Visiting Assistant Professor in Byzantine Studies and Greek American Oral History

Hiring Department

The Department of History, University of Missouri - St. Louis
(UMSL)

Job Description

• The Department of History and the Greek Professorship at the

University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) invite applications for a
full-time, benefits-eligible Visiting Assistant Professor in
Byzantine Studies and Greek-American Oral History, beginning in
Fall 2027.

The position is a two-year appointment, subject to a satisfactory
performance review at the end of the first year.

The successful candidate will teach courses in Greek history and
culture with significant Byzantine content and direct the Oral
History Project of the Greek Professorship. The project engages
UMSL students in documenting the history and experiences of members
of the St. Louis Greek community through recorded interviews. The
successful candidate will also contribute to the broader curriculum
of the Department of History and participate in the academic and
public programs of the Greek Professorship.

Position Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Teach three courses per semester at the undergraduate and, where

appropriate, graduate levels.

• These courses will cover Greek history and culture with

significant Byzantine content, but other courses in Ancient HIstory
may be required as per the needs of the Department of HIstory

• Direct the Oral History Project of the Greek Professorship.
• Train and supervise students in oral-history methods and arrange

interviews between students and members of the community.

• Oversee the recording, documentation, transcription,

organization, and preservation of the interviews in accordance with
applicable professional and institutional standards.

• Contribute to introductory and general-education courses offered

by the Department of History.

• Participate in the academic activities of the Department of

History and the Greek Professorship.

• Organize public lectures and events relating to Greek

studies

• Advise and mentor students with interests in Byzantine,

Mediterranean, Greek, and Greek-American studies.o enter the job
description.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Byzantine history, Byzantine studies, Greek History,

classics, religious studies, art history, or a closely related
field by the beginning of the appointment.

• A teaching and research specialization in Byzantine history or

culture

• Demonstrated experience with oral-history projects and

methods

• The organizational and interpersonal skills necessary to

coordinate students and community participants.

• Evidence of effective university-level teaching or demonstrated

potential for excellence in teaching

• The ability to teach students from a range of academic

backgrounds

• The ability to contribute effectively to the Department of

History and the Greek Professorship

Preferred Qualifications: Preference will be given to candidates
who possess one or more of the following:

• Experience conducting oral-history projects with Greek-American

or other North American ethnic communities

• A research and teaching profile that places Byzantium within

the broader history of the Mediterranean, southeastern Europe, or
the eastern Mediterranean

• The ability to teach broadly across more than one historical

period or geographical area

• Experience teaching introductory or general-education history

courses

• Competence in Byzantine-Greek and other languages relevant to

the field

• Experience organizing lectures, conferences, or public

programs

• A record of engagement with audiences beyond the

university

Application Materials

Applicants should submit the following:

• A cover letter addressing the responsibilities and qualifications

of the position.

• A curriculum vitae.
• A statement of teaching philosophy and interests.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness.
• Contact information for three referees.
• Applicants must be able to start on August 20, 2027
• If you have questions regarding this position, please contact

Prof. Michael Cosmopoulos, cosmopoulos@umsl.edu

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted through January, 2027

Sponsorship Information

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this
position.

Other Information

The Department of History offers undergraduate and graduate
instruction across a broad range of chronological and geographical
fields. Its faculty are committed to excellence in teaching,
research, student mentoring, and public engagement.

The
Greek Professorship is an interdisciplinary academic and
community-engagement initiative dedicated to the study of Greek
history, language, archaeology, literature, and culture from
antiquity to the present. It supports academic courses,
study-abroad opportunities, lectures, conferences, cultural
programming, and engagement with the Greek-American community. Its
programs serve approximately 300 students annually and support the
Certificate in Greek Studies.

Other Information

The position reports to the Chair of the Department of History. The
salary is $75,000 per year, plus benefits. This is a full-time,
100-percent FTE, benefits-eligible position with no rights to
tenure at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

References will be requested from finalists.

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your
total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits
package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement,
and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For
additional information on University benefits, please visit the
Faculty & Staff Benefits website at
https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an
Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please email the Office of Human
Resources at umslhr@umsl.edu.