AssociateFull Professor of Border Studies

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a Carnegie R1 Opportunity and Community-Engaged university at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border region that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health culture education and economy of the community we serve. UTEP enrolls more than 26000 students 84% of whom are Hispanic and half of whom are the first in their families to attend college. UTEP offers 169 bachelors masters and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access top-tier research university in America.

The citys location on the Rio Grande in the Southwest where two countries and three states meet makes it an ideal venue for academic programs and research studies on topics of national interest including bilingual education/language acquisition health and health disparities international relations international trade migration and environmental sustainability and infrastructure. The University enjoys strategic partnerships with two Department of Energy national laboratories in the region multiple national laboratories beyond the region and sits on the edge of White Sands Missile Range making engineering and scientific research both a priority and an opportunity.

Along with its designation among the top 5% of universities in America for research UTEP is also nationally recognized as an Opportunity University by the Carnegie Classification for its positive impact on economic mobility for students after 2024 Forbes found that UTEP students graduate with the lowest average debt of any college or university in Texas.

Located at the westernmost tip of Texas El Paso is set against the backdrop of the Franklin Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert in one of the largest binational communities in the world. The citys active arts and culture community features the states longest-running symphony orchestra a nationally recognized chamber music festival a vibrant street art and mural scene art galleries museums and a full schedule of seasonal events and 2024 El Paso opened La Nube a unique hybrid institution that merges the educational aspects of a science center with the interactive experiences of a childrens museum. UTEP adds to the arts and entertainment scene with concerts and live events at the citys largest indoor and outdoor venues; theater music and dance productions; contemporary and student art galleries; and a natural history museum and desert gardens. El Paso residents can also easily travel to the sister city of Ciudad Juárez Mexico to enjoy great food markets and cultural events.

El Paso/Juárez is the fifth largest manufacturing region in North America and the center of commerce education and health services for the region. A family-oriented community the cost of living in El Paso is very reasonable for a large metropolitan area with the average home value of $224000 in 2025. In 2026 U.S. News and World report named El Paso the best big city to live in the has no state income tax and when it comes to public safety El Paso is consistently ranked among the safest large cities in the United States.

El Paso is also an ideal location for people who love the outdoors. It is home to one of the nations largest urban parks - Franklin Mountains State Park - and many options for year-round hiking mountain biking and rock climbing at Hueco Tanks State Park and nearby White Sands Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns national parks.

For sports fans the UTEP Miners offer exciting Division I college athletics at several campus venues including Sun Bowl Stadium - where one of the oldest football bowl games takes place annually - and the Don Haskins Center arena. Southwest University Park located a mile away in lively downtown El Paso is home to the El Paso Chihuahuas the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the San Diego Padres and the El Paso Locomotive FC a professional soccer team founded in 2019.

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology which houses the Center for Inter-American and Border Studies is one of the foundational departments in the field of border studies. We offer a BA in Anthropology and in Sociology an MA and PhD in Sociology (in which all disciplines participate) and undergraduate courses in Geography. Our PhD program has a focus on Culture and Health and Borders and Mobility. The department boasts a vibrant intellectual and collegial atmosphere with ample opportunities for collaboration and growth. The Center for Inter-American and Border Studies (CIBS) is a hub for intellectual scholarly and community-based research on the border region and Latin America as a whole. Given the departments proximity to Mexico history of collaboration across the border and UTEPs unique student body CIBS is a key unit on campus.

We are looking for a leader in border studies research connected to the U.S. - Mexico border--someone who can collaborate across a broad range of projects and constituencies and is comfortable with interdisciplinary collaboration. The ideal candidate will be an accomplished border scholar with a strong record of publication and external funding to join the faculty of the Sociology and Anthropology department. The candidate will teach and mentor students in our doctoral program. A strong preference will be given to scholars with expertise and focus on the U.S. - Mexico border but we are open to other regions. Other expertise could include border communities labor environment and migration among addition to their role as a tenured member of the Sociology and Anthropology Department the faculty member will serve as the director of the state-funded Center for Inter-American and Border Studies. We seek someone with innovative ideas to drive border studies forward and grow CIBS. CIBS provides stimulation and collaboration in border studies across the university binational community Texas and Chihuahua and globally.

The candidate will possess a PhD in Sociology Anthropology Geography or a related discipline. Candidates will have an extensive demonstrated record of extramural funding publications and collaborations. Administrative experience is desired but is not required. We expect successful candidates to have an outstanding record commensurate with appointment at the Full or Associate Professor rank.

In keeping with its access excellence and impact mission The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open diverse and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents respects the differences and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race color national origin sex religion age disability genetic information veteran status or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employees or prospective employees right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries-including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident-about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator who can be reached by phone at by email at or by mail at 500 W. University Ave. El Paso TX Kelly Hall Room 312.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities please contact UTEPs Equal Opportunity Office at .

To the extent that this position involves research work or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48 being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

• Cover Letter; Please indicate which rank you want to be considered
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information for at least three professional references

Application review will start Oct. 31 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

Please contact search committee chair Dr. Josiah Heyman () if you have any questions.