Faculty, Middle East Studies
This open-rank, tenure-track or continuing-contract faculty position contributes cutting-edge research, dynamic teaching, and meaningful service to an interdisciplinary Middle East Studies center. This is a sample job description from Excelon Associates that you can adapt as a template for your own hire.
What does a faculty member in Middle East Studies do?
This faculty position contributes to an interdisciplinary Middle East Studies center’s mission through cutting-edge research, dynamic teaching, and meaningful service. The center brings together a community of scholars from diverse disciplines, promoting innovative approaches to the study of history, culture, politics, economics, and society in the region.
Scholars specializing in any area of Middle East Studies, such as modern or classical history, political science, anthropology, sociology, religious studies, literature, or economics, are encouraged to apply. It is an open-rank faculty role within the higher education sector.
Open rank means the role can be filled at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level based on the candidate’s record. Middle East Studies is an interdisciplinary area studies field, and faculty are typically expected to have proficiency in a regional language such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish, or Hebrew.
What does the faculty member focus on?
Key responsibilities of a Middle East Studies faculty member
- Conduct and publish original research in Middle East Studies.
- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise.
- Supervise graduate students and contribute to the development of academic programs.
- Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration within and beyond the center.
- Participate in outreach and public engagement initiatives related to the Middle East.
- Serve on departmental, university, and professional committees as required.
What qualifications does the role require?
- PhD in Middle East Studies or a related field by the time of appointment.
- Demonstrated excellence in research, with a strong publication record, and proven or potential effectiveness in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Proficiency in one or more Middle Eastern languages, such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish, or Hebrew.
- Experience with interdisciplinary or transnational approaches to Middle East Studies.
- Evidence of public engagement or policy-related expertise, and the ability to contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Why is the Middle East Studies faculty role important?
Area studies faculty build deep regional and linguistic expertise that informs scholarship, teaching, and public understanding. A Middle East Studies scholar contributes research and teaching on a region of lasting global significance, and helps students and the public engage with it through evidence rather than assumption.
Because the field is interdisciplinary and language-intensive, the strongest candidates pair genuine regional and linguistic depth with the ability to collaborate across disciplines. That combination is what makes an area studies center more than the sum of its departments.
A hiring note from Excelon
Area studies searches reward genuine regional and linguistic depth, not just a topical interest in the region. Through our higher education practice, we look for scholars with real language proficiency and a publication record in the field, and because the role is open rank, we help centers weigh an established senior hire against an early-career scholar with momentum.
The strongest candidates pair genuine regional and linguistic depth with the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
Related sample job descriptions
Faculty, Middle East Studies: frequently asked questions
What does a faculty member in Middle East Studies do?
A Middle East Studies faculty member conducts and publishes original research, teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, supervises graduate students, contributes to interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement, and serves on committees.
What qualifications does the role require?
This sample role requires a PhD in Middle East Studies or a related field by appointment, a strong research and publication record, effective teaching, and proficiency in one or more Middle Eastern languages such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish, or Hebrew.
What does open rank mean?
Open rank means the position can be filled at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level depending on the successful candidate’s experience and record, rather than being fixed to a single rank.
What disciplines does Middle East Studies cover?
Middle East Studies is interdisciplinary, spanning history, political science, anthropology, sociology, religious studies, literature, and economics, among others. Scholars in any of these areas focused on the region may be a fit.
Why is this role important?
Area studies faculty build deep regional and linguistic expertise that informs scholarship, teaching, and public understanding. A Middle East Studies scholar contributes research and teaching on a region of lasting global significance.
Hiring Faculty in Middle East Studies?
Excelon Associates recruits area studies faculty, humanities scholars, and academic talent for colleges and universities across the United States and internationally through our higher education recruitment practice. Retained executive search since 2007, headquartered in Asheville, NC, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL.
More Sample Job Descriptions
Templates you can adapt for your own roles.