Assistant Professor (Ethnomusicology)

Hiring Unit: College of Arts Languages & Letters

Location: Department of Music

Date Posted: October 5 2026

Closing Date: Continuous - application review begins November 16 2026

Salary Information: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Monthly Type: 9 Month

Tenure Track: Tenure

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Temporary/Permanent: Permanent

Funding: General Funds

The Department of Music at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has a long-standing reputation for excellence in the study of world music especially the musics of Asia and the Pacific. The UHM Ethnomusicology program is well funded through several private endowments with faculty and students receiving substantial support for research conference travel and various other activities. The program is home to the Barbara Barnard Smith Endowed Chair in Ethnomusicology a rotating position with each ethnomusicology faculty member holding the chair for two years during which time the holder receives additional salary and research support.

We seek a highly motivated individual with a commitment to excellence in teaching and a strong research agenda. Applicants should be prepared to participate in developing and implementing curricular and programmatic revisions in collaboration with current faculty and to build ties with colleagues in related disciplines and with the wider community.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in ethnomusicology related topics and other areas of music as relevant to the candidates abilities based on the needs of the department;

• Maintain an active program of research including publication and presentation at nationally and internationally recognized professional organizations/conferences;

• Actively recruit graduate students;

• Advise undergraduate and graduate students;

• Serve on masters and doctoral committees;

• Work with colleagues to assist with curricular and program development;

• Serve on department committees as assigned;

• Provide service to the department university community and field;

• Other duties as assigned by the Department Chair.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Earned Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology or a related field (such as Musicology Anthropology or Area Studies) with an Ethnomusicology focus(ABDs will be considered but all requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed by August 2027);

2. Demonstrated ability to teach courses in ethnomusicology at the undergraduate and graduate levels

3. Demonstrated ability to teach general/core music courses at the undergraduate level and/or courses in a related discipline e.g. Asian Studies Anthropology Hawaiian or Pacific Islands Studies Sociology;

4. Record of research in the field of specialization (such as conference presentations scholarly publications);

5. Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collegially with students faculty staff and administrators.

Desirable Qualifications:

1. Research specialization in one or more of the following; Music and Cultural Politics; Intercultural and Transregional Music-Making; Popular Music Media and Society; Music and Religion/Spirituality/Ritual; Musics Relation to Dance and Theater;

2. Research focus onone or more of the cultures of Oceania/Hawaii Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia including transregional and diasporic connections particularly in areas that complement existing faculty expertise;

3. Ability to teach an Asian or Pacific music ensemble;

4. Record of and/or demonstrated commitment to academic program development;

5. Demonstrated experience in local community engagement.

To Apply:

Click on the Apply button at the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach the following REQUIRED documents:

1. Cover letter indicating how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualifications;

2. Current curriculum vitae;

3. Sample publication or dissertation chapter;

4. A one-page single-spaced statement of teaching philosophy;

5. Three confidential letters of recommendation from professional references: (name file: Applicant Name-Reference Letter)

6. Names and contact information for the three academic/professions references from whom we can expect letters of recommendation;

7. Academic transcripts for highest degree (unofficial copies acceptable with the application; official transcripts required at time of hire).

Additional materials (e.g. teaching samples published work) may be requested at a later date.

Please let your references know to submit the letters directly; invitations/links will not be sent.

Inquiries:

Dr. R. Anderson Sutton Search Committee Chair

The University of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information visit: is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions criminal history record checks.

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawaii may be viewed at: or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.

Accommodation Request: The University of Hawaii complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information please refer to the following link: Experience:

Junior IC