Teaching Assistant or Associate Professor_ Composition and Disability Studies

Teaching Assistant or Associate Professor_ Composition and Disability Studies

English – Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh – (24007361)

The Department of English at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for a Teaching Assistant Professor or Teaching Associate Professor specializing in Composition and Disability Studies to join its active and innovative Composition program beginning Fall 2025, pending budgetary approval. The successful candidate will contribute to longstanding and sustained work related to Disability among Composition faculty and will also contribute to the growing interdisciplinary Disability Studies certificate. This position carries a 2/2 teaching load and will also include work with the Writing Institute, which houses the university’s Writing Across the Curriculum and Writing in the Disciplines initiatives. This work will include curricular development, outreach, and programming for writers with disabilities (undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff) and for teachers of writers with disabilities. The position includes departmental service such as administrative or committee work and guiding undergraduate research. This undergraduate-focused, full-time, renewable non-tenure track position also has paths to administrative positions.

The Composition program–one of four constituent programs in English (Composition, Literature, Creative Writing, and Film and Media Studies)–offers an array of first-year composition courses, general education Writing Intensive courses, and a Public and Professional Writing (PPW) major and certificate. Our courses are also integral to the Digital Narrative and Interactive Design joint major with the School of Computing and Information, the Public Communication of Science and Technology certificate, and the Disability Studies certificate. We value flexible teachers who can create engaging courses that respond to the needs of our programs and to school-wide general education requirements. 

We seek a candidate who will teach introductory, intermediate, and advanced Public and Professional Writing courses, especially those centered on Disability Studies. The successful candidate will have experience teaching both composition and Disability Studies at the undergraduate level. Existing courses in the English Department this person might teach include Seminar in Composition: Disability Studies, Introduction to Disability Studies, Writing for Accessibility, Writing and Anxiety, and our one-credit course on Creating a Culture of Access (for graduate students and faculty). To help grow the Disability Studies certificate, the successful candidate will also propose new courses at the intersection of Composition and Disability Studies to be added to our catalog. 

While the core teaching and mentoring expertise we seek is in Composition and Disability Studies, candidates with additional experience in creative writing, literature, or film studies are encouraged to apply. As there are opportunities in this position to teach online courses, we welcome applicants with experience in online teaching and online course development. As a department that values inclusive and welcoming environments in which to work and learn, we are interested in hearing from candidates whose lived experiences would prove resourceful in mentoring students of diverse backgrounds, including students with disabilities, students of color, LGBTQ+ students, international students, and first-generation college students.

This line signals a commitment from the University of Pittsburgh, the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, and the Department of English to support the Composition program’s continued success in recruiting undergraduate majors and certificate students and serving the general education needs of our students across the University. The colleague joining us through this line will enter a department with strong mentorship programs in place.

All applicants must have significant professional experience in Composition and Disability Studies; hold a PhD or terminal degree in English or a related field; demonstrate excellent teaching and commitment to undergraduate courses; demonstrate excellent curricular development; have a record of successful program development; demonstrate institutional and professional engagement; and show commitment to diversity and inclusion in their teaching and service. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience, and benefits are generous. 

Additionally, three confidential letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the candidate’s teaching sent to [email protected] by December 1, 2024

Please contact Lauren Morrison, Department of English, 526 Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, with any questions: [email protected]

Applications must include the following, submitted through the University’s Talent Center portal, by December 1, 2024:

Cover letter

C.V.

Teaching statement

Statement on diversity (1-2 pp.) 

A teaching portfolio of up to 40 pages that includes sample syllabi for two courses and at least two writing assignments or sequences 

University-administered student surveys for 3 classes

Candidates who advance in the search will be asked to submit a recorded teaching demonstration

3 confidential letters of recommendation sent to [email protected] by December 1, 2024

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.

Assignment Category: Full-time regular

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This position may be bargaining unit eligible

Campus: Pittsburgh

Required Attachments: Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae, Letters of Recommendation, Teaching Statement, Sample Syllabi, Other (see posting for additional details)

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