Assistant Professor of Professional and Community-Engaged Writing

Overview

The Department of English at Utah State University Eastern seeks applications for an academic-year, nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor of English, specializing in Professional and Community-Engaged Writing. The candidate will join a department committed to transformative pedagogies and equal opportunities for all students. The successful candidate will be well prepared to teach foundational composition courses: ENGL 1010: Writing as Inquiry, ENGL 2010: Research and Argument across Perspectives, and ENGL 2020: Professional Communication. The candidate will also be well prepared to teach general education Integrated Humanities courses for USU’s Center for Civic Excellence. In addition to general education, the successful candidate will make other workforce-oriented Writing Studies courses—for example, ENGL 3170: Legal Writing, ENGL 3175: Healthcare and Medical Writing, and ENGL 3180: Writing for the Public—available to students in USU Eastern growth areas such as Criminal Justice, Nursing, and Social Work.

 

The successful candidate will collaborate with campus colleagues and community partners in the Price region by developing cross-departmental partnerships and relationships with community organizations (e.g., government offices, businesses, schools, nonprofits, and/or other organizations) to create experiential learning opportunities, internships, and other meaningful forms of community engagement for students.

 

The applicant is required to have a PhD in Composition and Rhetoric or a related field, a strong teaching record, and potential for publication. An MFA in Creative Writing or related field would be an optional but desirable credential, as the department would welcome a candidate who could also offer general education and/or major courses in creative writing. This is a teaching-centered position with a teaching load of three 3-credit courses per semester (3/3). The candidate will also engage in research as their secondary area. Teaching will be based on the USU Eastern campus in Price, Utah, approximately 120 miles from downtown Salt Lake City and 2-3 hours from several National Parks and Monuments. The position begins in August 2027.

 

Review of applications begins December 14, 2026 and continues until the position is filled.

 

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will contribute to the department in the following ways:

• Teach in-person courses on the USU Eastern campus and deliver courses to USU students across the state in a variety of formats, including virtual and online asynchronous.
• Provide students with mentoring and experiential learning opportunities to develop transferable workforce skills for a variety of careers and professions.
• Strengthen the structure and support of the department’s Writing Studies curriculum.
• Teach courses in composition, professional communication, integrated humanities in general education, and additional areas of the department’s undergraduate Writing Studies curriculum, based on department need and the faculty member’s interests and expertise.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Must have earned a PhD in Composition and Rhetoric or a related field by August 1, 2027.
• Must have a proven record of effective and innovative teaching of first-year writing courses.
• Must be willing to teach students in multiple locations using a variety of in-person, virtual, and online delivery formats.
• Must demonstrate potential for a successful research agenda.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preference will be given to applicants who have a demonstrated interest in teaching professional communication courses at the lower-division level.
• Experience teaching distance education courses and working with nontraditional student populations is desirable.
• MFA in Creative Writing or related field is optional, but desirable.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

Cover letter addressing all required qualifications to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

Names and email addresses of three references. If you are selected as a final candidate, your references will be contacted and asked to submit a letter of recommendation.

Candidates advancing to the next round will be asked to provide a philosophy of teaching and a writing sample.

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent benefits.

ADA

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

College/Department Highlights

Utah State University actively pursues equal opportunities for all students through education, research, creative activity, and collaboration. Women, minority, and veteran candidates, as well as candidates with disabilities, are especially encouraged to apply. The College of Arts and Sciences is committed to supporting interdisciplinary scholarship, creative work, and transformative pedagogy within both historical and contemporary timeframes. In addition to its robust Writing Studies curriculum, the Department of English offers major emphases in Creative Writing, English Teaching, and Literature.

 

For further information about the Department of English, refer to https://artsci.usu.edu/english/.

 

For further information about USU’s Statewide Campuses, including Eastern, refer to https://statewide.usu.edu/.

University Highlights

As Utah’s student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation’s second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.

 

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

 

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, which it joined July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025-26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

 

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when it named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at 435-797-0122 or [email protected].

 

*updated 10/26

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

 

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

 

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

 

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

 

The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

Old Main Room 405

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322

[email protected]

(435) 797-1266

 

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

 

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| [email protected]

 

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  [email protected]

 

*updated 08/2026