The University of Arizona welcomes current post-doctoral fellows from all disciplines across the United States to apply for the Steps in the Scholar Journey Program. The program aims to nurture the pathway to the professorate in culturally meaningful and responsive ways. Sponsored by Faculty Affairs, Native American Advancement & Tribal Engagement and Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Initiatives in partnership with Postdoctoral Affairs and academic departments across campus, the Steps in the Scholar Journey Program is aimed at providing professional development for post-doctoral scholars to aid them in next step into the professorate.  Each scholar in this program will be connected with an Elder Scholar who is farther along in the academic journey, who will serve to guide and support them in a mentorship role through this program. The program is a four-day experience for current post-doctoral fellows of all disciplinary backgrounds. The Program will feature:

  • Determining why a journey into the professorate is the next step for the individual.
  • Working with Elder Scholars to envision scholarly agendas that are grounded in culturally meaningful and responsive formats that have the potential for public significance and social justice implications.
  • Exploring and understanding job searches and job descriptions
  • Discussion of interviewing from the perspective of being underrepresented in the academy. Practice for interview effectiveness.
  • Developing and practicing colloquia (e.g. job talks).
  • Preparation for job offer negotiations.
  • Presentations by colleagues who are committed to nurturing inclusion, culturally responsivity, and justice.

Eligibility, Lodging, and Travel

The Program will prioritize those individuals whose work is aligned with the goals of the program and those who have a compelling personal connection to culturally meaningful journeys into the professorate, particularly among those underrepresented in their fields. Given the land grant mission of the University of Arizona there is a particular focus of this program to identify and support the future careers of scholars who have a connection with Native Nations.  Thirty (30) post-doctoral scholars will be chosen to participate. The University of Arizona will cover lodging, meals, and offer a stipend for travel accommodations.

Important Dates

TBD, 2024 | Applications via Qualtrics due | APPLY HERE

TBD, 2024 | Selection of Participants

TBD, 2024 | Notification of Participants

TBD, 2024 | Program Dates

Application Materials

To apply, please complete this brief Qualtrics form with questions that invite you to describe how your interests align with the goals of the program and upload the following:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Letter of Application in which you:
    • Describe your interest in the Program and in pursuing a faculty position
    • Summarize your scholarship and/or proposal for scholarship trajectory 
    • Summarize your teaching philosophy and/or pedagogy
    • Describe how you would nurture inclusive, culturally responsive, and/or justice orientated research, teaching, and service

For More Information

Questions can be directed to Dr. Adrián Arroyo Perez, Associate Director for Faculty Programs at arroyopa@arizona.edu