Assistant Professor of Creative Writing-Poetry

The Department of English at Mississippi State University seeks a poet for a tenure-track assistant professor position to begin in August 2025. M.F.A. or Ph.D. in creative writing (or degree conferred by 8/15/2025) and college teaching experience required.

The successful candidate will carry a 2/2 load in the first year and a 3/2 (or 2/3) load in subsequent years. Teaching assignments will include introductory creative writing classes, intermediate and advanced poetry workshops, and directing creative theses in poetry for our M.A. students. The candidate will help to curate the department’s Price Caldwell Visiting Writers Series, and the Institute for the Humanities’ Writer-in-Residence Program The candidate will also have the option of editing the literary journal Jabberwock Review, which comes with a course release.  Publications and professional service are required for tenure and promotion. Salary will be competitive.

MSU is a public, land-grant institution classified as a “very high research activity” university by the Carnegie Foundation. The Department of English is a vibrant, interdisciplinary department with faculty specializing in literature, creative writing, writing studies, film, and linguistics. The Department offers a BA and MA in English as well as undergraduate minors in English, Linguistics, Film, and Creative Writing.

Interested candidates should apply online at https://www.msujobs.msstate.edu/ along with a cover letter, CV, and writing sample of up to 10 pages of poetry. For further information about this position, please contact Lara Dodds, department head and search committee chair, at ldodds@english.msstate.edu. Application review will begin on October 28, 2024, and continue until filled.

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, disability status, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.