Associate/Professor - Urban Planning and Policy

Associate/Professor - Urban Planning and PolicyHiring Department: Urban Planning and PolicyLocation: Chicago, IL USARequisition ID: 1041907Posting Close Date: 8/21/26Salary: The budgeted salary range for the position is $120,000 to $160,000. About the University of Illinois ChicagoUIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.The Department of Urban Planning and Policy in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) plans to hire a tenured faculty member at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. Candidates must have an earned PhD in urban planning or a closely related field and have an academic profile commensurate with a tenured faculty line. Successful candidates will teach a 2:2 load each academic year. The Department of Urban Planning and Policy currently offers an undergraduate program (B.A.) in Urban Studies, and three graduate degrees: the Master in Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP), the Master in City Design, and the Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Policy. Established 51 years ago and comprising five specializations – community development, economic development, environmental planning and policy, spatial planning, and urban transportation – our MUPP program is one of the largest planning programs in North America. The selected candidate will teach in the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs and is expected to develop a research agenda that advances the department’s mission to critically address contemporary urban challenges and reduce social and spatial inequities.The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs was created in 1995 as part of UIC's Great Cities Initiative. In addition to UPP, the college houses the Department of Public Policy, Management, and Analytics, as well as seven research centers: the Center for Urban Economic Development, the Government Finance Research Center, the Great Cities Institute, the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement, the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, the Urban Transportation Center, and the Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement. Position SummaryWe seek a scholar whose research and teaching critically engages with community development and immigration in U.S. urban regions. The successful candidate will contribute to advancing equitable, community-engaged planning practices that support immigrant and migrant communities and address the social, spatial, and institutional challenges they face. We are particularly interested in candidates whose work focuses on one or more of the following areas:Community development and immigrant integration: Including immigrant-serving organizations, neighborhood-based initiatives, migrant civil society, mutual aid networks, and grassroots forms of community building and governance.Housing, health, and social service interventions: Focusing on access to and delivery of housing, public health, and/or social services in immigrant communities, including innovative or community-led service models responding to inequality, informality, and precarity.Informal economies and urban livelihoods: Including a focus on informal activities such as street vending, day labor, and other livelihood strategies, as well as planning and policy responses to support economic inclusion and worker protections.Policing, enforcement, and community response: Including research on immigrant communities’ interactions with systems of policing, immigration enforcement, and surveillance, as well as community-based strategies of resistance, protection, and advocacy.Duties & ResponsibilitiesTeach in the department’s graduate and undergraduate programs with a typical teaching load of 2:2 per academic year.Develop a research program that makes an identifiable contribution to the study of urban planning, urban studies, or a related subfield.Participate in departmental governance and conduct service and outreach that advances the mission of the department, the college, and the university.Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.Minimum QualificationsPhD in urban planning or a closely related field such as geography, public policy, or urban studies. Be eligible for appointment at the rank of tenured Associate Professor or Professor according to UIC norms.Evidence of significant scholarly contributions commensurate with a tenured faculty position.Evidence of excellence in teaching, including knowledge of inclusive and active teaching practices.Preferred QualificationsBroad knowledge of contemporary urban planning, urban studies, or related subfields, including major trends and debates in history, theory, and practice. A focus on the U.S. is preferred, but we will also consider candidates with expertise in other world regions.A research profile that includes refereed publications in high-impact journals, presentations at national and international conferences and workshops, and success in securing competitive research funding.Demonstrated experience using innovative approaches to teaching in alternative formats including community-engaged studios, workshops, and capstones at the undergraduate and graduate levels.Experience in community-based, participatory, or advocacy research that addresses the needs of diverse, urban communities.Practical professional experience in the fields of urban planning and policy or subfields such as community development.Application ProcedureFor full consideration, please apply by August 21, 2026 via the UIC application system: (Job ID # 1041907). A completed on-line application and the following attachments are required for consideration: a cover letter of interest, curriculum vitae or resume, and contact information including email addresses of three references. For questions about the position, please contact Department Head Dr. Philip Ashton (View email address on click.appcast.io). Review of applications will begin on August 24, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an AccommodationArtificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.