Assistant Professor of Creative Writing—Poetry

The Department of English seeks a poet for a tenure-track assistant professor position to begin August 16, 2021. M.F.A. or Ph.D. in creative writing and college teaching experience required.

Our department has committed to sustained antiracist work in areas including hiring, curricula, pedagogy, and the recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff.  This search is part of a cohort of three departmental hires this year (Creative Writing--Poetry, Creative Writing--Non-Fiction, and Professional Writing) intended to increase faculty diversity and to help further our goals of promoting equity and inclusivity across the department.

The successful candidate will carry a 2/2 load in the first year and a 3/2 (or 2/3) load in subsequent years. Teaching assignments will include introductory creative writing classes, intermediate and advanced poetry workshops, and directing creative theses in poetry for our M.A. students. The candidate will help to curate the department’s Price Caldwell Visiting Writers Series and the Institute for the Humanities’ Writer-in-Residence Program (recent visitors for these programs include Joy Harjo, Rita Dove, Dorothy Allison, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Marcus Wicker, Maggie Smith, Jess Walter, and Terrance Hayes). The candidate will also have the option of editing the literary journal Jabberwock Review, which comes with a course release.

Publications and professional service are required for tenure and promotion. Salary will be competitive. Affordable faculty housing is usually available in the first year of employment.

Interested candidates should submit an application online at https://www.msujobs.msstate.edu/ along with a cover letter, CV, and writing sample of up to 10 pages of poetry. For further information about this position, please contact Dan Punday, department head and search committee chair, at dpunday@english.msstate.edu. Application review will begin on Dec. 1 and continue until filled. MSU is a public, land-grant institution and is classified as a “very high research activity” university by the Carnegie Foundation.

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.


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