Employment Opportunities

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Human Rights Center at the University of Dayton invite applications for the inaugural Judge John Meagher Endowed Professorship in Transitional Justice and Human Rights. This inaugural endowed professorship will have the opportunity to conduct impactful work as a collaborative and innovative teacher-scholar focused on applied practices of transitional justice, peacebuilding and research-driven advocacy to advance human rights. This is a 9-month tenure track position at the rank of assistant professor, beginning August 16, 2026 and has a departmental home in the College of Arts and Sciences in the appropriate disciplinary field.

At the University of Dayton, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and create positive change in society. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to the common good and the principles of social justice, equity, and inclusion. We strive to create an inclusive campus community where every individual feels valued and respected. Join our team of faculty members who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of our students and society as a whole.

The Meagher Endowed Professorship will join an active and diverse human rights landscape at the University of Dayton with multiple communities for potential interactions involving research, teaching and advocacy-based experiential learning. Our campus fosters an environment that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling faculty members to work alongside colleagues from various fields to tackle complex societal challenges. Key campus partners for the Human Rights Center include the Fitz Center for Community Engagement, the Hanley Sustainability Institute, the UD Law School, the Fr. Ferree Chair for Social Justice, Campus Ministry, Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center, and Global and Intercultural Affairs.

The Position
The College of Arts and Sciences and the Human Rights Center at the University of Dayton invite applications for the inaugural Judge John Meagher Endowed Professorship in Transitional Justice and Human Rights. This inaugural endowed professorship will have the opportunity to conduct impactful work as a collaborative and innovative teacher-scholar focused on applied practices of transitional justice, peacebuilding and research-driven advocacy to advance human rights. This is a 9-month tenure track position at the rank of assistant professor beginning August 16, 2026, who reports to the Executive Director of Human Rights Center and has a departmental home in the College of Arts and Sciences in the appropriate disciplinary field.

The ideal candidate would have a background in applied transitional justice, an area focused on supporting human societies to confront past violence and divisions and help societies heal and rebuild. This field of study and practice focuses on how societies attempt to address the legacies of large-scale human rights abuses, mass atrocities, or other severe social traumas, like civil war or authoritarian rule, by implementing processes to achieve accountability, truth-seeking, reconciliation, and prevent future violations, often through mechanisms like truth commissions, criminal prosecutions, reparations, memorials, and institutional reform; essentially aiming to build a more democratic and peaceful future after a period of significant conflict or repression.

The successful applicant will lead transitional justice efforts connected to a liberal arts education, expand curricular and co-curricular initiatives engaging with dynamic faculty and students across the university as well as foster and sustain partnerships on campus and in the broader community.

Other unique opportunities with this position include:

• Advancing academic discourse on applied transitional justice and human rights on campus, nationally and internationally such as organizing conferences, symposia, institutes, or seminars.
• Building partnerships to make advancements in applied transitional justice that can increase human rights and democratic practices in post-conflict societies.
• Conducting and publishing high-quality research on transitional justice and human rights.
• Typically teaching two courses each semester
• Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in research and fieldwork, especially in the areas of conflict resolution, dialogue, mediation or peacebuilding.
• Seeking extramural funding to support scholarship and research, student projects and community-engaged learning and service in transitional justice and human rights.

The Human Rights Center
The Human Rights Center (HRC) creates a positive change through research, education, advocacy and dialogue. At the heart of a global human rights community, the HRC is committed to bridging the gap between theory and practice, between scholars and practitioners. The work focuses on discourses, cultures, and lived experiences to understand how human rights are protected, spread, experienced and given meaning through the practices of diverse and marginalized communities. The Center advances human rights by conducting research-driven, participatory advocacy; educating future practitioners; and fostering inclusive, reflective dialogue and learning that promote innovation and deepen impact. Inspired by UD’s Catholic Marianist roots, the HRC works through sustainable partnerships with human rights practitioners and justice organizations in Ohio, the United States and around the world. The vision centers a diverse community developing transformational and sustainable social practices that address systemic injustice and advance peace, dignity and human rights.

The University
Grounded in its Catholic, Marianist tradition, UD provides education to develop the whole student and is committed to social justice and experiential learning. UD enrolls approximately 9,713 students, including 6,949 full-time undergraduates. It is one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities and one of the largest private universities in Ohio. As a “University for the Common Good”, we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, solving complex problems, and creating an inclusive academic community. We translate these values into action by seeking individuals who have experience and expertise working with diverse students, colleagues and constituencies. Because we seek a workforce with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we encourage all candidates to apply.

Dayton, Ohio
This opportunity is located in Dayton, Ohio. The Dayton metro area has a population of about 850,000 and is a diverse community. Dayton is noted for its long history of innovation and invention, and has a vibrant and growing business environment. With a burgeoning downtown area, 20 expansive metroparks, historic neighborhoods, and vibrant cultural communities, the Dayton area is a great place for those who want a bit of everything with a low cost of living, great schools, world-class arts, and sporting events.

• Terminal degree nearing completion 

  • ABD nearing completion of all requirements for a doctorate or terminal degree at the time of application.

• Record of effective teaching of undergraduate, graduate or law students

• Record of research, peer-reviewed scholarship, or artistic accomplishment in transitional justice and human rights

• Articulated interest in:

  • Fostering collaborations across disciplines or academic units

  • Supporting inclusive excellence and the university’s commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion

  • Designing or facilitating experiential learning opportunities for students

  • Engagement of community partnerships connected to teaching or research in transitional justice

While not everyone may meet all preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

• An earned doctorate or terminal degree

  • Experience or educational background in the social sciences or humanities

  • Commitment to service to the community, university, and profession

• Expressed willingness to engage with the Catholic and Marianist values of the University of Dayton to educate the whole person and to support the principles of social justice, equity, and inclusion. 

• Successful experience in one or more of the following:

  • Supervising student research and other experiential learning opportunities

  • Communicating effectively with diverse audiences, including external funders, the media, faculty and students

  • Fundraising or applying for external funding

  • Interdisciplinary engagement or external partnerships

  • Enhancing existing programs and developing curricular or co-curricular initiatives,  pedagogical innovations, or designing or facilitating experiential learning opportunities

  • Human rights advocacy

  • Participatory research methods, such as dialogue or action-based research

• Effective interpersonal communication skills

• Effective oral communication skills

• Effective classroom management skills

A complete application consists of:

• Cover letter describing how minimum and preferred qualifications are met, 

• CV, 

• Statement addressing approaches to teaching, student engagement, and human rights education more broadly in 750 words or less

• Statement addressing your research agenda in 750 words or less 

• Three letters of recommendation are required. Please provide contact information for your letter writers.  Instructions on how to upload the letters will be emailed to the letter writers when the application is complete.  

• If the candidate is nearing completion of a terminal degree, a letter from the Advisor indicating the anticipated completion date of the terminal degree.is required.

Posting closes at 11:55 PM EST January 20, 2026.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.  The University does not provide work visa sponsorship for this position.

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community.The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.