The English Department at Millsaps College is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Teaching of Writing (9-month contract, with renewal for a second year possible). The fellow would be part of a thriving department that oversees the college’s Writing Program and offers majors and minors in Communication Studies, Creative Writing, and Literature in English. The successful candidate will teach two 4-hour courses per year, with at least one course being in first-year writing and the other possibly being in a field such as rhetoric, communication studies, creative nonfiction, public speaking, or other related field. The successful candidate will also have primary responsibility for the following two areas in the Writing Program: 1) the Writing Center, where peer consultants provide support to students as part of the college’s Writing Across the Curriculum approach, and 2) the Writing Portfolio system, whereby students demonstrate writing proficiency for graduation.
Oversight of the Writing Center includes supervising undergraduate writing consultants; supervising the day-to-day operation of the Center, including scheduling, payroll, and budgeting; and working with the Director of the Writing Program, the Chair of the English Department, and the Director of Teaching and Learning to best position the Writing Center to meet the needs of the student population.
Minimum qualifications:
- Ph.D. (or terminal degree) in Rhetoric and Composition, English, or a related field.
- Demonstrated excellence in teaching first-year writing.
- Demonstrated commitment to working with a diverse student population and emphasizing accessibility.
Desired qualifications:
- Experience working as a peer tutor/consultant and/or administrative experience in a college writing center, writing program, or other student support area.
Application Instructions
Application materials should be submitted electronically to Dr. Laura Franey at [email protected]. Review of applications will begin immediately, followed by phone and/or on campus interviews. Applicants should submit their materials no later than April 18th to receive full consideration. Questions about this search should be directed to Dr. Laura Franey, Acting Director of the Writing Program, at [email protected], or to Dr. Michael Pickard, English Department Chair, at [email protected].
A complete application will include:
- a cover letter
- curriculum vitae
- statement of teaching philosophy
- teaching evaluations and sample syllabus for a first-year writing course (if available) and
- three letters of recommendation, sent confidentially on the candidate’s behalf to the same email address noted above.
Within these materials candidates should provide specific examples of how they have contributed to equitable and inclusive academic spaces, including how they would enrich Millsaps College’s commitment to supportive environments for a diverse community.