Director and Full Professor, Center for Latin American Studies

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Position Information

Expected Start Date: January 2026
Work Type: Director and Full Professor Tenure-Track Faculty
Location: Main Campus (Gainesville)
Department: Center for Latin American Studies
Classification Title: Director, Center for Latin American Studies

A place of becoming—beyond expectations!

The Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida (UF) seeks to hire a Director and Tenured Full Professor for a 5-year appointment.  We seek candidates who will bring a transformational vision to the role and define the future strategic and academic directions for the Center for Latin American Studies at UF.  The ideal candidate should be an excellent leader and communicator, with demonstrated administrative experience and skills along with a proven track record of combining scholarship with program leadership and development.  Experience with fund raising and grant writing is highly desirable, particularly with the US Department of Education Title VI program. 

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Center for Latin American Studies
Today, the Center is one of the world’s leading Latin American Studies institutions, uniquely positioned as an independent unit reporting directly to the UF Provost. Its mission is to advance knowledge about Latin America and the Caribbean through research, teaching, and outreach. Some 21 core faculty members are appointed in the Center, and more than 180 other UF faculty across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, law, business, and health sciences are Center Affiliates. The Center fosters a dynamic and supportive scholarly community that values interdisciplinary collaboration and student engagement. Academic programs include the Master of Arts in Latin American Studies, the Master of Sustainable Development Practice (MDP, jointly offered with the UF Center for African Studies), an undergraduate minor, and graduate certificates from the Center’s distinctive Tropical Conservation and Development (TCD) program.

Director, Center for Latin American Studies
The Director serves as both an academic leader and an administrator, holding a tenured faculty appointment within an appropriate UF academic unit, which may include the Center for Latin American Studies. We seek accomplished and distinguished administrators and educators with a record of excellence in research, teaching, and leadership. The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator with demonstrated administrative experience, the ability to foster a scholarly community and cultivate collaboration across disciplines, and a track record of program development and external engagement. Experience with U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant writing is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a forward-thinking vision that aligns with the Center’s mission and UF’s strategic priorities.
• Academic & Faculty Leadership: Oversee faculty recruitment, teaching assignments, tenure and promotion processes, and career development for faculty and staff.
• Program & Budget Management: Manage academic programs, personnel, and financial resources efficiently.
• Grant Writing & Fundraising: Lead efforts in securing external funding, including U.S. Department of Education Title VI grants, and cultivate philanthropic and institutional partnerships.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Foster connections and maintain strong cross-campus relationship with departments, colleges, schools, museums and other university units, as well as ties to external constituencies and communities.
• Teaching & Research: Contribute to the university’s academic mission through research, teaching, and mentoring.