Open Rank, MFA, Native American and Indigenous Poetry

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Description:

Open Rank, MFA, Native American and Indigenous Poetry

The Department of English at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for an open-rank tenure-track professor in its MFA program to begin September 1, 2022.

The successful candidate will teach Native American and Indigenous poetry courses, MFA workshops and seminars, and serve on MFA thesis committees. The successful candidate will also be expected to direct the MFA program in rotation with other faculty (directorship compensated by one-course release from standard 2-1 teaching load), and to participate both in an active and collegial Department of English and in the Five Colleges Native American and Indigenous Studies Certificate Program, a hub for NAIS scholarship and community in the Connecticut River Valley. Our MFA in Creative Writing is one of the oldest and most distinguished graduate writing programs in the country.

Requirements:

MFA or PhD in Creative Writing

Evidence of outstanding college-level teaching,

Strong publication record including at least one book (or a book under contract).

Additional Information:

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience, and the University offers an attractive benefits package.

Application Instructions:

Application should include: (1) a cover letter; (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) a 25-page sample of recent written work or published book (as PDF); (4) the names and email contact information for three references; and (5) a statement of contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion, identifying past experiences and future goals; these contributions may result from lived experiences, scholarships, and/or mentoring, teaching and outreach activities.

All applicants must apply by the priority deadline of October 29, 2021 to ensure full consideration.

Application link: https://secure.dc4.pageuppeople.com/apply/822/Amherst/applicationForm/initApplication.asp?lJobID=509182&sLanguage=en-us&sSourcePointer=Amherst&lJobSourceTypeID=801

The member campuses of the Five College Consortium are undertaking significant efforts aimed at expanding academic offerings in Native American and Indigenous Studies, and embedding Native and Indigenous epistemologies, methods, and content across the curriculum. This work includes curriculum development, faculty hiring, and student engagement, and is supported in part by generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional information on Five College NAIS is available at: https://www.fivecolleges.edu/natam

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.