Director, Creative Writing Program

Wilkes University•Wilkes-Barre, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Wilkes University invites applicants for a new Director of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing in the College of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 2005, the program offers both the MA and MFA in seven genres-fiction, playwriting, creative nonfiction, poetry, spoken word, screenwriting, and writing for television-as well as an MA in Publishing. The program is consistently rated as one of the top low-residency programs in the country and currently enrolls more than 80 students. The Director performs a broad range of duties in this dual faculty/administrative role, and should have proven organizational, administrative, and recruiting skills along with strong records in teaching and creative achievement. The Director articulates and enacts the strategic direction and operation of the program by way of curriculum design and assessment, orientation of new faculty and students, budget management, and community outreach, while cultivating an inclusive environment. The Director works with university administration and a wide range of other departments; supervises over twenty adjunct faculty mentors and other staff (assistant director, administrative assistant, and graduate assistants); advises the program's graduate students; coordinates an ambitious program of visiting writers, agents, producers, editors, and publishers; oversees course staffing and registration; leads student retention efforts; teaches courses in the two week-long residency sessions; and manages program-related publications, presses, and organizations.

Requirements

M.F.A. or Ph.D. required
Proven organizational skills
Proven administrative skills
Proven recruiting skills
Strong records in teaching
Strong records in creative achievement

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in higher education administration
Prior experience teaching creative writing at the graduate level
Notable record of creative achievement in an area represented by the program

Responsibilities

Articulates and enacts the strategic direction and operation of the program
Manages curriculum design and assessment
Oversees orientation of new faculty and students
Manages budget
Conducts community outreach
Cultivates an inclusive environment
Works with university administration and other departments
Supervises over twenty adjunct faculty mentors and other staff (assistant director, administrative assistant, and graduate assistants)
Advises the program's graduate students
Coordinates an ambitious program of visiting writers, agents, producers, editors, and publishers
Oversees course staffing and registration
Leads student retention efforts
Teaches courses in the two week-long residency sessions
Manages program-related publications, presses, and organizations