"26-43 Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of British Literature - Early Modern through 18th Century"

Join a vibrant equity-minded campus whose excellence is reflected in its community, cultural engagement, and student success. The Department of English invites applicants for a Full-time, Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor of British Literature, early modern (must include Shakespeare) through 18th century position. The position begins in August 2026.

West Chester University (WCU), a regional flag of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, comprehensive institution committed to offering high-quality undergraduate education, selected post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. The University offers more than 100 graduate and undergraduate programs in the sciences and mathematics, business and public management, arts and humanities, health sciences, education and social work, music, and interdisciplinary studies. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

The Department of English, part of the College of Arts and Humanities, empowers students as readers, writers, and thinkers to grasp the nuances of texts (literary, rhetorical, visual, etc.) and to use language to participate effectively in academic, aesthetic, and professional contexts. Our programs prepare students for productive lives as critical thinkers, informed citizens, and ethical leaders. Our teaching and research emphasize the ideal of a socially conscious education that values critical literacy and communication as resources for democracy. We pursue these goals via teaching that reflects innovative scholarship, uses current technologies to facilitate learning, and responds to the cultural diversity of our student body. The department comprises over 50 full-time faculty members and serves hundreds of undergraduate majors and minors and master's degree students, as well as thousands more in our First-Year Writing program. Learn more about the English Department.

The faculty position involves teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in early modern through 18th-century British literature, including teaching Shakespeare, as well as courses in general education literature and writing. The teaching load is 4/4, and all faculty in the department teach First Year Writing and/or other general education courses during most semesters. Courses may be offered in-person, online, and/or via distance education modalities, depending on department need. The ideal candidate will use innovative teaching skills and demonstrate strong attention to the learning needs of our students. The candidate's expertise and experience will strengthen the department's impact on students, and the faculty member will also collaborate with colleagues and staff to ensure student success.

Responsibilities include:

• Teach undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses in early modern through 18th-century British literature, including but not limited to Shakespeare, studies in British Drama, British Novel, and topics in British Literature & Culture. Secondary teachings include courses in First Year Writing (general education composition), including but not limited to Effective Writing and Research Writing. At least 50% of the faculty member's 4/4 teaching load will comprise courses in general education writing.
• Engage in scholarly activities—including research, presentations, publications, and/or grants—in the field(s) of specialization. This is a requirement for tenure and promotion.
• Provide academic advising, including mentoring student researchers
• Serve the department, college, and university through participation on committees and various forms of service work
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Ph.D in English Literature, Comparative Literature, or a closely related field/discipline. ABD may be considered - must be completed on or before appointment
• Demonstrated teaching expertise in Shakespeare Studies and an active research program in Shakespeare Studies or early modern British literature
• Ability to teach in at least one corollary period of British studies, including medieval literature, 18th-century literature, British Romanticism, and/or Victorian Studies
• Demonstrated ability to teach courses in First Year Writing/English Composition
• Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following subspecialties: Early Modern Studies in Race and Imperialism, Black Studies, Environmental Humanities, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and/or Global/Comparative Literature

Preferred:

• Experience teaching First Year Writing/English Composition