Screenwriting and Film Studies Program Director

(posted 3/17/23)

Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia invites applications to serve as program director for its graduate Screenwriting and Film Studies programs. Primary responsibilities focus on the administration and guidance of Hollins’ M.F.A. in Screenwriting, M.A. in Screenwriting and Film Studies, and the development of any related certificate programs. The position also carries a teaching load of two or three graduate and/or undergraduate courses per academic year. The teaching load typically includes one summer course during the six-week session of the low-residency M.F.A. program and may include online or hybrid courses. The position is part-time but requires a commitment to be on campus and engaged full-time over the six-week summer session (approximately mid-June through July).

About the Program

In 1999, Hollins introduced a M.A. in Screenwriting and Film Studies, offering both creative and critical courses as part of a rigorous graduate curriculum. In 2006, the program added a low-residency, summer-based M.F.A. in Screenwriting. Small classes with personalized instruction are foundational to the programs, and students learn directly from experienced professionals with long and impressive lists of credentials. The programs’ focus on screenwriting, filmmaking, and the critical and scholarly analysis of film as a creative art form provides a broad foundation for creative work or as a stepping stone for further study toward a Ph.D.

About the Position

The program director will assume academic and administrative responsibility for Hollins’ graduate Screenwriting and Film Studies programs. This position will serve as the program liaison and advisor and provide academic support for students enrolled in the expanding portfolio of graduate degree and certificate programs. The program director will review student applications, make admission decisions, and will work with campus colleagues to increase enrollments, including applications from international students. The program director will also hold regular office hours for students to seek assistance as needed with academic or student life issues. This position will report to the Vice President for Graduate Programs and Continuing Studies (VPGPCS) and will assist him in marketing and recruitment planning for the program, and will seek out and coordinate internships and experiential learning opportunities for students enrolled in the program. Additionally, the program director will recruit and hire faculty, provide leadership for curriculum development, and teach two or three courses per academic year, including one during the six-week summer session. This position will also work with the VPGPCS and other graduate program directors and university colleagues to develop effective academic and programmatic plans.

Position Qualifications

The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills and ability to teach a variety of courses in screenwriting and film studies. The ideal candidate will have a M.F.A. or Ph.D. in a related academic discipline, academic or practical experience in documentary film and film preservation and archiving with a relevant publishing record, at least three years of collegiate teaching experience, and experience in online learning environments.

Application Process

Screening of candidates will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. To apply, please submit the following materials:

• A cover letter;
• A curriculum vitae; and
• A statement about how your experience or philosophy in contemporary screenwriting and film has a diversity, equity, and inclusion focus which will enhance the institution’s efforts to support these values and an increasingly diverse student population.

Candidates advanced to the second stage of review will be invited to submit the following materials:

• Evidence of effective teaching;
• Names and contact information for three professional references who can address the candidate’s qualifications; and
• Unofficial copy of graduate school transcripts.

Applicants should submit materials to hollinshr@hollins.edu . The selected candidate will be asked to submit official transcripts to the Graduate Programs and Continuing Studies Office and will also be subject to a criminal history background check.

About Hollins University

Hollins is an independent, liberal arts university offering undergraduate education for women and selected graduate programs for men and women. Founded in 1842 as Virginia’s oldest chartered women’s college, Hollins provides abundant opportunities to students for research, study abroad, and leadership training, and provides access to real-world experience through internships around the globe supported by an extensive alumnae/i network.

Hollins is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity at every level of the university. Persons of all genders; persons with disabilities; persons of all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; and first-generation college graduates are encouraged to apply.

For more information about Hollins, please visit our website ( www.hollins.edu ).