Government of Finland/David and Nancy Speer Visiting Professorship
The Government of Finland/David and Nancy Speer (GOF/DANS) Visiting Professorship was created in 1989 to stimulate interest in Finland; to raise awareness of unique and important Finnish contributions in cultural, political, and social spheres; and to establish new networks between scholars in Finland and the United States.
GOF/DANS professors work at the University of Minnesota for one to three years and have represented many fields of research across the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
GOF/DANS Visiting Professor
From Finland to Minnesota: A Perspective on Migration Studies
Karina Horsti, a visiting professor in the Department of Communication Studies, seeks to explore “how arts and creative multimodal research practices contribute to a critical understanding of forced migration.” Learn more about Dr. Horsti and her work.
Apply for the 2025-26 GOF/DANS Visiting Professorship
The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) at the University of Minnesota invites applications for a full-time, academic year appointment as Government of Finland/David and Nancy Speer Visiting Professor in Finnish Studies beginning fall semester 2025. This appointment is for academic year 2025/26 (25 August 2025 to 24 May 2026) with the possibility of renewal for one or two additional academic years.
Applications will be reviewed initially in Finland and interviews will be conducted by a committee appointed by the Ministry of Education and by representatives of the University of Minnesota.
The University of Minnesota is a major research university serving undergraduate and graduate students, and is the only PhD granting institution in the state of Minnesota. Its main campus is in the large metropolitan area of the Twin Cities: Minneapolis and St. Paul. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
The Government of Finland/David and Nancy Speer Visiting Professorship was created in 1989 to stimulate interest in Finland; to raise awareness of unique and important Finnish contributions in cultural, political, and social spheres; and to establish new networks between scholars in Finland and the United States. The visitor will be housed in a CLA department consistent with their degree and teaching experience. CLA is the collegiate home of the social sciences, humanities, and fine arts.
The University of Minnesota is currently soliciting applications from Finnish scholars whose work addresses one or more of the following interdisciplinary initiatives:
- Climate Change & Environmental Justice
- Refugees, Migrants, & Human Rights
- Threats to Democracy & Authoritarianism.
Preference will be given to candidates with expertise that extends and enhances current offerings at the University of Minnesota. We invite applications from across the social sciences, humanities, and fine arts, including—but not limited to—the visual arts, political science, history, literature, and digital media.
Climate Change and Environmental Justice
We encourage applications from individuals whose work addresses concerns about climate change and environmental justice. We are particularly interested in those whose work approaches these issues from a humanist perspective, addressing these complex issues through the multiple lenses of history, philosophy, literature, language, culture, religion, and the visual and performing arts.
Refugees, Migrants & Human Rights
We encourage applications from individuals whose work focuses on the migration of people, the global developments forcing people to seek refuge, the motivations and experiences of refugees and migrants, the impact of these migrations on sending and receiving communities, and the political, social, environmental, and cultural responses to human migration.
Authoritarianism & Threats to Democracy
We encourage applications from individuals whose work addresses the challenges faced by established and emerging democracies from rising authoritarianism, urban/rural divisions, and/or new security threats.
Full-time, nine-month academic year position at the rank of visiting professor, visiting associate professor, or visiting assistant professor, based on the rank held at the home institution. Scholars from non-academic institutions will be appointed depending on qualifications and experience, and consistent with collegiate and University policy. Appointment will be in a CLA department that is consistent with the applicant’s degree and teaching interests.
CLA faculty members are expected to maintain an active program of research and/or creative activity. The visiting professor will teach no more than three courses per academic year at the undergraduate and/or graduate level (including seminars) arranged according to the candidate’s expertise, curricular needs of the department, and in consideration of the mission of the professorship.
The visiting professor will also organize and coordinate scholarly and creative outreach activities; participate in efforts to promote wider interest in Finland; and strengthen ties between Finland, the University, and the arts, business, or political communities in the greater Minnesota region.
Initial term of appointment is for academic year 2025-26 (25 August 2025 to 24 May 2026). Appointment is annually renewable for up to two additional years, subject to performance and availability of funding. The University is especially interested in receiving applications from candidates willing to teach at Minnesota for two to three years. Salary is competitive, based on qualifications and experience. Benefits are commensurate with visiting faculty appointments.
Candidates should send:
- a letter of application
- curriculum vitae (including publications)
- a two-page statement of research and teaching interests with an explanation of how these interests will contribute to the development of multidisciplinary Finnish Studies
- names and addresses of three references.
All materials should be sent by e-mail to [email protected] with a heading “Government of Finland/David and Nancy Speer Visiting Professorship in Finnish Studies.”
Please note that all application materials must be submitted in English.
For technical questions about the position, please contact Dr. Ryynänen-Karjalainen at [email protected] For further substantive information or questions about the position, please contact Dr. Evelyn Davidheiser, assistant dean for international programs, College of Liberal Arts and director of the Institute for Global Studies, University of Minnesota at at [email protected].