Assistant Professor of English (Creative Writing - Fiction)

About the University: Western Washington University, with about 16,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of almost 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands, and the Cascade mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western is the highest-ranking public, master’s-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

About the Department: The department has 33 tenure-line faculty members and offers B.A. programs in Creative Writing and Literature with or without a secondary teaching endorsement, an M.F.A. program in Creative Writing, and an M.A. program in English Studies. The department also offers minors, including those in Film Studies and in Professional Writing, Literacies, and Rhetoric. The English Department supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity. To learn more about the Department of English visit https://chss.wwu.edu/english

About the Position: The Department of English invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning September 16, 2020. This is a position in creative writing, focused on teaching and creative activity in fiction.

Position Responsibilities: Standard quarter system teaching assignment (currently 2-2-2), with specialty courses at the undergraduate and M.F.A./M.A. levels; general education courses and other courses depending on the candidate’s interests and departmental needs; exemplary teaching, including fulfilling teaching responsibilities in ways that support an equitable and inclusive learning environment for students; a rigorous program of scholarly activity; service to the department through a range of activities including advising and contributions to the development of programs and curricula.

Required Qualifications:

• M.F.A. or Ph.D. in Creative Writing, English, or a related field at time of application OR ABD at time of application. If ABD, all degree requirements must be completed by June 15th of the first year of employment.
• Primary expertise in long-form speculative fiction
• Experience publishing and/or teaching in global indigenous literatures and/or postcolonial literatures (for example black speculative fiction, Latinx speculative fiction)
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching
• Significant record of publication in fiction
• Experience with cultivating learning environments that are equitable and inclusive of students with diverse social identities and backgrounds

Preferred Qualifications:

• Secondary expertise in multigenre writing and/or creative nonfiction writing
• Demonstrated expertise in any area of historically marginalized writing

Salary:  Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Bargaining Unit:  United Faculty of Western Washington

Application Instructions: To be considered for the position, application materials must be submitted via WWU’s PageUp application system. Please log into WWU’s PageUp application system and then give permission for pop-up windows from this site to fully utilize the online application system.

Candidates should upload a letter of application that addresses the required and preferred qualifications, CV, graduate transcripts, and the names and contact information of three references of whom we may request letters of recommendation. Application materials should clearly evidence how the applicant’s experience (academic or non-academic) has prepared them to effectively teach Western’s increasingly diverse student body.

Apply here: https://employment.wwu.edu/cw/en-us/job/497331/assistant-professor-of-english-creative-writing-fiction

Closing Date Notes: Position closes on November 1, 2019; applications must be received by this date. Screening interviews will take place via video conference in early winter. Finalist interviews will be conducted on campus.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Vice Provost for Equal Opportunity and Employment Diversity, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Equal Opportunity Office, Western Washington University, Old Main 345 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); eoo@wwu.edu