Rhodes Professor of American History in Oxford

The Faculty of History is seeking applications from leaders in the history of the United States of America for the position of Rhodes Professor of American History. We are seeking to appoint a historian with an exceptional international profile and an outstanding record in academic leadership, citizenship and collaboration who will maintain and enhance the University’s intellectual reputation in this field.

Oxford provides world-leading research and teaching in American History with a proven track record in successfully educating the next generation of doctoral students whose work will shape the field in the future. The distinction of Oxford’s US historians, the strength of the Vere Harmsworth Library, and the fantastic resource of the Rothermere American Institute (RAI) mean that this is an area of significant and ongoing strategic investment for the University. The Rhodes Professorship of American History plays a key role in making the Faculty a leading international centre for the study of US history.

Providing leadership in teaching and research, the Chair will be expected to attract the best graduate students, develop ambitious plans for generating income through donors and research funding, and deliver high-quality impact via engagement with public audiences or policymakers.

The scope of this Chair covers United States history, including the colonial period, and we would seek to appoint the best candidate in any relevant sub-field. The History Faculty has a core group of academic postholders who teach across United States history from the eighteenth century to the present day, as well as a larger community of historians whose work intersects with the History of the United States. We have existing research strengths in the history of American politics, race, religion, gender, slavery, capitalism, Empire, and the US’s role in the world. We would especially welcome applications from those working on the twentieth century, where there is considerable student demand, or from those whose work offers synergies with other postholders in the Faculty working on Global and Imperial History, Women’s History, and the History of Sexuality, or with the Faculty’s long-standing strengths in modern British and European history and the Bodleian’s archival resources, especially in the Revolutionary era.

The Rhodes Professor will provide leadership in teaching and research, attract the best graduate students, develop ambitious plans for generating income through donors and research funding, and deliver high-quality impact through engagement with public audiences or policymakers.

Leaders in the history of the United States of America with an exceptional international profile and an outstanding record in academic leadership, citizenship and collaboration are encouraged to apply. We would appoint the best candidate in any relevant sub-field, with strengths across areas such as American politics, race, religion, gender, slavery, capitalism, Empire, and the US’s role in the world. Applications from those working on the twentieth century or whose work offers synergies with Global and Imperial History, Women’s History, the History of Sexuality, or with the Faculty’s strengths in modern British and European history and the Bodleian’s archival resources are particularly welcome.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon UK time on Monday 9 March 2026. Interviews are expected to be held in Oxford on 7 and 8 May 2026.

If you would like to discuss this post and find out more about joining the academic community at Oxford, please contact the Chair of the History Faculty Board, Professor Martin Conway, or for specific queries related to the field of American History, Professor Uta Balbier. All inquiries will be treated in strict confidence and will not form part of the selection decision.