Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Nonfiction)

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Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Nonfiction)

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. See Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent employment benefits.

Target Start Date: August 17, 2023

Application Deadline: November 30 (Applications accepted until position is filled or closed)
 

Position Description

The Department of English and Comparative Literature at San José State University seeks qualified candidates for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position teaching Nonfiction creative writing, with the potential to teach Digital humanities and other forms of Creative Writing to a diverse student body at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  The ideal candidate would have a deep understanding of the unique experiences and issues facing Latinx/Chicanx, Black, Indigenous, and other writers of color.  While the bulk of the teaching will be in teaching Nonfiction and other forms of creative writing in undergraduate and graduate-level workshops, the ideal candidate could also offer instruction in magazine and feature writing, Digital humanities, literature, or other areas of our curriculum. The best candidate would add to our strength as a department in the creation and analysis of BIPOC literature and culture.

The successful applicant would contribute to a vibrant department currently with eight other Assistant Professors, all of whom are enjoying course release time each semester specifically dedicated to their writing and research. Although a highly productive, creative and research-rich environment, we take our commitment to teaching very seriously and teach both MA and MFA students as well as four concentrations in our BA program, including Creative Writing, Professional and Technical Writing, Literature, and Single Subject Credential Preparation.  Faculty and students also benefit from the presence of the Center for Literary Arts, the premiere reading series of the South Bay, bringing a diverse range of authors to our students, the Lurie Visiting Author, and Reed Magazine, the oldest student-run literary magazine west of the Mississippi.  See our department website here: https://www.sjsu.edu/english/

The Department of English and Comparative Literature and San José State University value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and staff who share our commitment to these values. SJSU enrolls more than 36,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved, and around 45% are first-generation and 38% are Pell-recipients. SJSU is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPISI) Serving Institution. The university’s commitment to social justice extends from its vibrant, inclusive campus to an international network of over 275,000 alumni. As such, San José State is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty so our disciplines, students, and the community can benefit from multiple ethnic and gender perspectives.

Successful candidates will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to equity and inclusion through their research, teaching, and/or service. We ask that all applicants include a Diversity Statement with their application package. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Diversity Statement Guidelines, along with information about how these statements will be evaluated.


Required Qualifications

  • PhD or MFA with a strong publication record in nonfiction in nationally recognized venues.
  • Ability to teach Nonfiction workshops, and other forms of Creative Writing to a diverse group of students in courses ranging from introductory creative writing courses to graduate courses designed for MFA thesis writers as well as courses in magazine and feature writing for journalism students.
  • Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.
  • Expertise in some form of BIPOC literature and culture.

 
Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:

  • Extensive publications such as one or more book-length works of nonfiction
  • Ability to teach courses beyond Creative Writing, in a department that serves majors in literature, teacher prep, and professional and technical writing as well
  • Experience managing a successful literary journal (at San José State a two-semester class for undergraduate and graduate students produces Reed Magazine)
  • Ability to collaborate with faculty and curriculum across the college of Humanities and he Arts, such as in the event series created by our Artistic Excellence Programing Grants
     

Key Responsibilities

  • Teach approximately five courses a year during the probationary period.
  • Design and teach introductory and advanced-level creative writing workshops, as well as contribute elsewhere in the curriculum.
  • Develop and sustain an ongoing record of productivity as a publishing author and other forms of professional engagement.
  • The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments such as mentorship of MFA thesis writers.
  • The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies and advisement.


Other Duties

Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.


Application Procedure

Select Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

  • letter of interest
  • curriculum vitae
  • diversity statement
  • statement of teaching interests/philosophy
  • a statement of future writing or research plans plus a brief writing sample/portfolio of no more than 25 pages
  • three references with contact information or three references we may contact for letters

Inquiries may be directed to the Department Chair: Noelle Brada-Williams, English@sjsu.edu
 

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position is located in the State of California. Employment is contingent upon proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Proof of immunization and booster shots against COVID-19 or proof of a medical or religious exemption and compliance with testing protocols is required for employment. Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.|
 

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative regions in the world — San José State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San José State is an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.


Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.


Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification 

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.


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