Director, Creative Writing Program
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. Wilkes University is an independent, comprehensive university dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and selected professional programs. The University has approximately 2,000 students at the undergraduate level and over 1,500 full time equivalent students at the graduate and first professional levels. Its institutional focus is on developing strong mentoring relationships with each of its students and contributing vitally to economic development of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The University is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a revitalized city that is located on the lovely Susquehanna River and is within two and one-half hours driving distance of New York City and Philadelphia.
Requirements
- Proven organizational, administrative, and recruiting skills
- Strong records in teaching and creative achievement
- An M.F.A. or Ph.D. is required
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience in higher education administration
- Teaching creative writing at the graduate level
- A notable record of creative achievement in an area represented by the program
Responsibilities
- Perform a broad range of duties in this dual faculty/administrative role
- Articulate and enact 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
- Cultivate an inclusive environment
- Work with university administration and a wide range of other departments
- Supervise over twenty adjunct faculty mentors and other staff (assistant director, administrative assistant, and graduate assistants)
- Advise the program's graduate students
- Coordinate an ambitious program of visiting writers, agents, producers, editors, and publishers
- Oversee course staffing and registration
- Lead student retention efforts
- Teach courses in the two week-long residency sessions
- Manage program-related publications, presses, and organizations
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
