The Department of History at the University of Oklahoma (OU) invites applications for an open rank tenured or tenure-track position in Western American History. The department seeks an outstanding scholar of any time period related to North American Wests. We are especially interested in scholars who specialize in Latinx history, borderlands history, and/or African-American history. The successful candidate will be expected to make a substantial contribution to the department's graduate program in Western American history by actively mentoring graduate students and should be prepared to teach upper-division and graduate courses in Western history and the undergraduate US History survey. The regular teaching load is two courses per semester.

The appointment is expected to begin August 16, 2027.

The University of Oklahoma is a Carnegie-R1 comprehensive public research university known for excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement. OU enrolls over 32,000 students and has more than 2,700 full-time faculty members in 20 colleges. The University is home to a 277-acre Research Campus in Norman, a culturally rich and vibrant town with outstanding schools, amenities, and a low cost of living. Norman is located just south of Oklahoma City, the capital and economic hub of the state of Oklahoma, which offers all the amenities of a major metropolis. See http://soonerway.ou.edu

OU houses the Western History Collection, among the most important facilities in the world for Native American, Western American, and environmental history, with 65,000 books, 10,000 cubic feet of manuscripts, and nearly 2 million photographs. The city of Norman, Oklahoma, is a perennial contender on "best place to live" rankings with outstanding schools, amenities, a low cost of living, small town charm, a variety of recreational opportunities, four distinct seasons, and more than 225 days of sunshine each year. Norman is located 20 miles south of Oklahoma City, the capital and economic hub of the state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma City Metroplex, including Norman and several other suburban cities, is home to about 1.5 million residents, offering all the amenities of a major modern metropolitan community, including rich cultural heritage, an abundance of the arts, superb dining and nightlife, major sporting and concert events, family entertainment, and recreational adventure activities.

Candidates will be hired at the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor rank and should demonstrate clear evidence of high-quality scholarship through published research. To be considered for this position candidates must have a PhD in History or a related field at the time of application as well as demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring.

To apply, please submit a curriculum vitae, a cover letter, an article or chapter-length writing sample, and contact information for three (3) confidential letters of recommendation to https://apply.interfolio.com/195561. Review of applications will begin December 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Direct inquiries to Dr. Julie Reed, Search Committee Chair ([email protected]).