Assistant/Associate Professor in Poetry

Assistant/Associate Professor

Department of English

College of Arts and Sciences

The Department of English at Western Michigan University invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position at the Assistant/Associate Professor rank in creative writing (poetry). Candidates should provide evidence of publication and instruction that could contribute to course offerings in one or more of the following: African American, Asian American, Black Diaspora, Indigenous, Latinx, and/or transnational poetry. This is an academic-year (September through May) position, with the possibility of a Summer (June through August) instructional assignment for additional compensation. The start date is August 15, 2022.

Major Responsibilities: Instructional assignments will be in creative writing as well as in other courses at introductory, advanced undergraduate, and graduate levels. The position requires contribution to research and/or the creative arts, to student instruction and mentorship, and to departmental and university service. WMU is a residential campus, with most classes and committees meeting in person. Some hybrid or online sections are scheduled when students require them, but most instructional and service assignments require in-person work.

Qualifications: Appointment as an assistant or associate professor requires a doctorate in English or creative writing or an M.F.A. awarded by August 15, 2022. The appointee must be qualified to instruct and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in creative writing. Successful candidates will have a strong publication record. Prior instruction at the undergraduate and graduate levels and prior professional service are preferred, as is experience in diverse communities dedicated to arts, education, community development, and/or social justice. We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate a strong commitment to integrating inclusivity and equity into their writing, teaching, service, and student mentoring.

The Department: In addition to our M.F.A. and Ph.D. programs in creative writing, the Department of English offers undergraduate studies (majors and minors) and graduate studies (master’s and doctoral) in literature and language, creative writing, rhetoric and writing studies, English education, and world literature. Our students represent a variety of backgrounds and Western Michigan University has traditionally enrolled a large number of international students. The successful candidate will join a faculty with significant professional accomplishments in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, playwriting, British, American, and global Anglophone literatures, English education, popular culture, linguistics, rhetoric, medieval studies, and film studies. Diverse literatures and writing practices (including students’ right to their own language) are emphasized in our introductory courses (1000 and 2000 levels) and appear throughout our upper-level and graduate courses. Our faculty in creative writing have received significant acclaim, and our graduates in creative writing have achieved remarkable success in higher education and other professions. Creative writing is the most popular concentration among undergraduates majoring in English at WMU. The Department of English is also the home of several well-respected book and journal publications, including Third Coast magazine.

The College: The College of Arts and Sciences represents the foundation of learning and the academic heart of WMU. As articulated in the College of Arts and Sciences strategic plan, we are committed to fostering a community of diverse, inclusive, equitable, and globally engaged scholars, learners, and leaders. With twenty-five departments and interdisciplinary schools and institutes, WMU’s largest college offers a broad range of learning opportunities and career paths for our students. CAS students are among the very top students in the country, having received competitive awards such as Goldwater Fellowships, Udall Scholarships, Boren Fellowships, and Fulbright Scholarships.

The University: Western Michigan University (WMU), located in Southwest Michigan, is a vibrant, nationally recognized student-centered research institution with an enrollment of over 19,000. WMU delivers high-quality undergraduate instruction, has a strong graduate division, and fosters significant research activities. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has placed WMU among the 76 public institutions in the nation designated as research universities with high research activities. Western Michigan University is a globally engaged university that promotes success for learners at all levels and stands out among America’s more than 4,600 public and private degree-granting colleges and universities.

INSIGHT into Diversity consistently honors WMU for its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Military Times ranks WMU among the best institutions for veterans, and WMU is the only Michigan school to appear on all nine years of its annual Best for Vets list.

U.S. Department of State data shows that WMU was number six among producers of American Fulbright Scholars in 2016–2017 academic year

WMU operates the nation’s largest and most comprehensive collegiate support program for former foster-care youth and is an international model for teaching, research, learning, and public service related to foster care and higher education.

Washington Monthly ranked WMU first in the state of Michigan on its impact on alumni earnings ten years after graduation.

We would like to recognize that Western Michigan University is located on lands historically occupied by Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodewadmi nations. Please take a moment to acknowledge and honor this ancestral land of the Three Fires Confederacy, the sacred lands of all indigenous peoples and their continued presence.

The Community: Kalamazoo is located only two and a half hours by car or train from Chicago and Detroit and only 45 minutes from the beaches of Lake Michigan. With 263,000 people in the greater Kalamazoo area, the community offers an array of cultural events, entertainment, and all-season recreation. The city supports a nationally recognized symphony and enjoys a vibrant community theatre and visual arts scene. Kalamazoo is also located in one of Michigan’s designated research corridors, maintaining a strong life sciences/biotech presence and supporting two leading medical centers. In addition, Kalamazoo Public School students receive the Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship program that covers up to 100% of tuition and fees to all Michigan public (and many private) colleges and universities.

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, with an excellent benefits package.

Expected Start Date: August 15, 2022.

Application Deadline: Review of applications will commence on December 1, 2021, and will continue until the position is filled.

Required Application Documents: To apply, go to wmujobs.org and submit Faculty Credential Summary (completed through the online job application portal): a letter describing qualifications, accomplishments, and professional experiences related to the position; a CV; a representative writing sample (PDF or MS Word file) of at least 10 pages; three letters of recommendation; a teaching philosophy statement; and a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement.

WMU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities and all other qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.


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