Assistant Professor of Writing Studies

The State University of New York College at Geneseo seeks applicants for an anticipated opening of a tenure-track faculty member at the rank of assistant professor to coordinate and further develop our writing program, beginning Fall 2024. The successful candidate will have a long-term interest in writing program administration and academic collaboration, with a vision for cultivating an engaged, innovative, and inclusive culture of written and oral communication at a public liberal arts college committed to equity. They will be a member of the English Department and will coordinate a writing program that is interdepartmental and faculty-taught, and whose first-year seminar is foundational to our newly revised general education framework, A Geneseo Education for a Connected World. We envision that this position will be a critical partner in evolving our program to ensure that new students have a positive foundational experience in college writing and oral communication that cultivates skills, reinforces the importance of student engagement with academic success strategies, and prompts self-reflection and continuous growth.

Qualifications for the position include experience both in developing and administering an undergraduate writing program; an earned PhD in Writing Studies, Rhetoric & Composition, or a closely related field at the time of hire; and an active research agenda in writing pedagogy that engages key issues in the field, particularly relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. Among the goals of the search is increasing the diversity of the faculty in the Department of English, and we therefore welcome applicants who are from groups that are historically underrepresented at the College. Teaching excellence is valued highly at SUNY Geneseo; candidates will have demonstrated successful teaching experience in courses focused on writing pedagogy. At Geneseo, they will be part of the instructional team that teaches the first-year writing seminar, train undergraduate peer writing tutors, and have the opportunity to offer courses in their field. Tenured and tenure-track faculty at Geneseo generally teach 18 credits per year; this position carries 3 credits of reassigned time per semester for the work of developing and directing the writing program. The successful candidate will be mentored to transition into the coordinator position by the beginning of their second year.

Required Qualifications:
 

• An earned PhD at the time of hire in Writing Studies, Rhetoric & Composition, or a closely related field
• Experience in contributing to both the development AND administration of a writing program (such as the design of curriculum, faculty professional development, or student support services)
• College-level experience in teaching focused on writing pedagogy
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

Preferred Qualifications:

• A PhD topic and/or publications that relate directly to writing pedagogy
• An active or demonstrated research agenda in writing pedagogy that engages diversity, equity, inclusion, and access
• Demonstrated leadership / achievement in developing a writing program
• Demonstrated leadership / achievement in coordinating or administering a writing program
• Demonstrated success in teaching writing

The initial application should consist of the following:

1) a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred qualifications;
2) current CV;

3) a teaching philosophy;

4) one syllabus that demonstrates in sufficient detail how the philosophy translates to the oral and written communication assignments and classroom environment of a writing-intensive seminar;

5) a scholarly writing sample of fifteen to twenty pages;

6) a diversity statement;

7) further evidence of teaching effectiveness (including no more than three sample syllabi or projects, no more than three summary teaching evaluations, and/or documentation from no more than three formal teaching observations); and

8) contact information for three references (references will be invited to submit a letter of reference at the campus-visit stage).

Review of completed applications will begin upon receipt. To ensure full consideration, application must be completed by December 22, 2023.

About SUNY Geneseo

Mission Statement
We are a distinctive public liberal arts college that welcomes and inspires students to develop their knowledge and skills to build a better world. Our supportive, inclusive community is exceptional in cultivating creativity, engagement, and discovery. We find strength in diversity, joy in growth, and fulfillment in lifelong learning.

Vision
We will cultivate a distinctive, equity-centered, public honors college experience that propels learners to positively impact society.

Values
The Geneseo campus community is guided by our beliefs in and commitments to the following values:
 

• Learning: Embracing high expectations for intellectual inquiry, critical thinking, scholarly exploration, and personal growth.
• Creativity: Empowering a spirit of innovation that inspires intellectual curiosity, self-expression, and problem-solving.
• Belonging: Welcoming a diverse campus community that supports and celebrates
  different identities, promotes equity and inclusion, and respects the ideas and
  contributions of each individual.
• Civic Engagement: Encouraging active participation grounded in self-reflection,
  empathy, and an ethical commitment to the common good of our local and global
  communities.
• Sustainability: Building a culture of well-being that integrates and applies principles of
  environmental, social, and economic stewardship informed by an understanding of the
  past and our obligations to the future.

SUNY Geneseo is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding students, faculty, staff, and administration. We recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all positions and ensure that all other personnel actions are conducted without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.