Assistant Professor of English in Early Modern British Literature, including Shakespeare

Position Summary:

The Department of English at Washington State University invites applications for a permanent, full-time, nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Pullman, WA, who works in Early Modern British Literature, including Shakespeare, with an emphasis upon Critical Race Theory (e.g., Anti-Racist Shakespeare), especially as it relates to Drama and Performance. The ideal candidate is a dynamic scholar-teacher with a clear research plan and carefully considered approach to the teaching and learning of Shakespeare. Preference will be given to candidates whose innovative work in Anti-Racist Shakespeare intersects with one or more of the following areas: Indigenous and Postcolonial Studies, Health Humanities, Environmental Humanities, and Digital Humanities. The Department of English is home to WSU’s Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies – and so, we also welcome applications from candidates whose critical inquiry intersectionally engages race, gender, and sexuality. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to underrepresented communities through research, service, multimodal teaching, and/or community engagement.

Job duties: 

Our new colleague will teach a 2-2 load in both the graduate and undergraduate programs, including the capstone (Advanced Topics in Literature), core courses in Shakespeare that serve the English Teaching track, and surveys in the Humanities, and they will be expected to serve on MA and Ph.D. committees. They will also be expected to maintain an active research agenda and publish scholarly work. The successful candidate will also be expected to participate in service to departmental, university, and field-specific organizations. Allocation of time is 40% research, 40% teaching, and 20% service.

Required Qualifications:   

Completed PhD in English or related field by August 16, 2024.

Demonstrated potential, or evidence of, scholarly research and publication, with an emphasis on Early Modern British Literature, Shakespeare Studies, and Critical Race Theory (e.g., Anti-Racist Shakespeare).

Evidence of at least two years of successful college teaching.

Demonstrated commitment to educational diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Inquiries should be directed to the search chair, Kirk McAuley  (lmcauley@wsu.edu). 

About WSU, Pullman, CAS, and the Department of English: Washington State University, a land grant, multiple-campus Research 1 institution.  This position will serve on the Pullman campus, which has an enrollment of around 20,000 students and is located in Southeastern Washington on the homelands of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and Palus people. Located 80 miles south of metropolitan Spokane, Pullman is also a quick drive away from the scenic Idaho panhandle and Moscow Mountain. The rolling hills of the Palouse offer a wide range of activities and a true four-season climate. The area provides ample opportunity to enjoy the cultural and academic hub of both Washington State University and the University of Idaho, in the neighboring town of Moscow, Idaho. For more information about the region, please see https://pullmanchamber.com.

Encompassing more than 30 departments, schools, and research institutes on five campuses statewide, the College of Arts & Sciences is the heart of WSU. Together our 730+ faculty and staff deliver more than 50% of WSU’s total undergraduate and graduate instruction, including the vast majority of WSU’s core curriculum. We also drive wide interdisciplinary research in public and community health, environmental change, equity and social justice, and data and technology at the boundaries. As Arts & Sciences celebrates its 10th anniversary as a unified college, we seek to lead a reimagining of WSU’s land-grant mission for the 21st century, expanding the boundaries of creativity and discovery while simultaneously recognizing more completely our obligations to Native and Indigenous peoples.  For more about the College of Arts & Sciences at WSU, please see https://cas.wsu.edu.

The successful candidate will join the Department of English, which has roughly 200 undergraduate majors in English combined with about 40 M.A. and Ph.D. students to help make English the third-largest teaching unit in the College of Arts and Sciences. More than 8000 undergraduates take classes in English each year, with courses ranging from first-year writing to advanced seminars. Interested candidates can learn more at: https://english.wsu.edu/

The program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies offers a major in WGSS and minors in Queer Studies and Women’s Studies. For more information, see https://wgss.wsu.edu/.

WSU acknowledges that its locations statewide are on the homelands of Native American peoples, who have lived in this region and have been caretakers of the land from time immemorial. The Morrill Act of 1862 established our land-grant institution by providing public and federal lands that are traced back to the disposition of Indigenous lands, often taken by coercive and violent acts, and the disregard of treaties. For that, we extend our deepest apologies. We owe our deepest gratitude to the Native peoples of this region and maintain our commitment towards reconciliation. And as a land-grant institution, WSU is deeply committed to the land-grant mission, its Memorandums of Understanding with Native tribes in the region, and a tradition of service to society. To read the full WSU land acknowledgement, please see https://wsu.edu/about/wsu-land-acknowledgement/.

Additional Information:

Area/College: College of Arts and Sciences
 

Department Name: English
 

City, State, Zip: Pullman, WA 99164
 

Department Link: Department of English
 

Annual Salary: $65,000 - $72,500 per 9-month academic year | In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for Faculty and Total Compensation.

Overtime Eligibility: Not overtime eligible.

FTE: 100%

This is a permanent tenure track position.

Posting Close Date: This recruitment has been extended to close on Tuesday, December 26, at 11:59 P.M. Screening has begun and will remain ongoing until the vacancy is filled. 

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need.  A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. External candidates, please upload all documents in the “Resume/CV” section of your application. Internal candidates, please upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application. Documents may be submitted in one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF if possible. Applicants will be requested to provide contact information for professional references within the online application(letters will be requested at a later time). Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

Required Documents:

A cover letter addressing qualifications for this position. Include in your cover letter: names, addresses, and contact information of at least three references who can address your history of and potential for excellence in research, teaching, and service (letters will be requested at a later time)

Curriculum vitae

Teaching statement that describes your teaching experience and philosophy, which may incorporate experience from formal or informal teaching and mentoring opportunities (no more than 500 words)

Research statement that outlines your scholarly work and includes your future plans (no more than 500 words)

Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement that includes your demonstrated and or potential for contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts through scholarship/research, and/or teaching/mentoring, and/or service/engagement. There may be some overlap with your research and teaching statements (no more than 500 words)

Applicants who advance past initial screening will be asked for a 20-page writing sample, a teaching portfolio, and letters of recommendation. Please do not send these materials with your initial application. 

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.