Assistant Professor

University of Maryland•College Park, MD

10d•$90,000 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of English at the University of Maryland, College Park is hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor of English with a specialization in Poetry to join a thriving creative writing program within a diverse and productive English department. The mission of the College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) is to prepare versatile and visionary leaders equipped to address the complexitites of the human experience, both globally and locally. Housed within ARHU, the Department of English teaches students how to think critically, communicate clearly and fearlessly. Equipped with a versatile and interdisciplinary liberal arts education, our students emerge from our classrooms well-prepared to navigate the complex landscape of the current moment. The department’s faculty are premiere in their fields, boasting a body of work that includes award-winning digital media, scholarly essays, novels, short stories and poetry. Our faculty are regular recipients of Guggenheim fellowships, Mellon Foundation grants, NEA awards, NEH fellowships, the Rome Prize, the Whiting Award and American Academy of Arts and Letters awards. The department is an inclusive gathering place for undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and the public. Our Center for Literary and Comparative Studies and BookLab are hubs for scholarly inquiry and partnership with other campus programs and off-campus entities. English regularly hosts readings by poets and novelists; colloquium, symposia, guest lectures and national and international conferences featuring distinguished scholars; as well as discussion groups for students and alumni and play readings and performances. Our majors are encouraged to explore a range of careers through internships, such as with the Maryland General Assembly and the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities. We have a robust alumni program, ensuring continuity between currently enrolled students and those who have gone on to successful careers in marketing, law, medicine, IT, and higher education. The University of Maryland is located in College Park, eight miles from the heart of Washington, DC, and served by the Washington Metro System, offering its faculty access to world-class library and archival facilities, an array of cultural institutions, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The MFA Program in Creative Writing is staffed by a stellar faculty, active on the national and international literary scene, with strong ties to the greater D.C. literary arts community. We are committed to belonging and community and run a vibrant program grounded in mentoring of young writers. MFA alumni are noted for their award-winning publications with independent and major presses, for continuing their graduate education at top-tier doctoral programs, and for starting their own nationally recognized journals and magazines.

Requirements

Strong reputation in the field of creative writing
Primary publication record in poetry
At least one full-length poetry book with a nationally recognized publisher
MFA in poetry or PhD (preferred) in English literature/creative writing with a focus in poetry
Demonstrated ability in working with a varied student body
Documented mentorship
Ability to contribute to the mission of belonging, community, equity, and access

Nice To Haves

Engages other media forms, genres, and/or secondary studies in literature or art
Expertise or publications in indigenous studies, digital media, or creative nonfiction
Additional interests such as LGBTQIA+ and trans literature, African American literature, multiethnic literatures, disability studies, and environmental humanities
Experience working on, running, or advising students on a literary journal, small press, or experimental or innovative publishing venture

Responsibilities

Teach creative writing workshops at the undergraduate/graduate levels
Teach literature courses
Direct undergraduate honors projects or theses
Contribute to the graduate and undergraduate creative writing programs
Contribute to the collegiate community through leadership in teaching, mentoring, research, or service towards building an equitable and varied scholarly environment and/or increasing access or participation of individuals from equity-deserving groups.