Adjunct Faculty - MFA Writers in Community

Naropa University • Boulder, CO

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics seeks a talented adjunct faculty member to teach WRI 617: MFA Writers in Community during the Fall 2026 semester. This course is a core component of the MFA curriculum and serves as an introduction to the intellectual, artistic, and communal contexts that shape contemporary writing practice. Working within a cohort-based learning environment, the instructor will guide our first semester MFA students in exploring contemporary avant-garde poetics, literary communities, living experimental traditions and lineages, and the broader cultural conversations that inform innovative writing today. The instructor will facilitate discussion, cultivate community among MFA students, and support students in developing a critical understanding of the literary and artistic ecosystems in which their work participates. WRI 617: MFA Writers in Community is a weekly in-person cohort-based course designed to familiarize MFA students with contemporary literary culture and the communities, traditions, and lineages that inform innovative writing practices. Through readings, discussion, research, presentations, exercises, experientials, and community engagement, students will explore contemporary avant-garde poetics, literary movements, small press and independent publishing cultures, performance and interdisciplinary practices, and the living traditions that continue to shape the field. The course encourages students to situate their own creative work within broader literary conversations while developing a deeper understanding of the social, historical, and artistic networks that sustain contemporary writing communities. Particular attention is given to the traditions and pedagogical lineages that inform the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics.

Requirements

• Terminal degree (MFA or PhD) in Creative Writing, English Literature, Poetics, or a related field.
• At least one full-length book with a reputed press published or under contract. Self-published books do not count.
• Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary literary culture, including innovative, experimental, and/or avant-garde writing practices.
• College-level teaching experience.
• All job candidates must demonstrate their level of understanding of the dynamics of privilege and oppression, and the impact these have on equity, access, and opportunity.
• All job candidates must demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of and appreciation for the values of Naropa University and the capacity to demonstrate an integration and embodiment of these values as evidenced in work, communication, collaboration styles, and other general workplace behaviors.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated expertise in contemplative education.

Responsibilities

• Develop a rigorous and coherent syllabus with a full semester-long arc.
• Teach and facilitate all scheduled class meetings.
• Develop and maintain a supportive, collaborative, and intellectually rigorous classroom environment.
• Guide students through readings, discussions, presentations, and other course activities.
• Introduce students to contemporary avant-garde poetics, literary communities, and innovative writing practices.
• Support students in exploring literary lineages, living traditions, and contemporary artistic movements.
• Provide written and verbal feedback on student assignments and presentations.
• Assess student work and submit grades in accordance with university policies.
• Maintain regular communication with students and respond to questions in a timely manner.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• FSA
• HSA
• employer-paid short-term and long-term disability
• employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment
• employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching
• variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans
• sick leave benefits
• vacation and personal time
• generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members
• participation in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level