Assistant Professor, Department of English

The Department of English at Washington University in St. Louis seeks to fill a tenure-track position in African American literature at the rank of Assistant Professor. We are searching for a scholar and teacher of exceptional promise whose research has developed within any historical period, field, method, or approach in African American literary studies. Our department, in tandem with the Department of African and African American Studies, is proud of its historic and current strengths in Black literary history and creative writing. We hope to build upon those strengths, adding an assistant professor to complement recent hires and to support and expand the tradition of Black studies at Washington University in St. Louis. A Ph.D. in English or an interdisciplinary field including substantial training in literary studies is required by the start of the appointment. The position carries a teaching expectation of two courses per semester and will begin in the fall of 2024. Duties will include teaching, conducting research, writing for publication, advising students, and participating in departmental governance and university service. Recent developments at Washington University in St. Louis that may be of interest to applicants include the establishment of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity, the Center for Literary Arts, and the Program in Public Scholarship.

Application materials—a letter of interest, a CV, and a research statement—should be submitted via Interfolio, using this link (apply.interfolio.com/130749). Letters of reference, writing samples, and teaching statements are not required at this time; these may be requested at a further stage in the process.

The search committee will begin their review of applications on October 2, 2023. We plan to hold Zoom interviews for selected candidates for this position in early December, with campus visits to follow in January and early February.

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