Job Opening: One-Year Visiting Instructor of Japanese History

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Paula

job opening - 5Institution:   Western Washington University, History
Location:   Washington, United States
Position:   Non-Tenure Track Faculty, One-Year Visiting Instructor – Japan

One-Year Visiting Instructor – Japan

Department of History

Position/Salary:

One-year Visiting Instructor/Assistant Professor of History beginning on September 16, 2015, through June 15, 2016.  The position is open to historians of Japan.

Department:

The Department of History at Western Washington University consists of nineteen tenured or tenure-track faculty whose courses serve a very active history major and make significant contributions to the university’s general education curriculum. History courses cover nearly every historical era and much of the globe. The department encourages its faculty to participate in interdisciplinary programs such as East Asian Studies, Women Gender and Sexuality Studies, International Studies, Latin American Studies, Canadian-American Studies, and the Honors program. Faculty in the department provide high quality courses that prepare majors and non-majors with skills in research, analysis, and writing. The department likewise houses a small but strong M.A. program in history and a nationally recognized M.A. program in Archives and Records Management.
University/Location:

Apply online at http://www.wwu.edu/hr/employment/docs/infoforapplicants/InstructionsforApplyingOnline-VacPool.pdf and have letters of reference sent directly to:

Jennie Huber, Administrative Services Manager
Department of History, MS 9061
Western Washington University
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA  98225-9061

Jennie.Huber@wwu.edu

Materials must be received by May 1, 2015

Other Information: For general questions contact the Department Administrator Jennie Huber at (360) 650-3457or e-mail jennie.huber@wwu.edu.

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Book Announcement: Cartographic Traditions in East Asian Maps

Posted on April 19, 2015 by LM

peggcartographicVia UH Press.

Cartographic Traditions in East Asian Maps
Editor: Richard A. Pegg
University of Hawai’i Press
2014 | 140 pages | 130 color illustrations
Cloth | ISBN 978-0-8248-4765-4 | $40.00

BioMaps are the manifestation of an intellectual construct of physical and metaphysical environments. They are rich cultural objects presenting and transmitting information about time and place of production. A map is not neutral – it is an interactive, constructed representation of space as perceived and presented by its maker and then interpreted by the viewer. Maps thus reveal methodological relationships between artistic and scientific approaches, aesthetics and functionality and form and content in the context of visual culture. And given their subjective nature, maps reproduce the views or perspectives of their makers.

Cartographic Traditions in East Asian Maps is focused on a group of maps from the MacLean Collection, one of the world’s largest private collections of maps. The maps presented here are in a wide range of medium and formats including screens, wall maps, sheet maps, pocket maps, case maps and map plates. They are eighteenth and nineteenth-century maps from the late Qing dynasty in China, the Joseon dynasty in Korea and the Edo and Meiji periods in Japan illustrating late traditions in the region’s history. Each of the three chapters examines one of the three principal regions of East Asia and begins with overall regional maps, then local city maps of Beijing, Edo, Yokohama and Kyoto, respectively, or the eight provinces of Korea.

This book provides some of the particular practices and relationships between text and image in East Asian map making that are unique in world cartography. Often particular map making characteristics are not recognized as unique within their own cultural contexts, and so it is only through the process of comparing and contrasting that these qualities emerge. This survey of selected maps proves extremely useful in revealing certain similarities and distinctive differences in the representations of space, both real and imagined, in early modern cartographic traditions of China, Korea and Japan. In addition, as this was a period that Western nations were applying pressure on Asia to open for trade, religion and diplomacy, the introduction of Western cartographic methodologies during the early modern period of East Asia, along with some of the resulting changes, is also discussed.

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Job Opening: Assistant Director – International Recruitment & Admissions, Tacoma Community College

Posted on April 18, 2015 by LM

Institution: Tacoma Community College
Location: Tacoma, WA
Application Due: 04/27/2015
Type: Full Time
Education: BA required, MA preferred

The position is responsible for international student marketing and recruitment. This position reports directly to the Director of International Programs.

  • Recruit, unconditionally, students from all backgrounds, regardless of ethnicity, socio-economic status, or gender, as well as through respectful interactions with other TCC representatives in compliance with TCC’s Non-Discrimination Policy.
  • Respond to inquiries from students, staff and the public regarding international student services programs.
  • Develop annual marketing plan and establish yearly travel proposal.
  • Communicate with the campus community regarding events and new developments in the International office.
  • Coordinate overseas student recruitment advertisements.
  • Select overseas publications; work with the TCC Marketing department or contracted designer to develop overseas publicity for both electronic and hard copy; manage budget and billing for promotions.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with prospective students and TCC alumni; attend fairs to promote TCC; follow up on all visits with appropriate correspondence to prospective students and agencies.
  • Establish travel itineraries and complete necessary travel documents within Washington State purchasing and travel guidelines.
  • Develop relationships with overseas agents and various agencies (consulate offices) as appropriate; provide information about TCC as requested.
  • Develop relationships with local high schools and recruit international transfer students.
  • Create and maintain all necessary contracts, records, and department related databases.
  • Work with the Information Systems department to update information on the TCC website and lead the international database projects.
  • Work directly with the Admissions Specialist to help problem solve admission issues.
  • Coordinate commission payment structure and timeline with the Admissions Specialist.
  • Have basic knowledge of F-1 visa process and I-20 rules and regulations in accordance with SEVIS Immigration policies.
  • Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing, International Relations, Student Affairs, Education, Human Development, Student Personnel Administration, or related field from and accredited college or university.
  • Two (2) years of experience in international business, Higher Education, student development, recruiting, or related field.
  • Fluency in a foreign language.
  • Computer literacy and experience with business management software.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Masters degree in Business, Marketing, International Relations, Student Affairs, Education, Human Development, Student Personnel Administration, or related field from and accredited college or university.
  • Fluency in Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese.
  • Experience in strategic planning and marketing development.
  • Supervisory experience.

Conditions of Employment

  • Successfully complete a criminal history background check.

The Successful Candidate Must Demonstrate

  • A history of innovative, change management.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with students, faculty, staff and external community partners.
  • Commitment to a diverse community.
  • Ability to solve problems effectively and quickly.
  • Ethics and integrity, and sound professional judgment.
  • An appreciation of diversity and the benefits of a commitment to cultural awareness and sensitivity in the workplace.
  • Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with students, colleagues and staff representing diverse ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic and learning abilities.
  • Commitment to functioning as an effective team member.
  • Knowledge of academic and student support activities that promote student learning, orientation to college systems and academic success.
  • Knowledge of the principles associated with a learning-centered college.
  • Excellent writing and communication skills.

Full details on HigherEdJobs.com.

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Job Opening: Seattle Asian Art Museum and Gardner Center Coordinator [Part Time]

Posted on April 18, 2015 by LM

job opening - 5Institution: Seattle Asian Art Museum and Gardner Center
Location: Seattle, WA
Type: Part time, Tuesday – Friday, average 22 hours/week. Occasional evenings, and regular Saturday mornings in Fall & Winter are required.
Education: BA required
Deadline: open until filled

OVERVIEW: Provide administrative and communications support to the Gardner Center and Asian Art Department at the Asian Art Museum.
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt/Part-Time REPORTS TO: Director, Gardner Center & Curator of Japanese and Korean Art

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Gardner Center

  • Assist the Gardner Center for Asian Art and Ideas in program preparation, event coordination, meetings, budgets, and marketing. Respond to general Gardner Center email and phone messages.
  • Manage program information and logistics internally, including use of the SAM events database and Events web. Coordinate ticket sales with Admissions and Customer Service staff.
  • Coordinate with Communications department on production of Gardner Center and SAM e-newsletters, updating SAM website event calendar, and VP program signage, including preliminary editing. Submit program descriptions and images as needed. Coordinate with designer, printer and post office for sending Gardner Center brochures. Maintain, organize and further develop an ongoing Gardner Center mailing list. Create bulk mailing lists.
  • Manage program arrangements with presenters: arrange travel and hotel accommodations, maintain information on program spreadsheets, send and receive independent contractor agreements and W9s, disbursement requests for honoraria. Coordinate with Accounts Payable Lead for expense approvals and disbursements.
  • Support Saturday University lecture series in set up, scheduling, web content management, signage and program hand-outs, and day-of operations. Purchase and schedule low cost coffee and tea for each lecture. Asian Art Department
  • Assist Curatorial Division and Curators at the Asian Art Museum in preparation of information as well as documents for exhibitions and programs.
  • Arrange appointments as well as maintain the Department calendar and VP program calendar. Schedule travel arrangements for curators, visiting parties, special events, and meetings related to the Asian Art Department Curatorial staff.
  • Handle incoming curatorial requests including valuation, donation, exhibition and artist requests. Coordinate appropriate response through curator.
  • Maintain AAM community partnerships including Ikebana International, Calligraphy Club among others. Provide professional and timely information and assistance and build and maintain positive relationships with contacts.
  • Act as museum liaison with Ikebana International; schedule and reserve rooms for Ikebana International events. Inspect Ikebana and other plant materials entering the Asian Art Museum. Coordinate annual Ikebana International Show each spring.
  • Serve as administrator for the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy interactive site. Approve scholar requests, monitor comments and forward to appropriate staff for response. General Office Management
  • Manage payments and deposits, track expenditures and monthly budget reports. Manage the Asian Art Museum credit card; collect receipts, code appropriately and allocate transactions via online banking site.
  • Maintain printer and other office machines and make service calls as needed. Maintain office supplies.
  • Sort mail and send to appropriate individuals. Respond to general inquiries in a timely manner.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

  • Bachelor of Arts degree and two (2) years of administrative support experience, or increased experience with no degree. Familiarity with databases desired.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Energetic self-starter.
  • Familiarity with Asian language and culture a plus.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
  • Knowledge of budget system procedures and digital communications processes.
  • Organizational ability with strong office management skills and event coordination skills.
  • Ability to take initiative and prioritize multiple competing tasks; excellent time management, problem solving, and analytical skills.
  • Ability to work with close attention to detail and to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
  • Ability to work with donors, members, the public, and co-workers professionally and tactfully, represent the Museum with a high level of integrity and conform to the code of ethics governing the museum profession.
  • Possess a neat, punctual, alert, and accurate work ethic.

See original posting on SAM careers website.

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Fun Link Friday: Ikuta Niyoko’s Geometric Sculptures

Posted on April 17, 2015 by LM

In this week’s Fun Link, relax by looking at the intricate laminated glass sculptures of Ikuta Niyoko.

Niyoko Ikeda. Via Colossal, via Art Ruby.

Niyoko Ikeda. Via Colossal, via Art Ruby.

I am captivated by the complexity of light as it reflects, refracts, and passes through broken cross sections of plate glass. In 1980 I began making artwork by laminating sheets of glass using adhesive and exposing the cross sections. My motifs are derived from feelings of gentleness and harshness, fear, limitless expansion experienced through contact with nature, images from music, ethnic conflict, the heart affected by joy and anger, and prayer. In creating my pieces it is like imagining an architectural space when viewing blueprints, deciding on an image by reading into the intentions of the architect, or imbuing a space with dynamic energy to bring it to life.

Check out more of her art on Colossal and Art Ruby.

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Job Opening: Study Away Advisor and Program Liaison, Pacific Lutheran University

Posted on April 16, 2015 by LM

job opening - 5Institution: Pacific Lutheran University
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posted: 04/08/2015
Application Due: Open Until Filled
Type: Full Time
Education: BA required, MA preferred

General Description:
The Wang Center Study Away Advisor and Program Liaison’s primary responsibilities include advising students on their options for semester study away and supporting the ongoing implementation of PLU Gateway Programs. Additional duties include the coordination, implementation and support of the Returner Reflection program, supervision of the Sojourner Advocate peer-advisors and lead on managing the Wang Center website and social media as well as support ongoing implementation of online application system. Reports to Executive Director, and serves as a member of the Wang Center team.

Closing Date:
This search will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified.

Work Schedule:
FT; Mon – Fri; 8am – 5pm. Some evenings and weekends required.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

  • Advise students regarding options for semester and year-long study away opportunities.
  • Assist in advising, marketing, recruitment, orientation, budget administration, and ongoing assessment of PLU’s study away programs.
  • Serve as the primary liaison to international education organizations and the recruiting and marketing of such programs as appropriate to majors in disciplines not served by programs owned and operated by PLU.
  • Coordinate Fall Study Away Fair.
  • Coordinate, implement, and support study away returner programs.
  • Support and coordination of study away assessment activities.
  • Supervision of student workers.
  • Provide support for the website, social media and online application systems.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of, and commitment to, the Wang Center’s and PLU’s global education mission.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication, listening, and interpretive skills.
  • Excellent time management and organizational skills.
  • Cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity.
  • Attention to detail and strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to be a proactive, self-starter while managing multiple projects.
  • Sensitivity to the concerns and needs of diverse student populations.
  • Experience with social media.
  • Ability and willingness to travel.
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in fast-paced team environment.
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Required Qualifications:

  1. 2 years experience working with undergraduate students and faculty.
  2. Bachelor’s Degree.
  3. Finalist candidates must satisfactorily complete pre-employment background checks.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master’s Degree.
  • Experience living, studying, working and traveling overseas.
  • Foreign language proficiency highly desirable.

For full details, see posting on HigherEdJobs.com.

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Job Opening: Japan Summer Resident Director, American Councils [summer – temp]

Posted on April 16, 2015 by LM

job opening - 5Via JetWit Jobs Mailing List.

Institution: American Councils
Location: Washington DC
Education: BA or higher in Japanese studies, related field
ANTICIPATED EMPLOYMENT DATES: Early June – August 2015

Summer Resident Director, Japan 11.14

SUMMARY:
American Councils is currently seeking a qualified Resident Director to work in Japan on an eight-week summer program for undergraduate and graduate students. The program is focused on the acquisition of Japanese language and culture in an immersion setting.

Resident Directors represent American Councils on programs overseas. The Resident Director will work with the host institution, managing communications between American Councils, program participants and local staff, arranging logistics for the group, advising participants as required and resolving medical and other issues as necessary.

The Resident Director must be available to program participants on a daily basis; observe classes at the host institution; meet regularly with teachers, administrators, and participants; and arrange group travel and cultural programs. The Resident Director must be available to participants during any emergencies that arise and must communicate regularly with the American Councils program staff in Washington, DC. The Resident Director oversees a small program budget, and is responsible for proper documentation of program expenditures and timely completion of a budget report at the end of each month and end of the program.

Prior to departure, the Resident Director is required to complete an orientation program for overseas staff. The Resident Director may be asked to travel with his/her participant group at the beginning and end of the program; the Resident Directors may also be asked to travel to the program site in advance of the students’ arrival. Resident Directors report to the DC-based Program Manager and staff. All offers are contingent upon ability to receive and maintain a visa to the host country.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Advising program participants as needed;
  • Reporting on program activities to program staff in Washington, D.C;
  • Responding to participant emergencies, including assisting participants with navigating local clinics and hospitals;
  • Liaising with the host institution and local program staff;
  • Observing the academic program;
  • Arranging group travel and cultural programs;
  • Maintaining adherence to program rules and policies among participants—this may include a no-English policy;
  • Managing a small budget of program funds and maintaining detailed financial documentation, including monthly reports;
  • Communicating with host families and working with students and local staff to resolve any programs related to host families;
  • Tagging photographs and videos collected from students and local CLS staff;
  • Completing a pre-departure orientation and training session;
  • Resolving other program-related issues as necessary; and
  • Performing other program-related tasks as directed.
  • Working with host families, which may include selection and monitoring of host families (varies by program);
  • Resolving other program-related issues as necessary; and
  • Performing other program-related tasks as directed.

QUALIFICATIONS:
· Bachelor’s degree or higher in Japanese, area studies or a related field;
· Advanced written and oral language skills (minimum 2/2+ on ACTFL scale) in Japanese
· Study, work, or extensive travel experience in Japan;
· Experience working in a position of authority with high school, undergraduate, or graduate students;
· Experience overseeing and guiding groups;
· Demonstrated skills in academic and personal counseling; and
· Demonstrated skills in general financial accountability.

Full details and application on American Councils’ posting.

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Book Announcement: Promising Practices: Women Volunteers in Contemporary Japanese Religious Civil Society

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Paula

PracticesPromising Practices: Women Volunteers in Contemporary Japanese Religious Civil Society

Based upon a survey of five Japanese faith-based volunteer groups, the book offers insights and fresh perspectives into the ways women’s participation in religious civic organizations may work as a gateway toward participatory democracy. The volume examines how faith-based volunteering is experienced by women in contemporary Japan and how it becomes a site of empowering and disempowering practices through which women balance the benefits and the costs of personal shifts, socio-economic changes and democratic transformation. The book will be of valuable contribution for those focusing on gender studies in Japan and for those working in the growing interdisciplinary field of religious civil society.

The detail of the book can be found at: http://www.brill.com/products/book/promising-practices-women-volunteers-contemporary-japanese-religious-civil-society

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Job Opening: Visiting Assistant Professor of East Asian History

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Paula

job opening - 5Institution:   Sam Houston State University, History Department
Location:   Texas, United States
Position:   Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Visiting Assistant Professor – East Asian History

The Department of History at Sam Houston State University invites applications for a Visiting Assistant Professor position in East Asian History for the academic year 2015-2016. Research field, period, and geographical specialization are open. The department is seeking an active scholar whose teaching areas will include upper-level classes in East Asian history and the world history survey. The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in History in hand before the appointment begins in August 2015.

To apply, visit https://shsu.peopleadmin.com/ and upload a letter of application addressed to Dr. Charles V. Heath, Search Committee Chair, vita, one sample undergraduate syllabus that addresses the history of East Asia, and a writing sample. The syllabus and writing sample should be submitted to the “writing sample” link as one file. In addition, three letters of recommendation are to be sent to this email address: historysearch@shsu.edu. Review of applications will begin on 1 May 2015 and continue until the position is filled. You may also access the job link at: http://shsu.peopleadmin.com/postings/12482.

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Fun Link Friday: Japanese Life in Lego

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Paula

Last week we featured a Fun Link Friday of Suntory Whisky’s advertising through manufacturing high-tech 3-D ice cubes of fantastic things like the Golden Pavilion or Godzilla, but sometimes you need to appreciate the low-tech options, too. 🙂

At the end of last year, Tokyo Desu featured a neat post on building images of life in Japan using Legos. They gathered these images from a lot of different sources, but it’s fabulous to see them all gathered together. The images range from your classic sakura trees to sushi and giant oni (ogres). Be sure to check out the original article and see them all, along with links to the original sources where you can see more!

castle

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