MFA Program Director/Assistant, Associate or Full Professor

About Lesley University:

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley University is highly regarded for its graduate and undergraduate programs in education, the arts, and applied social sciences. Lesley fosters a highly creative environment in which innovative ideas thrive, theory is integrated with practice and its 7,000 students and 83,000 alumni are empowered to improve and enrich communities.

We offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, life, and long-term-disability insurance. In addition, we offer generous amounts of vacation and holiday time, as well as a tuition remission policy that enables employees to expand their knowledge and skills.

Please note that all Core faculty at Lesley University are represented by the Service Employees International Union, Local 509 (SEIU).

Information on the Program: 

The Lesley MFA program has consistently been ranked as one of the top ten low residency MFA creative writing programs in Poets & Writers magazine. Established in 2003, our program offers six genres-fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for young people, writing for stage & screen, and graphic novels & comics-and has a unique interdisciplinary feature whereby students study for three semesters other genres or fields of study that support, encourage, and sustain their writing lives. We offer a dual degree with the Lesley undergraduate creative writing program. Lesley is a leading liberal arts institution known nationally for its programs and commitment to the arts, education, and social justice. Lesley University has an undergraduate school, a graduate school of education, a graduate school of arts & social sciences, and a college of art & design with both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Job Description:

The MFA Low-Residency Program in Creative Writing at Lesley University seeks a creative, innovative individual with significant professional accomplishment to serve as the Director. This is a 12-month permanent faculty appointment, at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor rank, with administrative and teaching responsibilities, beginning July 1, 2019.

The Director of the MFA in Creative Writing performs a wide range of duties in this dual faculty/administrative role, and requires organizational and administrative skills. The Director reports to the dean of the Graduate School and works with university departments on marketing, admissions, budgeting, and alumni relations. The Director is the liaison between the program and the university, and serves on an academic leadership team and university faculty committees. In collaboration with the MFA team, the Director oversees and participates in the planning of the bi-annual residency sessions.

The Director will develop and implement the residency schedule of workshops, craft seminars, and panel discussions for students and faculty. With support from the staff and advisory faculty the Director will plan and host students and faculty for two 9-day residencies annually, provide administrative oversight for all aspects of distance learning, and respond to student, faculty, and administrative concerns, as needed.  The Director also serves on university committees and participates in the business and leadership of the Graduate School of Arts & Social Sciences.

Teaching responsibilities include 1-2 residency seminars and may also include 1-2 MFA mentees either in spring and/or fall term.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements student recruitment, admissions, and retention strategies; builds strategic community alliances and international partnerships to support admissions outreach and enrollment.
• Recruits and mentors MFA Writing faculty and program staff.
• Oversees the MFA in Creative Writing academic program and curriculum in accordance with University and Graduate Division policy.
• Directs fundraising efforts; works with university to cultivate donors and establish scholarship funds for MFA students and applicants.
• Administers the MFA in Creative Writing academic program budget.
• Coordinates and oversees the program's social media strategy and website.
• Advocates for faculty union contractual issues, evaluations, etc.
• Maintains an active publication record.
• Provides leadership for the establishment and strengthening of the MFA in Creative Writing curriculum, assessment, and program reviews in accordance with NEASC standards.
• Serves as senior academic advisor for MFA in Creative Writing students.
• Works in accordance with University Strategic Plan to establish and strengthen visibility and support for the MFA in Creative Writing Program.
• In keeping with the AWP Director's Handbook, the Director pursues adherence to the Association's "Hallmarks" for a successful graduate program by agreeing to "nurture a culture of creativity, vitality, intellectual rigor, artistic discipline, and collegiality."
• Oversees program's alumni relations.

Requirements:

• Must have Bachelor's Degree; a Masters of Fine Arts is preferred.
• At least five years teaching experience at the college or graduate level.
• A distinguished publishing credentials, such as nationally-recognized literary magazines or books.
• Familiarity with or experience in a low-residency MFA Creative Writing or distance-learning/residency-based program is ideal.
• Excellent organizational and supervisory skills.
• A demonstrated commitment to inspiring strong community and collegiality within the program as well as within the university and the greater community of Cambridge and Boston.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; if you hold a visa, your visa status must allow you to work at Lesley University.

Additional Information:

Compensation commensurate with experience.

Background checks are required for all positions.

Lesley University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to increasing the diversity of the university community and the curriculum. Candidates who believe they can contribute to this goal are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions:

A cover letter, CV/resume, and contact information for three references must be included for full consideration.

Applications will be reviewed upon the establishment of an appropriate pool of candidates. For full consideration, candidates should apply by December 15, 2018.