About this role
Assistant Professor in Creative Writing (Nonfiction)
Position Description: The Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Creative Writing, with a focus in Nonfiction, to begin 9/1/2027.
All prospective employees are encouraged to visit WorkAtTexasTech.com to learn more about becoming a part of our campus community.
Major/Essential Functions: In line with TTU’s strategic priorities to engage and empower a robust student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with robust student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.
As a faculty member in the Department of English, you will be expected to: • teach nonfiction workshops, typically at the junior-level and above, and in a range of modalities; • serve as instructor of record on a rotating basis for the MFA Writing Practicum, the Writing for Publication seminar, and Forms courses; • mentor graduate students, supervising MFA theses, PhD qualifying exams, and PhD dissertations; • develop a strong, active record of peer-reviewed/funded research and creative work; and • provide service to the department, college, university, and profession.
Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with any of the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply: • Applicants with a record of scholarship supported by funding as evidenced by internal and/or external grants. • Applicants with experience teaching in online modalities. • Applicants with experience working in archives, with an ability to teach archival research techniques at the undergraduate and graduate levels. • Applicants with experience writing in and teaching multimedia/new media formats in nonfiction. • Applicants with an interest and experience in starting and working in community-based writing workshops for local incarcerated populations, the elderly, women caught in domestic violence, high school students, people experiencing grief, etc. • Applicants with research/teaching interests that connect or intersect with any of our interdisciplinary initiatives or special labs, but especially CLGT, LSJE, Book History and Digital Humanities, the Letterpress Lab, or the Sowell Collection.
Special Instructions to Applicants: Please include the following documents in your application: • Curriculum Vitae • Cover Letter • List of references Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. Leslie Jill Patterson, Search Committee Chair at [email protected]. If you need assistance with the application process, contact Human Resources, Talent Acquisition at [email protected] or 806-742-3851.
Safety Information: Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.
Pay Statement: Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan.
EEO Statement: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.
About the College: Founded in 1925 as one of the university's four original colleges, the College of Arts & Sciences is comprised of 15 departments, offering a wide variety of courses and programs in the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, and natural sciences. The College has more than 10,000 students enrolled representing more than a quarter of the overall Texas Tech University student population while maintaining a 22:1 student to faculty ratio.
About the Department/School/Area: A dynamic and interdisciplinary department with 45 tenure-line faculty, the Department of English offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Creative Writing, Literature, Film and Media Studies, Linguistics, and Technical Communication and Rhetoric. The Department also houses many interdisciplinary programs and initiatives: Comparative Literature, Globalization, and Translation (CLGT); Book History and Digital Humanities; and Literature, Social Justice, and the Environment (LSJE). Tenure-line faculty teach a 2/2 load, in onsite, hybrid, and online modalities.
Our thriving creative writing program publishes Iron Horse Literary Review, hosts an active reading series with at least four visiting writers each semester, and often collaborates with faculty from across all of the humanities. We offer an undergraduate track for English majors as well as MFA and PhD degrees.
Facilities in the Department of English include dynamic technology-rich classrooms and departmental labs and studios, including the Digital Humanities Lab, Letterpress Studio, Media Lab, Phonetic and Phonology Linguistics Lab, and User Experience Lab. Additionally, the TTU Library System has established the renowned Sowell Collection, a special archive of the papers of some of the most prominent writers of the environment and the natural world.
About the University: Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University began with a mission to serve the needs of West Texas, but its impact has always reached far beyond. Today, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock (pop. 300,000+), is home to a vibrant community of more than 42,000 students.Texas Tech's 1,800-acre campus showcases Spanish Renaissance architecture and is home to one of the country's largest public art collections. Its 13 colleges include a prestigious School of Law and a distinguished School of Veterinary Medicine. These programs equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their respective fields. Built on the values of West Texas — hard work, grit and authenticity — the university graduates students who are deeply engaged in service to their communities and well-positioned to succeed in the world. Texas Tech is committed to achieving research and scholarly accomplishments that compare favorably to the member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU). For more than 100 years, Texas Tech has been a premier destination for those seeking a world-class education and a unique, personalized experience as a member of the Red Raider family.
Faculty Qualifications: • A terminal degree (MFA or PhD) in Creative Writing or English, or a closely related field, at the time of hire; • A demonstrated record, at least 2 years, of effectiveness as a teacher at the college level (experience as a graduate student counts); • A specialization in Creative Nonfiction; and • A significant record of quality publications in nonfiction, including at least one nonfiction book in print or under contract or the equivalent in published essays in nationally recognized journals or magazines.