Assistant Professor of English in Composition & Rhetoric, Director of Writing Center

Assistant Professor of English in Composition & Rhetoric, Director of Writing Center

University of Massachusetts Boston

The University of Massachusetts Boston invites applications for a new tenure-track assistant professor position, in composition & rhetoric, who will serve as Director of the Writing Center. The position begins September 1, 2021. The normal teaching load of tenure-track faculty is 2 courses per semester and the hired faculty member will receive appropriate course load reductions while serving as Director.

We seek an outstanding scholar-teacher, with expertise in composition and rhetoric and active participation in the field of writing center studies, to direct a writing center, based in the English department, which serves undergraduate and graduate students across the university. Competitive candidates will have a robust research agenda in writing studies, composition and rhetoric, and/or writing across the curriculum or writing in the disciplines; a demonstrated interest in writing center theory and practice; and a vision for how a successful writing center can contribute to a vibrant culture of writing at a diverse public university.

We especially invite candidates who have experience teaching writing in postsecondary contexts, a record of leadership in writing center positions, and experience working with academic support programs. Strong candidates will also have experience training writing tutors and working directly with diverse student writers.

The writing center at UMass Boston provides various programs of support for undergraduate and graduate student writers across composition, degree, and ESL programs. The Director’s responsibilities each semester will include making budgetary decisions, maintaining partnerships throughout the campus and broader writing community, and communicating the mission of the center to campus stakeholders.

With the help of a dedicated writing center staff, the Director will recruit, educate, mentor, and assess writing center tutors; grow and maintain writing center resources and services; coordinate programming and special events; conduct ongoing assessment; and provide professional development opportunity to tutors and staff.

The only public university in the city, UMass Boston is a lively urban institution that serves the most diverse student body in New England. In addition to serving all university undergraduates through our general education and First-Year Composition programs, our dynamic English department includes over 375 undergraduate English majors and minors, 60 English MA students, and 30 MFA students in fiction and poetry.   

The English Department is committed to diversity, inclusivity, and equity through research, teaching, and community engagement. We particularly welcome applications from candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds. Scholars of color and members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy are particularly encouraged to apply.

Minimum Requirements:  Ph.D. in English, Rhetoric & Composition, Writing Studies, or related field. Candidates must have Ph.D. in hand by August 2021.

Application instructions:  Applications must be received online by November 15, 2020.  We request that applicants submit a cover letter, CV, and letters of recommendation. We expect to invite applicants for video interviews and questions may be sent to the chair of the search committee at matthew.davis@umb.edu         

Applications close: 15 Nov 2020 Eastern Standard Time

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

To apply, please visit: https://employmentopportunities.umb.edu/boston/en-us/job/506365/assistant-professor-of-english-in-composition-rhetoric-director-of-writing-center

The University of Massachusetts Boston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, genetic information, pregnancy or a pregnancy-related condition, or membership in any other protected class. The University of Massachusetts Boston complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the university operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

The University of Massachusetts Boston is committed to providing a safe and secure environment that is supported by qualified employees for all of its students, faculty and staff to carry out the University's teaching, research and public service missions. As a condition of employment, the University will conduct appropriate background check reviews. For more information, please see the University of Massachusetts Boston campus policy and procedures for employee background reviews.