Assistant Professor of Writing Studies/Rhetoric & Composition

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, on the stolen lands of the Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Tribe. This coastal community of 90,000 overlooks Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western is the highest-ranking public, master’s-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2023 U.S. News & World Report rankings – a designation we have held for the last 23 years. Learn about Western’s commitment and ongoing work in the areas of Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at https://equity.wwu.edu/.

The English Department has 34 tenure-line faculty members and offers BA programs in Creative Writing and Literature, with or without a secondary teaching endorsement, an MFA program in Creative Writing, and an MA program in English Studies. Our MFA/MA students teach nearly all of our First Year Writing courses. The department also offers minors, including those in Professional Writing, Literacies, and Rhetoric, as well as Film Studies. The English Department supports Western’s mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity. Learn more about the English Department at https://chss.wwu.edu/english. 

The successful candidate will have the departmental standard 2-2-2 quarter teaching assignment, which will be comprised of specialty courses in the candidate’s area(s) of expertise at the undergraduate and M.A. levels, as well as general education courses and other courses depending on the candidate’s interests and departmental needs. When a candidate serves as Director of Composition/WPA, they will have a 1-1-1 quarter teaching assignment.

• Ph.D. or ABD at time of application in Rhetoric and Composition, English, or a related field. If ABD, all degree requirements must be completed by June 15th of the first year of employment (e.g., for a September 2024 start date, all degree requirements must be completed by June 15, 2025).
• Demonstrated experience and excellence in undergraduate teaching
• Demonstrated potential for strong research and publication in relevant fields
• Evidence of potential for success and interest in serving as the Director of the First Year Writing Program (WPA)
• Strong expertise in at least one of the following: professional and technical writing, public rhetorics, digital literacies, science writing/rhetorics, cultural rhetorics
• Experience cultivating learning environments that are equitable and inclusive of students with diverse social identities, literacies, and backgrounds

• Demonstrated commitment to writing studies pedagogies, curriculum, and program development
• Secondary area of expertise (for instance, in critical rhetorics of race, indigenous/First Nations/Native American rhetorics, 2SLGBTQIA+ rhetorics, feminisms, Dis/Ability and embodied rhetorics, or institutional/organizational critique)
• Demonstrated achievements in the areas of culturally responsive teaching and anti-racist pedagogy
• Demonstrated use of social and emerging media to create engaging and accessible writing assignments, methods of instruction, student-centered interaction, and scholarship.

Salary

The starting salary range for assistant professor appointment, tenure-track is generally between $69,000-$71,000, with placement within the position’s salary range being based on qualifications and professional experience. The entire salary range for the assistant professor position is $69,000-$78,500, with the upper end of the salary range typically being achieved through collectively bargained salary adjustments.

Relocation assistance may be available per University guidelines. Salary and start-up funds are to be determined upon being offered the position.

Bargaining Unit

 United Faculty of Western Washington

Application Instructions

To be considered for the position, application materials must be submitted via WWU’s Work at Western portal. 

Candidates should upload a letter of application that specifically addresses the required and preferred qualifications, CV, graduate transcripts, and the names and contact information of three references of whom we may request letters of recommendation. Materials should clearly evidence how the applicant’s experience (academic or non-academic) has prepared them to effectively teach Western’s increasingly diverse student body.  

For priority consideration, applications should be received by January 29, 2024. Screening interviews will take place via videoconference in February. Finalist interviews will be conducted on campus; position open until filled. 

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3303 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“The Clery Act”). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western’s campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires and rehires, which includes a sexual misconduct background check.