Description:

The School of Art and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts at the University of Houston invite applications from postdoctoral candidates in Art History to the 2026-2027 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fellowship program for a part-time, non-tenure track, Scholar-in-Residence position.

The fellowship is for a one-year term with the possibility of renewal for an additional year. This fellowship will support an emerging scholar whose work uses interdisciplinary methods grounded in Art History to chart new pathways for the field. Area of expertise is open but should complement rather than replicate existing Art History faculty strengths and contribute to the program’s ongoing efforts to globalize the curriculum. Joining a cohort of Mitchell Center scholars in creative writing, music, theater, dance, and contemporary art curating, the Art History scholar’s research and teaching activities will engage students, faculty, and programs across the arts community at UH.

Applicants should have a clearly defined interdisciplinary research project they wish to pursue during the residency, which provides access to the extensive holdings of the University of Houston Libraries and proximity to major institutions in the city and region. The scholar’s course offerings will serve graduate (MA) and undergraduate students in Art History as well as studio programs in Painting and Drawing, Graphic Design, Sculpture, Photo | Video, and Interdisciplinary Practices & Emerging Forms. We welcome candidates whose experience in teaching, research, and/or public scholarship has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to academic and artistic excellence through interdisciplinary innovation.

Position Requirements
• Must have PhD in hand at the start of the fellowship.
• Must be in residence in Houston during the consecutive 9-month academic year appointment, 2026-27 (2027-28, if applicable)
• Create and execute a presentation of research, public event, or exhibition during the second year of residence.
• Attend monthly meetings with fellow Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center Scholars, attend other Mitchell Center events as possible, and serve as a community ambassador for the Center.

Teaching Load: 1/1 per academic year

Salary: $45,000 annually (9-month appointment)

Start Date: September 1, 2026

Required Application Documents
• Cover letter addressing how interdisciplinary inquiry informs your research and teaching
• C.V.
• Names and contact information of three references who may be asked to provide a recommendation letter at a later date
• Writing sample (30 pages maximum)
• Two sample syllabi or brief course proposals

Application Deadline: March 3, 2026

About the University of Houston School of Art and Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts
The School of Art faculty are leaders in their fields, with MacArthur, National Endowment for the Humanities, American Council of Learned Societies, MacDowell, and Guggenheim Fellows among their ranks. The McGovern College is the innovative home of the visual and performing arts at the University of Houston, situated in the thriving and dynamic arts city of Houston. The city of Houston is home to numerous world-class arts institutions and archives, including the Menil Collection, Menil Drawing Institute, and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, which houses the International Center for the Arts of the Americas and the Anne Wilkes Tucker Photography Study Center.

Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of the final candidates.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check. Individuals conducting research in critical infrastructure areas (i.e., communication infrastructure systems, cybersecurity systems, electric grid, hazardous waste treatment systems, and/or water treatment facilities) are subject to regular review to ensure the security and integrity of the research is maintained.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.