Director of the Deborah S. Ellis Writing Center

Director of the Deborah S. Ellis Writing Center

Southwestern University

 

Southwestern University invites applications for the position of Director of the Deborah S. Ellis Writing Center (DEWC).  This is a 10-month, full-time professional staff position.  Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, the position provides leadership within and is responsible for all operations of the DEWC. The DEWC is an undergraduate-staffed writing center where peer consultants work with students on all levels, in all disciplines, and at all points in the writing process. As part of its tactical plan, the University is in the process of reenvisioning the coordination of tutoring services for students; the Director of the Writing Center will play an integral role in this work. Professional development funds to support writing pedagogy are available.

Responsibilities:

  • Coordinating support for writers of all levels (from first-year to advanced), including students from diverse backgrounds with diverse learning needs
  • Leading and implementing the daily operations of the DEWC, which includes supervising, hiring, and training a staff of ten to fifteen undergraduate student consultants
  • Overseeing the DEWC website and other strategic marketing efforts, including social media
  • Planning and hosting DEWC events and workshops that offer guidance to student writers
  • Managing a budget that includes operational and payroll expenses
  • Creating and maintaining student and faculty resources to support writing practice and pedagogy
  • Managing and initiating new and ongoing Writing Center assessment and data collection processes, including knowledge of WCOnline as a scheduling and reporting system
  • Collaborating with other campus offices, including the Center for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship, to design and implement writing workshops and programs to meet the needs of the campus community
  • Providing support for faculty, including those teaching in the First-Year and Advanced-Entry Seminar programs, in planning and developing effective writing pedagogy for first-year writers and transfer students
  • Developing resources that support interdisciplinary writing pedagogy

Qualifications:  Master’s degree in English, Rhetoric, Composition, or a related field; minimum of three years work experience in a university writing center; demonstrated experience training student writing consultants and assessing writing programs; knowledge of writing in the disciplines/writing across the curriculum (WID/WAC) pedagogies; excellent organizational and management skills; demonstrated ability to work effectively with multiple constituencies as well as excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; experience in writing pedagogy and writing center theory; and commitment to the value of the liberal arts.  We are especially interested in attracting and hiring candidates from underrepresented groups as well as those with a demonstrated ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Preferred qualifications: PhD in English, Rhetoric, Composition, or a related field; experience in a university tutoring or learning center.

Southwestern University offers competitive salary and benefits including health, dental, life, long term disability, retirement, 15-paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, tuition assistance, access to athletic facilities, free parking and discounted meal rates.  Southwestern University is a selective, undergraduate institution committed to a broad-based liberal arts, sciences, and fine arts education.   Southwestern University is deeply committed to fostering a diverse educational environment and especially encourages applications from members of groups traditionally under-represented in academia.  For information concerning the University, visit our Website at www.southwestern.edu.

Application: The University will only accept application materials through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/88713.  Qualified applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three professional references.  The priority application deadline is June 30.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of the University’s Background Check Policy process.  Southwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  EOE/M/F


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