Chair Professor of Department of Fine Arts (Ryerson University )

Posted: February 3, 2026 Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Position Overview Located in downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada, and situated on the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas of the Credit and the Wendat Peoples, the School of Professional Communications in The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Indigenous Sovereignty, Creative, Health, and Well-Being. Conditional upon a successful CRC application and subject to final budgetary approval, the successful candidate will be appointed to a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, effective July 1, 2027. An appointment at the Associate rank will be subject to a successful completion of the tenure process at TMU. Candidates who hold tenure at their current institution may be considered for an appointment at the Associate rank with tenure. Eligibility and Indigenous Identity Requirement This position is restricted to candidates who self-identify in the Applicant Diversity Self-ID questionnaire in the recruitment portal as First Nations, Métis, Inuit peoples, or Indigenous peoples of North America. Indigenous hires for faculty positions at TMU are required to successfully complete an affirmation process. This process involves candidates providing relevant documentation to support the claim of Indigenous identity and participating in discussions with the University’s Indigenous Human Resources Lead in order to share relevant information about their lived experience. Canada Research Chairs Program The Canada Research Chairs Program is a federally funded program that seeks to achieve excellence by attracting and retaining the most accomplished and promising researchers. The Tier 2 CRC is intended for exceptional emerging scholars; candidates must have been active researchers in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination. Further details on the CRC eligibility criteria can be found on the CRC Program’s “Nominate a Chair” webpage. In collaboration with TMU, the successful candidate will develop the CRC application for the October 20, 2026 deadline. The CRC Tier 2 appointment is tenable for five years and renewable once. All nominations are subject to review and final approval by the CRC Secretariat. Research Focus and Role We seek an outstanding emerging scholar in Professional Communication with a strong background in Indigenous studies, health communication, and creative practice. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of research that centres Indigenous knowledge systems, cultural practices, and community-based approaches to health and well-being. The CRC will become a full member of the School of Professional Communication at The Creative School and will teach courses in both undergraduate and graduate programs. The CRC in Indigenous Creative Sovereignty, Health, and Well-Being aims to actively work on campus and with community partners to develop collaborative research partnerships with Indigenous artists, knowledge keepers, cultural practitioners, and health organizations. The CRC will demonstrate expertise in examining how Indigenous creative and cultural practices sustain community health, wellness, and resurgence. It will also advance applied, community-driven research that integrates Indigenous creativity into healthcare education, policy, and service delivery. Duties and Expectations The successful candidate will engage in a combination of research, teaching, and service duties, and maintain an inclusive, equitable, and collegial work environment across all activities. The incumbent will be expected to: Develop and maintain a strong, independent, externally funded research program that will be internationally recognized in five to ten years Mentor and support diverse trainees, students, future researchers and colleagues Organize workshops, co-author papers, obtain patents, and contribute to public policy and professional practice Effectively teach undergraduate and graduate courses Engage in collegial service Qualifications Candidates must hold a Doctoral degree or equivalent recognized research/creative record in Indigenous Studies, Communication, Fine Arts, Health Humanities, or a related discipline, in accordance with the School’s requirements. Nominees for Tier 2 Chair positions should, at a minimum, be Assistant or Associate Professors or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these ranks. Candidates must also: be excellent emerging world-class researchers who have demonstrated particular research creativity, in accordance with the CRC Program guidelines; have demonstrated the potential to achieve international recognition in their field(s) in the next five to ten years; have the potential to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers; be proposing an original, innovative research program of high quality; have demonstrated excellence and leadership in research, creative practice, or community engagement related to Indigenous knowledge systems, creative expression, and health; have a record of external research funding, peer-reviewed publications, exhibitions, or equivalent creative outputs; have experience in community-based or participatory research methodologies grounded in Indigenous worldviews; provide evidence of meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, artists, Elders, and/or health practitioners; have demonstrated commitment to Indigenization, decolonial praxis, reconciliation, and culturally safe research practices; have the potential to attract diverse world-class collaborators; have a record of commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in leadership, teaching and research; demonstrate the ability to effectively teach students with diverse backgrounds and experiences; demonstrate the ability to participate in leadership activities in collegial service; have experience developing or leading interdisciplinary collaborations between Indigenous communities, the arts, and health sectors; be familiar with Indigenous cultural safety frameworks in healthcare education or policy; and have the ability to mentor students and early-career researchers in Indigenous and creative research methodologies. Recognition of Diverse Scholarly Contributions TMU recognizes a broad spectrum of scholarly contributions, including community-engaged, creative, practice-based, interdisciplinary, and other non-traditional forms of research and knowledge mobilization. TMU also recognizes that scholars have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions. Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree may have their eligibility assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. Salary and Employment Terms This position falls under the jurisdiction of the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA). Assistant Professor minimum salary: $103,916.30 per annum Associate Professor minimum salary: $131,194.32 per annum Salary will be commensurate with qualifications. Equity, Security, and Compliance The selection process will follow TMU’s Canada Research Chair Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. TMU is required to implement and comply with: Ontario Ministry of Colleges Universities Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) research security mandate Government of Canada’s Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) Working at Toronto Metropolitan University Serving a highly diverse student population of over 45,000, TMU offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs built on the integration of theoretical and practical learning. TMU is committed to a people-first culture, equity, diversity and inclusion, Truth and Reconciliation, confronting Anti-Black Racism, and accessibility for persons with disabilities. School of Professional Communication The School of Professional Communication consists of twenty tenure-stream faculty members and offers innovative Bachelor and Master’s programs that integrate theory and practice. As an interdisciplinary School, ProCom focuses on creative and critical communication approaches across digital, discursive, and social contexts. How to Apply Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal by March 31, 2026, 11:59pm. Required materials include: Letter of application Curriculum vitae Research statement and CRC research proposal Examples of research activities and outcomes Teaching statement and teaching dossier Names and contact information of three referees Equity, diversity and inclusion statement Candidates selected for further consideration will be required to provide documentation supporting their Indigenous identity. Contacts Confidential inquiries may be directed to: Department Hiring Committee Chair: Kisha McPherson CRC Nomination Process: Dayle Levine Research Security: An Chi Lee Equity-Deserving Groups: Debbie Thompson Indigenous HR Lead: James McKay If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Adminoxy

Posted: February 3, 2026
Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Position Overview

Located in downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada, and situated on the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas of the Credit and the Wendat Peoples, the School of Professional Communications in The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Indigenous Sovereignty, Creative, Health, and Well-Being.

Conditional upon a successful CRC application and subject to final budgetary approval, the successful candidate will be appointed to a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, effective July 1, 2027. An appointment at the Associate rank will be subject to a successful completion of the tenure process at TMU. Candidates who hold tenure at their current institution may be considered for an appointment at the Associate rank with tenure.

Eligibility and Indigenous Identity Requirement

This position is restricted to candidates who self-identify in the Applicant Diversity Self-ID questionnaire in the recruitment portal as First Nations, Métis, Inuit peoples, or Indigenous peoples of North America.

Indigenous hires for faculty positions at TMU are required to successfully complete an affirmation process. This process involves candidates providing relevant documentation to support the claim of Indigenous identity and participating in discussions with the University’s Indigenous Human Resources Lead in order to share relevant information about their lived experience.

Canada Research Chairs Program

The Canada Research Chairs Program is a federally funded program that seeks to achieve excellence by attracting and retaining the most accomplished and promising researchers.

The Tier 2 CRC is intended for exceptional emerging scholars; candidates must have been active researchers in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination. Further details on the CRC eligibility criteria can be found on the CRC Program’s “Nominate a Chair” webpage.

In collaboration with TMU, the successful candidate will develop the CRC application for the October 20, 2026 deadline. The CRC Tier 2 appointment is tenable for five years and renewable once. All nominations are subject to review and final approval by the CRC Secretariat.

Research Focus and Role

We seek an outstanding emerging scholar in Professional Communication with a strong background in Indigenous studies, health communication, and creative practice.

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of research that centres Indigenous knowledge systems, cultural practices, and community-based approaches to health and well-being. The CRC will become a full member of the School of Professional Communication at The Creative School and will teach courses in both undergraduate and graduate programs.

The CRC in Indigenous Creative Sovereignty, Health, and Well-Being aims to actively work on campus and with community partners to develop collaborative research partnerships with Indigenous artists, knowledge keepers, cultural practitioners, and health organizations. The CRC will demonstrate expertise in examining how Indigenous creative and cultural practices sustain community health, wellness, and resurgence. It will also advance applied, community-driven research that integrates Indigenous creativity into healthcare education, policy, and service delivery.

Duties and Expectations

The successful candidate will engage in a combination of research, teaching, and service duties, and maintain an inclusive, equitable, and collegial work environment across all activities.

The incumbent will be expected to:

Develop and maintain a strong, independent, externally funded research program that will be internationally recognized in five to ten years
Mentor and support diverse trainees, students, future researchers and colleagues
Organize workshops, co-author papers, obtain patents, and contribute to public policy and professional practice
Effectively teach undergraduate and graduate courses
Engage in collegial service

Qualifications

Candidates must hold a Doctoral degree or equivalent recognized research/creative record in Indigenous Studies, Communication, Fine Arts, Health Humanities, or a related discipline, in accordance with the School’s requirements.

Nominees for Tier 2 Chair positions should, at a minimum, be Assistant or Associate Professors or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these ranks.

Candidates must also:

be excellent emerging world-class researchers who have demonstrated particular research creativity, in accordance with the CRC Program guidelines;
have demonstrated the potential to achieve international recognition in their field(s) in the next five to ten years;
have the potential to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers;
be proposing an original, innovative research program of high quality;
have demonstrated excellence and leadership in research, creative practice, or community engagement related to Indigenous knowledge systems, creative expression, and health;
have a record of external research funding, peer-reviewed publications, exhibitions, or equivalent creative outputs;
have experience in community-based or participatory research methodologies grounded in Indigenous worldviews;
provide evidence of meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, artists, Elders, and/or health practitioners;
have demonstrated commitment to Indigenization, decolonial praxis, reconciliation, and culturally safe research practices;
have the potential to attract diverse world-class collaborators;
have a record of commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in leadership, teaching and research;
demonstrate the ability to effectively teach students with diverse backgrounds and experiences;
demonstrate the ability to participate in leadership activities in collegial service;
have experience developing or leading interdisciplinary collaborations between Indigenous communities, the arts, and health sectors;
be familiar with Indigenous cultural safety frameworks in healthcare education or policy; and
have the ability to mentor students and early-career researchers in Indigenous and creative research methodologies.

Recognition of Diverse Scholarly Contributions

TMU recognizes a broad spectrum of scholarly contributions, including community-engaged, creative, practice-based, interdisciplinary, and other non-traditional forms of research and knowledge mobilization.

TMU also recognizes that scholars have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions.

Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree may have their eligibility assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process.

Salary and Employment Terms

This position falls under the jurisdiction of the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA).

Assistant Professor minimum salary: $103,916.30 per annum
Associate Professor minimum salary: $131,194.32 per annum

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications.

Equity, Security, and Compliance

The selection process will follow TMU’s Canada Research Chair Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.

TMU is required to implement and comply with:

Ontario Ministry of Colleges Universities Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) research security mandate
Government of Canada’s Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC)
National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP)

Working at Toronto Metropolitan University

Serving a highly diverse student population of over 45,000, TMU offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs built on the integration of theoretical and practical learning.

TMU is committed to a people-first culture, equity, diversity and inclusion, Truth and Reconciliation, confronting Anti-Black Racism, and accessibility for persons with disabilities.

School of Professional Communication

The School of Professional Communication consists of twenty tenure-stream faculty members and offers innovative Bachelor and Master’s programs that integrate theory and practice. As an interdisciplinary School, ProCom focuses on creative and critical communication approaches across digital, discursive, and social contexts.