Assistant Professor - Rhetoric and Composition

Position Details:

This full-time faculty position is on-campus and in-person

The English Department at Texas Christian University seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Rhetoric and Composition whose work focuses on community literacies (as related to “community writing,” “public writing,” and  “community-based” communications). We are looking for a colleague who challenges socially-hierarchical and institutional understandings of literacy, writing, qualitative research, and pedagogy in classrooms and communities and makes real the transformative possibilities of teaching and studying writing in community contexts. Preference will be given to candidates whose scholarly engagements and praxis with community literacies intersect with one or more of the following: BIPOC and anti-racist pedagogies, anti-coloniality, environmental rhetorics, cultural rhetorics, disability justice, abolition, queer of color critique, transnational feminisms. We seek applicants with lived experiences, “community-accountable” service, and/or teaching practices critically informed by worldviews and perspectives from underrepresented groups along the axes of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, and disability. This position is supported by the Provost and the College of Liberal Arts’ DEI initiatives.

Candidates will be asked to teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, mentor undergraduate and MA theses as well as PhD dissertations, and serve on graduate student committees. The successful candidate will contribute to the dynamic graduate program in Rhetoric and Composition as well as support our undergraduate minor and major in writing. The position carries a 3/2 teaching load, a competitive salary, and internal research support.

Department Details:

The TCU Department of English has 35 full-time faculty members who lead two majors (English and Writing), three minors (English, Writing, and Creative Writing), an MA program and two PhD programs (English and Rhetoric and Composition).

School/College Description:

Named for TCU’s founders, Addison and Randolph Clark, the AddRan College of Liberal Arts is home to the core academic disciplines of the humanities and social sciences. The College includes approximately 155 full-time faculty members, 13 departments (Comparative Race & Ethnic Studies, Criminology & Criminal Justice, Economics, English, Geography, History, Modern Language Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion, Sociology & Anthropology, Spanish and Hispanic Studies, and Women & Gender Studies), and two units of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (Army and Air Force). AddRan College departments confer 17 Bachelor of Arts and 7 Bachelor of Science degrees, a Bachelor of General Studies, an online master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, a Master of Liberal Arts degree, and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in History, English, and Rhetoric and Composition.

University & Fort Worth Description:

ABOUT TCU

Founded in 1873, Texas Christian University sits on 302 acres nestled in a primarily residential part of Fort Worth, just minutes away from downtown. The University includes seven schools and colleges, in addition to the John V. Roach Honors College and the Burnett School of Medicine.

Currently, TCU enrolls more than 10,200 undergraduates and 1,700 graduate students. Twenty-eight percent of students self-identify as a member of a minority group, five percent are international students, and forty-five percent are from out-of-state. Our students are supported by more than 2,200 faculty and staff. The University has more than 700 full-time faculty members and is a top 100 National University as classified by US News and World Report and has a Carnegie Classification of R2: Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity.

At TCU, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are an educational imperative directly tied to the University mission, vision, and strategic plan. Fulfilling TCU’s mission to develop ethical leaders and critical thinkers in a global community depends on the University’s ability to attract and retain students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds. A diverse and inclusive campus leads to innovation, broadened perspective, and understanding—values that are foundational aspects of higher education. For the fourth consecutive year, TCU has earned the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, which highlights ongoing commitment to build a comprehensive DEI strategy that aligns with core values and creates a campus culture where everyone is respected and included.

ABOUT FORT WORTH

Like TCU, Fort Worth has the approachable, friendly charm of a smaller town, but offers the amenities, cultural activities, diversity and unique personality of a much larger city. Fort Worth, Texas, is the 13th largest city in the United States with an ever-growing population nearing 1 million. Fort Worth and TCU have grown together in a nearly 150-year relationship. You’ll find that many Horned Frogs remain here after graduation, thanks to the region’s thriving job market. Fort Worth is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States, and the number 1 tourist destination in Texas. In 2018, bizjournals.com ranked Fort Worth the 7th most affordable city to live and work in the United States and U.S. News and World Report named Fort Worth one of the Best Places to Live. Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington all rank among the top 25 most diverse cities in the country.

Fort Worth is known for its vast array of cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities. The city boasts three world class art museums—the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. The Bass Performance Hall is one of the premier performance venues in the country. Concerts, film festivals and other events are held regularly at Sundance Square, Panther Island and Near Southside venues.

Required Application Materials & Application Instructions:

The successful candidate will demonstrate a promising research trajectory, evidence of successful teaching, and a profile demonstrating strong scholarly expertise and service in composition pedagogy and community literacies. 

Review of applications will begin November 10 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications should be submitted online through the TCU Human Resources website at jobs.tcu.edu. You may search for this position by entering the 6-digit requisition number or by entering the title in the search field. Complete the application, which consists of personal contact information, contact information for  three references, and a voluntary survey. Then, upload 1) a letter of application, 2) a full CV, and 3) a teaching statement that addresses community literacies as well as TCU’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; 4) two sample syllabi for rhetoric or composition courses at the undergraduate or graduate levels. A writing sample and letters of recommendation will be requested at a later time in the process from your three references. Your references will receive an email from TCU asking them to upload their LOR on your behalf. TCU only accepts online applications and documents. For questions, please email the search chair at carmen.kynard@tcu.edu.

AA/EEO Statement:

As an AA/EEO employer, TCU recruits, hires, and promotes qualified persons in all job classifications without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ethnic origin, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.