Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, Poetry

Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Poetry)

The Department of English at the University of North Texas, a Minority and Hispanic Serving Institution, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Poetry to join a thriving creative writing Ph.D./M.A. program with a strong scholarly emphasis. The appointment begins August 2023.

Required Qualifications

  • M.F.A. or Ph.D. in Creative Writing or English, by August 2023
  • A significant publication record with a minimum of one book of poetry published or under contract by a nationally or internationally recognized press
  • Demonstrable excellence in mentorship and teaching
  • Preparedness or experience working with diverse student populations and fostering an inclusive learning environment 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in writing and teaching another genre or in hybrid forms 
  • Preparedness to teach and mentor at the graduate level
  • Writing and teaching that engages with one or more of the following areas of study:  Latinx, Black, Indigenous, Asian American, World Literature, LGBTQ studies, and Disability studies.
  • Experience with literary journals


The successful candidate will teach a 2/2 load, including undergraduate and graduate workshops, as well as Form and Theory of Poetry at the graduate level. Other responsibilities will include advising and mentoring students, serving on thesis and dissertation committees, and providing service to the department and the university. Candidates whose writing and teaching engages with Latinx, Black, Indigenous, Asian American or other ethnic literatures; queer studies; critical theory studies; disability studies; decolonization; anti-racism; intersectional gender and sexuality studies; and other areas related to racial, ethnic, cultural, sexual, gendered, economic, or religious difference are especially encouraged to apply. UNT has a highly diverse campus with a wide range of languages spoken in addition to English. We welcome candidates who have experience with HSI/MSIs and/or who speak Spanish, Vietnamese, American Sign Language, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin and other variations), Arabic, Tagalog, Farsi, French, or/and Yoruba.

Please apply online at https://jobs.untsystem.edu/postings/64591. Submit a letter of application, a CV, a writing sample that consists of one published or under contract book, and a diversity statement. Semi-finalists will be contacted after application review begins and will be asked to submit unofficial transcripts, a full set of teaching evaluations, and three letters of reference. We will begin our review on November 1 and plan to interview candidates via Zoom in December. The position will remain open until filled.

UNT boasts a vibrant graduate creative writing program, including the robust Visiting Writers Series, the annual Rilke Prize in Poetry, and American Literary Review, along with the larger literary scene in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that offers the Dallas Literary Festival hosted by the Dallas Public Library, the Dallas Museum of Art's Arts & Letters Series, as well as readings and events at independent bookstores such as Interabang Books, The Wild Detectives, and Deep Vellum.

UNT is a Tier One Research University in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex-the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States, which has a population of 7.5 million people. This dynamic region is seeing explosive growth, demographically and economically, and is host to countless excellent restaurants, parks and outdoor opportunities, cultural institutions of all types, and globally diverse populations. At 44,000 students, UNT is one of the nation's largest universities. It ranked in the top 8% of USA universities based on racial, geographic, gender, and age diversity and among the nation's top 100 universities for social mobility and ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2020 College Rankings).

Denton is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and is located just 36 miles from either city's center. Known as "Little Austin," Denton has a world-class arts and music scene. Annual events include the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival, the Blues Fest, the Redbud Festival, Denton Juneteenth, as well as the weekly Denton Community Market and Twilight Tunes Series, an award-winning free concert series held on the lawn of the Denton Courthouse. Lake Lewisville, Lake Ray Roberts State Park, and the Little Elm Beach are all within a short drive. You can learn more about our "Where Hip Meets Historic" town at discoverdenton.com.

The University of North Texas System and its component institutions are committed to equal opportunity and comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of North Texas System and its component institutions do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, and employment practices.


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