Assistant Professor (English)

UMass Boston • Boston, MA

11d • $80,000 - $97,099 • Onsite

About The Position

The English Department seeks an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing-Poetry beginning September 1, 2027, at a lively, diverse, urban university. The university has about 250 undergraduate majors and minors, over 40 MA students in literature, composition, pedagogy, and creative writing, and a full-time MFA program enrolling 30 students in creative writing. The role involves teaching poetry workshops, classes on poetry as literature, and the pedagogy of creative writing. There is also an expectation of eventually participating in the regular rotation of tenured MFA faculty into the directorship of the MFA program. Secondary areas of expertise, particularly in digital storytelling and creative nonfiction, hybrid genres, and/or multicultural literatures are of interest and should be described by the candidate. The ideal candidate will have a breadth of expertise and interests, contributing not only to creative writing workshops but also to the literature offerings of the department. We are looking for candidates with experience in and a strong commitment to teaching creative writing, literature, and the pedagogy of creative writing, who are enthusiastic about working with talented undergraduate and graduate writers of all ages and backgrounds, and who possess a strong record of publication, including at least one published volume of poetry. UMass Boston is an urban public research university with a teaching soul, whose impact is both local and global. It is the third most diverse university in the country, with over 60% of its undergraduate students coming from minoritized communities and groups, and more than half of its students being the first in their families to attend college. The university values candidates who engage with the diverse life experiences of its student body, appreciate students bringing their holistic selves into the academic setting, and recognize and articulate how their own life experiences and backgrounds have shaped their journeys, practices, and commitments as researchers, scholars, and educators.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or M.F.A. in hand by August 31, 2027
• Experience in and strong commitment to teaching creative writing, literature, and the pedagogy of creative writing
• Enthusiasm for working with talented undergraduate and graduate writers of all ages and backgrounds
• Strong record of publication, including at least one published volume of poetry
• Ability to engage the diverse life experiences of the student body
• Ability to appreciate that students bring their holistic selves into the academic setting
• Ability to recognize and articulate how their own life experiences and backgrounds have shaped their journeys, practices, and commitments as researchers, scholars, and educators

Nice To Haves

• Secondary areas of expertise, particularly in digital storytelling and creative nonfiction
• Secondary areas of expertise in hybrid genres
• Secondary areas of expertise in multicultural literatures

Responsibilities

• Teaching poetry workshops
• Teaching classes on poetry as literature
• Teaching the pedagogy of creative writing
• Eventually participating in the regular rotation of tenured MFA faculty into the directorship of the MFA program
• Contributing to the literature offerings of the department

Benefits

• The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on the consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree