Call for Applications: Director of the Middle East Studies Center, The American University in Cairo

The American University in Cairo

Director, Middle East Studies Center (MESC)(115424)

Company Description:

Founded in 1919, AUC moved to a new 270-acre state-of-the-art campus in New Cairo in 2008. The University also operates in its historic downtown facilities, offering cultural events, graduate classes, and continuing education. Student housing is available in New Cairo. Among the premier universities in the region, AUC is Middle States accredited; its Engineering programs are accredited by ABET, its Chemistry program is accredited by the Canadian Society for Chemistry, and the School of Business is accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. The AUC Libraries contain the largest English-language research collection in the region and are an active and integral part of the University’s pursuit of excellence in all academic and scholarly programs. AUC is an English-medium institution; eighty-five percent of the students are Egyptian and the rest include students from nearly ninety countries, principally from the Middle East, Africa and North America. Faculty salary and rank are based on qualifications and professional experience. According to AUC policies and procedures, faculty are entitled to generous benefits.

Job Description:

The American University in Cairo (AUC) is seeking to recruit a full time faculty member to serve as Director of its Middle East Studies Center (MESC). Located in the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP), MESC is an interdisciplinary academic program that offers courses in Arabic language and literature, anthropology, economics, gender and women’s studies, history, law, political science and sociology with the purpose of familiarizing students with a variety of methodologies for studying the Middle East. The graduate program focuses on the period from the 18th century onwards and addresses issues of religion, ecology, history, economy, society, politics, regional security, gender, and culture. It pays special attention to the Arab region but also addresses the connections of the Middle East with its African and Mediterranean environment. The objective of MESC’s interdisciplinary academic program is to provide students with comprehensive knowledge about the Middle East through a thorough understanding of the socio-economic realities and politics of the region. The program is intended for students who wish to pursue careers such as in academia, diplomacy, other government service, civil society organizations (CSOs), development, business, finance, journalism, public relations and cultural affairs.

Candidates for the position are expected to lead this well-established center of academic excellence. They should also develop robust research and policy programs. Contribution to policy debates in and about the region is an additional expectation.

Candidates should be qualified as instructors so as to teach courses that already exist at MESC or to develop new ones related to the above issues.

Candidates will also be expected to build an outreach program for the Center that includes activities, debates, symposia, workshop and conferences. Candidates should show the ability to fund raise for the center, internationally, regionally and locally working in close collaboration with the designated offices on campus. They should also help in recruiting international students for the Center’s undergraduate and master’s programs.

Requirements:

A PhD degree in a discipline relevant to MESC’s field of study. Candidates should have well established and extended experience in policymaking and implementation related to the Middle East.

Candidates should have research and publications records showing interest and contributions to the field of Middle East studies. They may also bring evidence to contributions to negotiations, policymaking or policy advice in the Middle East at a high level in government, international organizations and/or think tanks. All candidates should demonstrate the ability to work as a team with other relevant centers and departments in GAPP and the entire AUC community. Candidates should also be able to build networks of collaboration and cooperation with relevant academic, policy, civil society and business institutions, regionally and internationally.

Additional Information:

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Application Instructions:

All applicants must submit the following documents via the online system:

a) a current CV; b) a letter of interest; c) a statement of teaching philosophy; d) a completed AUC Personnel Information Form (PIF); e) a list of professional publications; a copy of recently published articles or manuscripts in progress; and f) names of at least three referees familiar with your professional background listed on the resume to send directly to gapp@aucegypt.edu.

Apply Here