University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Is Hiring an Assistant Professor (Ethnomusicology)

The Department of Music at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa (UHM) 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. 

They are seeking 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.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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);
• Demonstrated ability to teach courses in ethnomusicology at the undergraduate and graduate levels
• 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;
• Record of research in the field of specialization (such as conference presentations, scholarly publications);
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collegially with students, faculty, staff, and administrators.

Application review for this full-time, tenure-track position begins November 16, 2026. Inquiries can be sent to:

Dr. R. Anderson Sutton, Search Committee Chair, rasutton@hawaii.edu