Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, & Writing Program Director

Sonoma State University • Sonoma, CA

4d • $75,000 - $84,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Sonoma State University's Department of English is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition and Writing Program Director. This role involves collaborative leadership for the university's first-year writing program, teaching rhetoric and composition courses, and upper-division courses focusing on digital and multimodal literacies and professional communication. The successful candidate will also teach in the GE program and specialized courses in their area of expertise. Future responsibilities may include graduate teaching and mentoring theses in rhetoric and composition upon the anticipated reinstatement of the English MA program. As Writing Program Director, duties include coordinating curriculum development and program assessment, supporting culturally responsive pedagogies, and providing mentoring and professional development for faculty. The director will work with the department chair and campus partners to advance writing instruction, address equity gaps, and build on students' linguistic and cultural resources. This includes supporting faculty in multilingual literacy and culturally responsive writing pedagogy, with a focus on underrepresented and first-generation students, and developing approaches to using digital technologies to enhance student agency. The candidate must maintain an active program of scholarship, research, and/or creative activity in rhetoric and composition and/or writing studies, consistent with department criteria for retention, tenure, and promotion. Faculty are also expected to engage in service to the University, profession, and community, including advising students, participating in campus and system-wide communities, maintaining office hours, collaborating with colleagues, and participating in traditional academic functions. Sonoma State University emphasizes the Teacher/Scholar model, supporting undergraduate research and student professional opportunities, and fostering commitment to CSU Graduation Initiative 2025 through teaching, advising, and mentoring. During the first two years, the instructional assignment will be reduced by two courses per academic year to support research, scholarship, and creative activities. All faculty are required to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Ed.D. in Rhetoric and Composition, Writing Studies, or closely related field, in hand by August 1, 2027
• Evidence of graduate-level coursework in composition theory and pedagogy
• Experience teaching at the university level and demonstrated expertise necessary to teach rhetoric and composition courses, including first-year writing
• Demonstrated expertise necessary to coordinate and administer a university writing program
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive teaching and to supporting students from diverse linguistic, cultural, and educational backgrounds
• Evidence (peer-reviewed articles or dissertation) of an active or developing scholarly research agenda in rhetoric and composition, critical literacies, and/or writing studies
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Reside in the State of California upon date of hire.
• Lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Experience administering a university writing program
• Experience in curriculum development and writing assessment
• Experience with writing across the curriculum and writing in the disciplines
• Demonstrated experience with digital/multimodal literacies
• Demonstrated commitment to culturally responsive-sustaining pedagogy
• Interest in building partnerships with regional schools, community colleges, and community organizations to support writing and educational access

Responsibilities

• Provide collaborative leadership for the university's first-year writing program.
• Teach rhetoric and composition courses and upper-division courses emphasizing digital and multimodal literacies and professional communication.
• Teach courses in the GE program as well as specialized courses in additional areas of expertise.
• Upon anticipated reinstatement of the English MA program, responsibilities will include graduate teaching and mentoring students completing theses in rhetoric and composition.
• Coordinate curriculum development and program assessment as Writing Program Director.
• Support culturally responsive pedagogies and program structures.
• Provide mentoring, teaching resources, and professional development in collaboration with lecturer and tenure-line faculty.
• Advance writing instruction that supports first-year engagement and retention, address equity gaps, and build on students' linguistic and cultural resources.
• Support faculty across the university in multilingual literacy and culturally responsive writing pedagogy, with attention to historically underrepresented and first-generation college students.
• Develop approaches to using digital technologies that strengthen students' agency as writers.
• Maintain an active program of scholarship, research, and/or creative activity in rhetoric and composition and/or writing studies consistent with English Department's criteria for retention, tenure, and promotion.
• Engage in service to the University, profession, and community.
• Advise students.
• Participate in campus and system-wide communities.
• Maintain office hours.
• Work collaboratively and productively with colleagues.
• Participate in traditional academic functions.
• Foster commitment to the CSU Graduation Initiative 2025 through excellent teaching, advising, and mentoring.
• Work effectively in a multicultural environment.

Benefits

• Service credit depends upon academic preparation and professional experience.
• Instructional assignment reduced by two courses per academic year for the first two years of the probationary period to assist in establishing programs of research, scholarship, and/or creative activities.
• View Benefits Summary [https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/benefits]

What This Job Offers

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