(posted 8/3/26)
The Department of English and Creative Writing at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia invites applications for a tenure-track assistant or associate professor of English. This is a full-time, on-campus position beginning July 1, 2027, and both entry-level and experienced candidates are encouraged to apply. Please visit this web page (https://www.hollins.edu/about-hollins/jobs/) to learn more about Hollins; its commitment to belonging, pluralism, and student success; faculty development; the university’s students; and the Roanoke Valley.
Position and Qualifications
The Department of English and Creative Writing is seeking a colleague with specialization in Black studies to teach introductory and advanced literature courses and to join a collaborative team with interconnected literature and creative writing programs.
The department is one of the university’s largest and is internationally known for its history of supporting developing writers and scholars who go on to shape literary studies. With 10 full-time faculty members, the department offers a B.A. in English & Creative Writing (with an option for student-designed concentrations) and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Additionally, the department houses two student-produced literary magazines: Cargoes (all genres) and Gravel (multicultural writing).
The holder of this position will teach six courses (or the equivalent) per year, maintain an active research agenda, and perform departmental and institutional service. They will work with undergraduates at all levels from introductory courses to senior honors projects, including writing-intensive courses. They will also contribute to the Hollins core curriculum and provide mentorship and advising to students both within and beyond the English & Creative Writing major.
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in English, comparative literature, Black studies, Africana studies, American studies, or related field with specialization in literature in hand by July 1, 2027.
The successful candidate for this position will:
- Demonstrate preparation to teach broadly by defining secondary fields of teaching interest in conjunction with Black studies that will expand curricular offerings. Areas of particular interest for this position include, but are not limited, to LGBTQIA+ literature, genre fiction, poetry studies, and critical writing pedagogy.
- Demonstrate preparation to mentor and advise a highly engaged student population by narrating their experience or approach to providing support for students from a wide variety of backgrounds.
- Articulate a clear research agenda that includes plans for peer-reviewed publication.
- Demonstrate leadership and organizational capabilities that will prepare them to help shape the curriculum at a small, liberal arts university through departmental and institutional service.
Preferred candidates will:
- Be able to teach surveys of African-American literature post-1860 and/or American literature post-1860. Ideal candidates will be able to frame these subjects beyond the constraints of borders.
- Show interest in public scholarship, creative work, and/or community engagement beyond traditional academic settings.
Application Process
Screening of candidates will begin on September 14, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- A detailed cover letter of no more than three pages
- A curriculum vitae
Candidates advanced to the second stage of review will be invited to submit the following materials:
- A 1-2 page research statement
- A one-page statement of teaching philosophy
- An article-length writing sample
- Two sample syllabi
- An unofficial copy of graduate school transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation (at least one of which must focus specifically on the candidate’s teaching experience and abilities)
References will be directly contacted for candidates who proceed to the final interview stage.
Applicants should submit materials to [email protected]. The selected candidate will be asked to submit official transcripts to the Office of the Provost, and once they accept a contingent employment offer, a criminal history background check will be conducted. Additionally, the selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis, and Hollins University will not sponsor employment visas for this role. The salary for this position is $62,500/year if the selected candidate is hired as an assistant professor and is $69,000/year if the selected candidate is hired as an associate professor. For questions about the position, please contact search chair Michelle De Groot at [email protected].
About Hollins
Hollins University is dedicated to academic excellence, creativity, belonging, and preparing students for lives of purpose. Hollins provides an outstanding and academically rigorous undergraduate liberal arts education for women and entrepreneurial and innovative graduate programs for all in a gender-inclusive environment. The university promotes opportunities for research, education abroad, and leadership training, and offers real-world experience through global internships supported by an extensive alumnae/i network.
Hollins University is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment. No employee or applicant shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including transgender status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and gender identity), national or ethnic origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable state and federal laws.
Visit www.hollins.edu for more information.
