Tenure-Track Assistant Professor - Writing, Rhetoric & Technical Communication

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor - Writing, Rhetoric & Technical Communication

The School of Writing, Rhetoric & Technical Communication (www.jmu.edu/wrtc), an independent department in the College of Arts and Letters at James Madison University, invites applications for a tenure-track position in technical communication at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin August 2021. The candidate’s teaching and research should focus on issues significant to the social justice turn in technical and professional communication (Jones and Walton 2018). 

This position forms part of a first-of-its-kind initiative at James Madison University: a cohort hire of six outstanding, tenure-track faculty working collaboratively in several interconnected areas, which include social justice, minority cultures and politics, racial equity, non-Western thought, and critical race studies. Scholars hired into this cohort will be appointed in six of the College’s ten departments: Sociology and Anthropology; History; Political Science; Justice Studies; Philosophy and Religion; and Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. We seek excellent applicants within particular disciplines, but also scholars and teachers eager to work across them, both within the College and beyond. Arriving as a cohort with broadly shared interests, successful candidates will enhance existing strengths in Latinx, African American, African diaspora, ethnic and global studies. A complete description of this cohort hire may be found here http://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/8052.

We welcome action-oriented research and pedagogy that draws on critical race theory, anti-racist pedagogy, queer theory, and/or indigenous methods and approaches. We are especially interested in candidates whose teaching and research examines the ethical dimensions and the practical role played by communication technologies in combatting racism. Candidates should be able to demonstrate a commitment to the teaching of first-year writing, to interdisciplinary collaboration, and to building an equitable and diverse scholarly environment. A Ph.D. by time of appointment is required, as qualified candidates will have the opportunity to teach classes in the WRTC Graduate program.

To apply go to http://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/8086 or visit JobLink.jmu.edu and reference posting number F1522. Salary shall be commensurate with experience.  

Applicants will complete a faculty profile and submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae. The cover letter should include a discussion of the candidate’s research interests, teaching experience and philosophy, and potential contributions to the diversity of the classroom, program, and university.

Upon later request, candidates might be asked to submit evidence of teaching effectiveness, up to three samples of scholarly writing, and letters of recommendation. Evidence of teaching effectiveness may include teaching philosophy, course syllabi, assignments, and summaries of course evaluations (if available).

Review of completed applications will begin January 8, 2021 and continue until the position is filled.

James Madison University is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status. Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.