Lecturer/Associate Director of Teacher Training

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

The University Writing Program in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (http://www.umass.edu/writingprogram/) invites applications for the position of Associate Director of Teacher Training at the rank of Lecturer.

This is a full-time academic-year (9-month) non-tenure track position with an initial start date of August 15, 2022. The position requires a minimal summer commitment which will be compensated in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. The initial appointment period is two years with possibility of renewal.

The Associate Director will contribute to UMass Amherst's nationally-recognized Writing Program by leading graduate teacher education, including an annual new teachers' summer orientation and ongoing professional development. The position offers the opportunity to work with graduate teaching associates as well as undergraduate students. In addition to working collaboratively with other Writing Program faculty and staff members to carry out the mission to teach writing to our over 5,700 first-year students, the successful candidate will teach two sections of first year writing per year plus two practica on the teaching of writing to graduate students. The successful candidate also will be part of the administrative team that manages the day-to-day operations of a large university writing program, including maintaining regular daily office hours, participating in staff meetings and joint projects, mentoring graduate teaching associates, leading and organizing curricular initiatives, responding to student and teacher needs as they arise, and collaborating with key university departments, programs, and offices.

Requirements

  • Ph.D. in English with a specialization in Composition and Rhetoric or related field by the contracted start date.
  • Experience with composition teacher training.
  • At least two years of higher education administrative experience, including an understanding of and ability to navigate university structures.
  • Specialization in teacher education and the teaching of writing.
  • A strong record of taking initiative and carrying out projects independently.
  • A strong record of working within a collaborative team environment.
  • A strong record in first-year composition teaching.
  • A demonstrated commitment to teaching and working with diverse populations.
  • A commitment to staying informed about current scholarship and practices related to writing pedagogy, writing program administration, and teacher education.

Desired Qualifications

  • Ability to bring a unique and leading-edge vision to the teaching of writing.
  • Specializations include scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL), social justice approaches to writing pedagogy, rhetorical genre studies, and digital multimodal composition.
  • A record of academic, professional, and service accomplishments.
  • Willingness to travel for professional development.
  • Ability to teach across a variety of platforms and with a variety of technologies.
  • Experience working in a large state university.

Additional Information

The salary is competitive and includes professional development support and opportunities for collaboration with graduate students and university faculty as well as participation in national conversations. The University also offers an attractive benefits and retirement package.

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit 1) cover letter; 2) curriculum vitae; 3) administrative philosophy; 4) teaching philosophy; 5) statement of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and 6) list of three current referees with full contact information including valid email addresses.

Review of applications will begin on December 5, 2021 and may continue until a suitable applicant pool has been identified.

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.


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