"Associate or Assistant Professor - Creative Writing (Fiction)"

Job Details

Summary

The Department of English invites applications for a tenure-track position as an Associate or Assistant Professor specializing in creative writing (fiction). This is a full-time, 9-month appointment with an August 2026 start date for an individual with demonstrated expertise in a speculative fiction genre such as fantasy fiction, science fiction, or fabulist fiction.

Information about Program and College

The Department of English is one of 17 academic units in the College of Arts and Sciences and offers degree paths and minors in Creative Writing and Literature, among other areas. Founded in 1967, BGSU's Creative Writing Program offers both a BFA and an MFA. BGSU is home to the award-winning Mid-American Review, and it hosts a reading series that has featured such distinguished writers as Hanif Abdurraqib, Rita Dove, Brenda Hillman, Jaimy Gordon, Bonnie Jo Campbell, W. Todd Kaneko, and Benjamin Percy. Graduates of the programs have won such awards as the Yale Younger Poets Award, the Guggenheim, NEA Individual Artist Fellowships, the Iowa Short Fiction Prize, the Drue Heinz Award, the Flannery O’Connor Award, the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award, the New York Public Library Young Lions Award, the National Contemporary Poetry Award, the Whiting Award, and the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.
Notable MFA alumni include Anthony Doerr, Matt Bell, Charles Fort, and Carolyn Forché. Additional information about the Department of English and the Creative Writing Program can be found at bgsu.edu/english.

The vision for the College of Arts and Sciences, aligned with the university’s strategic plan, is to ensure that our students graduate career-ready to meet the world’s challenges, and that our faculty research and creative activity contribute to the public good. We achieve this through robust collaboration across departmental boundaries, with particular attention given to increasing experiential learning for our undergraduate and graduate students and connecting our scholarly and creative work to the needs of our region. We are especially interested in recruiting candidates who can contribute excellence in teaching, scholarly/creative work, and/or service toward achieving excellence throughout the university and to the greater community. The College is committed to faculty success, providing resources and support within the Dean’s Office and through collaboration with Arts and Sciences departments and schools, leadership teams in other colleges, and university-serving partners such as the Center for Faculty Excellence. Through these connections, we have developed a comprehensive, cohort-based mentorship program to support the professional growth and advancement of faculty across all disciplines and ranks. We value and practice shared governance and are committed to maintaining a vibrant and supportive working environment.

As a Public University for the Public Good, Bowling Green State University is a comprehensive, high research university located in northwestern Ohio committed to driving economic and cultural vitality in the region and beyond. Through innovative teaching, research and creative activities, BGSU fosters a collaborative and inclusive learning community where inspired ideas, knowledge and achievements support the region, state and nation. More than 760 talented and passionate faculty members teach across more than 200 undergraduate majors and programs, 17 doctoral programs, and 57 master’s programs. A focus on promoting research, scholarship, and creative activities has resulted in a significant increase in extramural funding over the past several years.

Guided by Forward, BGSU’s strategic plan, the University is focused on redefining student success. For the fifth year in a row, The Wall Street Journal ranks BGSU as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest that students would choose again. BGSU also holds the Wall Street Journal distinction of being the No. 1 public university in Ohio for the student experience.

Essential Functions

The primary responsibilities of this position:
• Teach graduate classes in the MFA program in creative writing such as fiction workshops, craft and techniques courses, and creative writing pedagogy.
• Teach undergraduate classes in the BFA program in creative writing, such as fiction workshops, worldbuilding, and topics in creative writing, as well as other courses at all levels corresponding to faculty member’s expertise and departmental needs.
• Direct and serve on thesis committees at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
• Participate in ongoing revision and development of creative writing curriculum at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
• Provide service to the program, department, college, and university as well as to the profession.
• Maintain an active scholarly and creative agenda that results in publication.

Minimum Qualifications

• MFA or PhD in creative writing or a closely related area.
• Creative productivity in a speculative fiction genre such as fantasy fiction, science fiction, or fabulist fiction, demonstrated via publication of an original book-length work of speculative fiction by a reputable commercial, academic, or independent press; and/or record of multiple speculative fiction publications in peer-reviewed journals or magazines.
• Teaching experience at the undergraduate level as instructor of record in a course in creative writing.
• If applying at Associate rank, a record of teaching, publication, and service that meets the English Department’s standards for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching experience at the graduate level as instructor of record in a course in creative writing or literature.
• Experience in mentoring students in the completion of creative projects.
• Experience in developing curriculum.
• Demonstrated record of pedagogical innovation.
• Demonstrated record of academic service.
• Demonstrated academic expertise or publication record in literary fiction.

Additional Information

Application Materials Required
• Cover letter describing how your teaching, creative work, mentorship, and service meet the job qualifications and detailing how you would contribute departmentally and institutionally.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Names and contact information of three professional references.
• Writing sample (no more than 20 pages) of creative work.

Candidates invited for on-campus interviews must provide unofficial transcripts of the highest degree earned and a teaching portfolio that includes a teaching philosophy of up to 2 pages, 1-3 sample syllabi, sample assignments, and a complete set of quantitative and qualitative student evaluations from one class (if available).

Finalist will be required to submit official transcripts and written letters of reference.

BGSU policy requires finalist to authorize and pass a background check prior to receiving an offer of employment.

Application Deadline
January 9, 2026

Salary & Benefits
Competitive and commensurate with candidate’s experience and credentials. Full benefits package available.

Further Information
Please direct inquiries to Professor Amorak Huey, Director of Creative Writing and Search Committee Chair, at ahuey@bgsu.edu.

Bowling Green State University is an Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. We are committed to ensuring an equal employment opportunity for all applicants and encourage applications from all regardless of sex, race, veteran-status, disability, age, gender identity, genetic information, religion, or sexual orientation. EEOC Know Your Rights Poster:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Bowling Green State University, please call 419-372-8421 or email ohr@bgsu.edu.
BGSU is an E-Verify employer. If hired into this position, you will be required to provide satisfactory proof of employment eligibility by providing acceptable, original forms of identification for employment verification via the Federal I-9 employment verification process. A list of acceptable documents can be seen here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents