Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Poetry)

Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Poetry)

with Expertise in Literature of the Americas or Latinx/Chicanx Literature

Department Summary

The Department of English and Comparative Literature at San José State University seeks qualified candidates for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position teaching Poetry and other forms of Creative Writing to a diverse student body at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  The ideal candidate would have a deep understanding of the unique experiences and issues facing Latinx/Chicanx, Black, Indigenous, and other writers of color in the publishing world and beyond.

The successful applicant would join a department with ten other Assistant Professors, all of whom are currently enjoying course release time each semester specifically dedicated to their writing and research. Although a highly productive, creative and research-rich environment, we take our commitment to teaching very seriously and teach both MA and MFA students as well as four concentrations in our BA program, including one in Creative Writing.  Faculty and students also benefit from the presence of the Center for Literary Arts, bringing a diverse range of authors to our students, and Reed Magazine, the oldest student-run literary magazine west of the Mississippi.  See our website here: https://www.sjsu.edu/english/

This position is an excellent opportunity for a teacher-artist interested in launching a career within an institution that is a national leader in graduating historically underserved students. SJSU has achieved both HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and AANAPISI (Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution) status. Moreover, 40% of our student population are first-generation and 38% are Pell-qualified. As a result, we rank #1 nationally in increasing student upward mobility.

Required Qualifications

• PhD or MFA with at least one collection of poetry or a chapbook published and actively publishing poetry in literary magazines and journals.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a multicultural population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching and other comparable experience.
• Ability to teach Poetry workshops and other forms of Creative Writing to a diverse group of students in courses ranging from Introduction to Creative Writing to courses designed for MFA thesis writers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preparation to teach literature courses such as Literature of the Americas (including Caribbean or Latin American), Latinx/Chicanx literature, Literature of the Borderlands, or Topics in Ethnic American Literature.
• Interest in/ability to publish relevant scholarship in literary or cultural criticism in addition to creative writing.
• Understanding of the unique experiences and issues facing Latinx/Chicanx, Black, Indigenous, and other writers of color in the publishing world and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committee and other service assignments such as mentorship of MFA thesis writers.
• Teach approximately five courses a year during the probationary period.
• Design and teach introductory and advanced level creative writing workshops, as well as possible literature courses such as Literature for Global Understanding: The Americas, Multiethnic literature courses, or topics in Ethnic American literature.
• Develop and sustain an ongoing record of productivity as a publishing poet and other forms of professional engagement with the disciplines of creative writing and literature.
• Demonstrate awareness and experience understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, cultural background, ethnicity, primary language and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies and advisement.

Compensation - Commensurate with qualifications and experience. See Benefits Summary for details.

Starting Date: August 2021

Eligibility - Employment is contingent upon proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

Application Procedure

Apply at https://jobs.sjsu.edu/en-us/listing/   Reference JOID# 497805. 

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• letter of interest

• curriculum vitae
• statement of teaching philosophy and interest that specifically addresses how you are prepared to teach a diverse student population.
• a brief writing sample of no more than 6 poems (or ten pages of text), plus a statement of future writing or research plans
• three references with contact information

Apply by December 5, 2020.

Inquiries may be directed to the Department Chair – Noelle Brada-Williams at English@sjsu.edu or (408) 924-4439.