Assistant Professors, Writing Studies (tenure track) – School of Journalism, Writing, and Media

The School of Journalism, Writing, and Media in the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, invites applications for two full-time, tenure-track positions at the rank of Assistant Professor, with the possibility that an exceptional candidate be appointed at the rank of Associate Professor, beginning July 1, 2021.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. JWAM is committed to research and pedagogy that responds to and addresses historic inequities and therefore welcomes applicants who would contribute to our ongoing efforts to create an open and diverse community, one that fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged in the field of writing and discourse studies. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

Applicants are required to have a Ph.D. in writing studies or a related field, and will have a record of outstanding research, commensurate with experience, in writing studies, with specializations in one or more of the following areas:

  • rhetorical genre studies
  • genres in the public sphere, including counter-public genres
  • ideologies of language
  • anti-racist and decolonial writing pedagogies
  • research methods for inquiring into current questions about public debate, privacy, and publicity
  • multimodal writing; digital and social media rhetoric
  • knowledge-making, knowledge-translation, and knowledge-mobilization

The School of Journalism, Writing, and Media, an exciting expansion of graduate and undergraduate programs known for their leadership in the fields of journalism and writing studies, offers research and teaching innovation in journalism and media, writing and communication, and knowledge-making and mobilization. Contributing to the development of scholarly and professional communication and media competencies across and beyond UBC, the School creates unique opportunities for students to succeed as practiced writers and media professionals in an era of significant shifts in communication technology and culture.

UBC is undergoing significant changes in writing and communication instruction. The School of Journalism, Writing, and Media will play a lead role in envisioning and implementing these changes. Building on existing initiatives, the successful candidates will work collaboratively to develop and deliver new courses within the School and new projects beyond it. The successful candidates will also take a crucial role in shaping the School’s research on and approaches to writing, media, and pedagogy.

The School currently offers two undergraduate courses (WRDS 150 and WRDS 350) that teach research writing to 5,000 students a year. We use writing-in-the-disciplines, genre-based, and discourse analytic approaches informed by current research in the field of rhetoric and writing studies.  The successful candidates will teach sections of WRDS 150 and WRDS 350 and new courses as they are developed. This teaching will involve student supervision at the undergraduate level. The successful candidates will also be expected to maintain an active program of research and publication.

If hired at the rank of Associate Professor, the successful candidate will also be expected to take on administrative duties in the School of Journalism, Writing, and Media and play a lead role in the development of the writing studies program.

Application materials must be submitted electronically as PDFs. Please follow the instructions provided on the application webpage:  https://asrw.arts.ubc.ca/working-with-us/faculty-openings/.
 Review of applications will begin on November 16, 2020 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should upload the following materials as PDFs, in the order listed:

  • a letter of application
  • curriculum vitae
  • 3 statements in the following order: (1) a statement of research (500 words max), (2) a statement detailing the applicant’s teaching philosophy (500 words max), and (3) a 500-word (maximum) statement about the applicant’s experience working with a diverse student body, the applicant’s contributions to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion, and how this experience might support the aim of our program to include diverse voices, perspectives, and knowledges.
  • a sample publication
  • evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., teaching evaluations, sample syllabi, peer reviews of teaching)
  • the names and contact information for 3 academic references. We will contact the referees of long-listed applicants for confidential reference letters.

Enquiries can be addressed to Dr. Laurie McNeill, Chair of the Search Committee, c/o Andrew Fong, at soj.admin@ubc.ca

Given uncertainty caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, applicants must be prepared to conduct interviews remotely if circumstances require. A successful applicant may be asked to consider an offer with a deadline without having been able to make an in-person visit to campus should travel or other restrictions apply.

UBC-Vancouver’s Point Grey Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam people, with whom UBC shares a framework Memorandum of Affiliation. For information relating to Indigenous initiatives that are available at UBC, visit the UBC Vancouver Indigenous portal at: https://indigenous.ubc.ca/

This position is subject to final budgetary approval. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

 


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