committee appointed to consider the applications.  The dean will also award a Post-Doctoral Fellowship for the same period to the home department of the Distinguished Professor.

UNR is an EEO/AA employer.