Apply for the Inclusive History Project / ARC-NCID Postdoctoral Fellowship

During the 2023–2024 academic year, the Inclusive History Project (IHP) will partner with the National Center for Institutional Diversity’s Anti-Racism Collaborative (ARC-NCID) at the University of Michigan (U-M) to offer the IHP/ARC-NCID Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Office of the President has charged the IHP to make an independent and comprehensive assessment of the university’s historical record of inclusion and exclusion, and a framing and design committee composed of a cross-section of faculty, staff, and students is leading the initial phase of this work. This fellowship is a unique opportunity for an early career scholar whose research centers on histories of racism, racial equity, and/or racial justice in higher education, with an emphasis on institutional histories.

The successful applicant will contribute to the IHP’s effort to study, document, and better understand the University of Michigan’s history with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with an initial focus on the history of race and racism. In residence at the NCID and under the guidance and mentorship of the IHP framing and design committee co-chairs and project manager, the fellow will research and report on a defined aspect of the university’s history relating to race and racism. Topics may include, but are not limited to, the history of students of color at U-M, the university’s historical and ongoing interactions with communities of color, and histories of campus activism. Other topics may be developed from the Bentley Historical Library’s holdings, including its recently launched African American Student Project, or identified by the IHP’s framing and design committee. The fellow will have the opportunity to shape the scope and focus of their IHP research based on their own scholarly interests. Additional duties may include presenting this research to relevant communities, preparing materials for teaching, attending IHP team meetings, and collaborating with archivists, faculty, and IHP team members.

The IHP/ARC-NCID Postdoctoral Fellowship is aimed at promoting and supporting the work of outstanding early career diversity scholars. In addition to conducting research for IHP, the fellow will be able to focus 50% of their time on their own research and writing while in residence at the NCID. Secondary affiliation with a relevant academic department at U-M, such as the Department of History or the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE), may be possible.

The fellow will also have the opportunity to engage with the Anti-Racism Collaborative (ARC), a strategic space created to facilitate U-M community engagement around research and scholarship focused on racial inequality, racial justice, and anti-racist praxis. The ARC supports a variety of activities to catalyze innovation in research and scholarship, as well as informed practice, public engagement, and action to advance anti-racist principles and organizing. This postdoctoral fellowship will provide early career scholars with opportunities for professional development, scholarly and career mentoring, and interdisciplinary research, including participating in the activities of the ARC’s community of postdoctoral scholars focused on anti-racism and racial justice.

The initial appointment will be for one year, with the potential for renewal for a second year based on satisfactory performance and funding availability.