English: Assistant Professor in Creative Writing/Poetry

Position:

The English Department in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire seeks to hire at the rank of Assistant Professor a poet with distinguished publications (preferably one book published or in press and/or publications and awards in prestigious literary magazines and journals) and with secondary expertise in Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies or Critical Race Studies/Theory, Latinx, Asian American, African American, American Indian Studies, Ecocriticism/Ecopoetics, Transnational, Postcolonial/Anti-colonial, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality, and/or Disability Studies, or other related discipline/subdiscipline. The position carries an initial two-year probationary appointment beginning in the 2019-20 academic year with a start date of August 26, 2019. Final authorization of the position is subject to availability of funding. 

The preferred candidate will exhibit substantial promise as a poet and should in the application letter underscore their capacity as a teacher, advisor, and campus colleague. The candidate must be committed to making significant contributions to the creative and intellectual life of the department, university, and community. The English Department offers major emphases in creative writing; critical studies in literatures, cultures, and film; English teaching; linguistics; and rhetorics of science, technology and culture at the undergraduate level as well as a Master’s program with emphases in (1) writing and (2) literature and textual interpretation. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Earned M.F.A. or Ph.D. in creative writing. All requirements for terminal degree must be completed by August 26, 2019. 

The successful candidate will have:

• Demonstrated excellence in teaching creative writing workshops at the college level
• A strong record of poetry publications, preferably one book in print or in press and/or publications and awards in prestigious literary magazines and journals
• Demonstrated expertise and teaching excellence in at least one of the secondary areas listed above 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to mentor both graduate and undergraduate creative writing students 

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will teach courses in creative writing (both workshops and genre courses) as well as first-year writing. In addition, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to teach other courses as appropriate to their areas of expertise in other areas of English. Teaching load is typically 3-3 (11 credit hours), including the Blugold Seminar (a 5-credit introductory, rhetoric-based writing course), and two creative writing/critical studies courses. All department members also participate in scholarly and creative research activities and engage in service to the department, college, and university. 

University and Eau Claire Community:

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire promotes diversity and inclusiveness, stewardship and sustainability, leadership and innovation. With approximately 11,500 students, UW-Eau Claire is consistently rated as one of the top public regional universities in the Midwest and enjoys a national reputation for excellence in liberal education, faculty-undergraduate research, and study abroad. Faculty resources include the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, both of which offer professional development opportunities and the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration. 

A community of 68,000, Eau Claire is the largest city in western Wisconsin with thriving arts and music scenes, recently featured in the Star Tribune, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Thrillist (https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/things-to-do-in-eau-claire-wi), and other media sources. Eau Claire and the surrounding areas offer scenic rivers, parks, bike trails, farmers’ markets, outdoor concerts, writing retreats, poetry readings, and more. Eau Claire is 90 miles from Minneapolis-St. Paul, which additionally offers world-class theater, symphony and chamber orchestras, opera, and major league sports. 

Application Procedure:

Applications are submitted electronically at http://uwec.ly/jobopenings. Click on English: Assistant Professor Creative Writing - Poetry (Job ID: 14635) and follow the steps under “To Apply” in the frame on the right. Your application will not be considered complete unless all required documents (in pdf format) are submitted:

• letter of application
• curriculum vita
• writing sample (10-15 pages)
• In addition, three confidential letters of recommendation will need to be emailed to Alaina Guns, gunsam@uwec.edu. Please have your letter writers or portfolio service put “Creative Writing—Poetry” and your name in the subject line.

Direct any questions to Dr. Erica Benson, Chair of the English Department, bensonej@uwec.edu.

To ensure priority consideration, completed applications must be received no later than 11:59 pm on October 8, 2018. However, screening may continue until the position is filled. The university reserves the right to contact additional references with notice given to the candidates at an appropriate time in the process. A criminal background check is required prior to employment. The UW-Eau Claire Police Department is dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure environment for learning and working. Although crime at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is limited, the University Police want students, faculty and staff to be aware of crime on campus and the area surrounding the campus. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose annual information about campus crime. Visit Campus Security and Fire Report: https://www.uwec.edu/files/8/annual-security-report.pdf Also visit our Campus Security Authority policy: https://www.uwec.edu/human-resources/employment-opportunities/job-openings/upload/CleryCompliancePolicy.pdf

UW-Eau Claire is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disability employer dedicated to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.