Poetry Director and Lecturer

Poetry Director and Lecturer, Graduate Program in Creative Writing

Position: Western Colorado University invites applications for a full-time faculty position as Lecturer and Director of the Poetry Concentration in the Graduate Program in Creative Writing. This is a full-

time, twelve-month position at the rank of lecturer.

The Graduate Program in Creative Writing is a low-residency program that offers both Masters and Master of Fine Arts degrees in Creative Writing with concentrations in Genre Fiction, Nature Writing, Poetry, and Screenwriting, as well as a Masters concentration in Publishing. During the academic year, all the Program’s courses and events are delivered online, using Zoom and Canvas, and most faculty, including Concentration Directors, work remotely. During the last week of July, students and faculty are required to come to Western’s campus in Gunnison, Colorado for the program’s annual residency.

Candidates with a passion for the cultivation of thoughtful, socially conscious poets working in diverse genres and styles are encouraged to apply.

RESPONSIBILITIES: This position will teach a total of three 6-credit classes during the academic year, oversee MFA thesis projects, administer and recruit students for the Poetry concentration, supervise concentration faculty and participate in overall program management and assessment, along with commitments to campus service and professional development, all of which can be performed remotely. Summer teaching duties (one 3-credit class) and in-person attendance at the annual residency in late July are required as well and are compensated with an additional payment commensurate with the duties.

The individual hired will model the Graduate Program in Creative Writing’s values through enthusiasm, commitment to student success, and a proven commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity in education and the arts. This individual will demonstrate excellence in teaching, a high level of expertise in the craft of poetry, and varied, up-to-date experience in the industry such as publishing, editing, readings, and literary citizenship. This individual also will have a compelling, long-term vision for the poetry concentration that encompasses curriculum development, innovative pedagogy, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a focus on recruiting and supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds, diversifying the curriculum, and creating a welcoming and supportive learning environment for all students. The hired individual will be eager to collaborate with other concentrations within the program and with other academic units at Western, will be a considerate and supportive colleague, and will enthusiastically represent the program with internal and external constituents, as appropriate.

SALARY/BENEFITS: $51,718.36 base salary plus a director’s payment of $6,000 and additional compensation of $4,500 for summer teaching, and $3000 for thesis mentoring, for $65,218.36 in total annual compensation. Benefits include an employee/employer shared contribution retirement plan, life and health insurance, as well as professional activity support. Undergraduate dependent tuition reduction benefits after one year of employment.

START DATE: May 1, 2025

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in poetry, creative writing, or closely related field
• Proven administrative ability
• At least 1 year experience in university-level teaching or close equivalent
• Demonstrated commitment to culturally responsive and anti-racist pedagogies
• Strong publishing record with at least one curated collection of poems in publication from a traditional publisher
• Demonstrated experience fostering and promoting poetry through activities such as teaching, editing, publishing, community organizing, or performance.
• Experience in the day-to-day business of working with publishers, editors, and poets, meeting writing/editing deadlines, and pitching projects to literary journals/anthologies.
• A demonstrated passion for poetry and a commitment to artistic excellence are essential.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MFA or Ph.D. in poetry, creative writing, or closely related field
• Familiarity with the low-residency MFA program model
• Experience developing curriculum and overseeing pedagogy
• Demonstrated experience in recruiting and supporting students from diverse backgrounds students across all communities
• Experience teaching online and hybrid classes
• Experience with community engagement and outreach in the field of poetry.
• Experience teaching online or hybrid courses

APPLICATION: Apply online at www.western.edu/jobs. Required attachments to the

application include: letter of application, curriculum vitae, graduate transcripts, statement of teaching philosophy, sample of (or links to) creative work, and a list of 3 recent professional references with name, position, and contact information.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during screening. Official transcripts are required prior to issuing appointment.

Application Deadline: February 6th, 2025 at 11:59PM (MST).

Screening of applications will begin December 16, 2024. Please direct questions to CFuhrman@Western.edu

Note: If transcripts are required for your application, you may redact information that identifies your age, date of birth, dates of attendance, or graduation from the educational institution. If a degree is required for employment, official transcripts (unopened or delivered directly to HR) are required upon hire; copies/scans submitted during application will not serve the purpose of official transcripts upon hire.

Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University Mission, Indigenous Commitment, and DEIA+ Statements

Mission Statement

The Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University seeks to create transformative learning experiences for our students, built from a strong foundation that honors our students’ unique voices and is supported within inclusive environments established both virtually and at yearly residency gatherings. At Western, we hail from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and believe that community and diversity are our greatest strengths. We not only inspire our students to grapple with challenging questions about themselves and the world, but we also foster the inquiry, equity, and agency necessary for them to practice ethical citizenship at home and far beyond our virtual classrooms and Gunnison, Colorado campus.

Indigenous Commitment

The Western Colorado University campus is built on the traditional homelands of the Ute people. It is also the site of trade, travel, gathering and healing for more than a dozen other Native tribes and is still home over 50,000 Native people in the state of Colorado.

It is Western’s responsibility as an academic institution to share knowledge about Native people and the institution’s history with them. Consistent with the University’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and racial justice, the Graduate Program in Creative Writing will continue building relationships with Native American communities and individuals through academic pursuits, partnerships, historical recognitions, community service, enrollment efforts, and by studying Native art and lifting Native voices.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Anti-Racist+ Statement

The Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University prepares all students to be leaders in an ever-changing world. To achieve this mission, we must attract and support a community that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable. We must maintain spaces that are both safe and brave. We recognize that academic greatness cannot be attained without a wide range of ideas, approaches, and contributions. Our understanding of diversity is similarly wide ranged and includes race, ethnicity, age, sexuality, socioeconomic class, disability, religion, citizenship status, and country of birth. We understand the ever-changing landscape of justice and rights and promise to consistently reevaluate our own culture and stay aware of how disparities in power and opportunity relate to social categories and identities, and how these disparities can divide people and groups in ways that benefit some while limiting others.

To become the inclusive community we desire, we must treat one another fairly, kindly, and with respect, fostering an environment in which no voice is silenced and all can thrive. Our commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racist work has the potential to disrupt and transform long-held beliefs and behaviors. The faculty and staff in the Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University will hold ourselves accountable for educating ourselves and our students to be resourceful, to be aware of injustice and power, and to have moral courage as a result of this commitment. The faculty and staff also understand that love is essential to any successful relationship and healthy community. And we understand how important love is to a student-centered program like ours; therefore we remain steadfast to these promises out of love for our students and community.

Additional Information on Western and Gunnison/Crested Butte