"Assistant Professor - Composition/Rhetoric - 000482"

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The English Studies Department at Western Carolina University is seeking candidates for a nine-month, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor, to begin August 2026.

Candidates should have an established record of teaching composition (with a focus on Writing across the Curriculum particularly encouraged) with an interest in directing our Writing, Rhetoric & Critical Studies (WRCS) program. They should also have an ability to contribute to undergraduate courses in our Public Writing and Rhetoric concentration for English Studies majors, and Rhetorical Theory and Pedagogy courses in our Professional Writing and Rhetoric concentration in the English MA. They should demonstrate a research agenda grounded in rhetoric and/or composition theory. The teaching load is 3/3

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. with an emphasis in Rhetoric, Composition, Professional Writing, or closely related field from an accredited institution by August 1, 2026.
• Candidates should also have an established record of teaching and scholarship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Peer reviewed scholarship in Rhetoric and Composition theory.
• An interest in serving as our WRCS Director ideally after tenure.

Position Type:

Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire. Preliminary interviews will be conducted via Zoom; finalist interviews will be on campus.

Please include the following: letter of application, current CV, list of 3 professional references with complete contact information, and unofficial transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the masters degree level and higher.

For questions or additional information please contact Dr. Travis Rountree, Assistant Department Head and Search Committee Chair, trountree@wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your masters degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.