Writing Studio Assistant Director
The Thompson Writing Program (TWP) at Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina, seeks an Assistant Professor of the Practice in Writing Studies or related discipline to serve as Assistant Director of the Thompson Writing Program Writing Studio, Duke’s writing center. The Professor of the Practice track at Duke is a regular-rank, non-tenure track faculty position and affords the possibility for reappointment and promotion to the Associate and Full Professor of the Practice ranks. The position has a start date of July 1, 2025, and will come with an initial four-year contract, which will be renewable for longer-term contracts, subject to successful review.
The Writing Studio, which works with undergraduate and graduate writers across campus, has a consulting staff of undergraduate, graduate, and professional consultants. Other components include:
- an embedded writing consultant (writing fellows) program pairing undergraduate consultants with writing-intensive courses across the university, including an extensive partnership with the Pratt School of Engineering’s first-year design class;
- a Graduate Writing Lab offering writing groups and workshops for graduate students across the curriculum;
- co-curricular and classroom workshops; and
- a nascent community writing center site.
In joining the Thompson Writing Program, the Assistant Director of the TWP Writing Studio will join a vibrant, multidisciplinary writing program with a new writing minor and a writing-in-the-disciplines component supporting a new general education and writing-enhanced curriculum.
The Assistant Director of the TWP Writing Studio will work collaboratively with the Director of the Writing Studio to:
- supervise and mentor the consulting staff including mentoring student-led research projects;
- provide pedagogical development to faculty pairing their courses with embedded writing consultants;
- establish and maintain partnerships with other units on campus;
- design pedagogical preparation for consultants in working with multilingual writers and with emerging technologies;
- assist in mentoring and evaluating instructors in the writing center;
- spearhead and participate in ongoing research projects in writing-center studies;
- engage in ongoing assessment, including designing new measures as appropriate;
- engage in administrative and supervisory work during selected summer terms; and
- contribute to strategic planning for the future development of the Studio.
The Assistant Director of the TWP Writing Studio will also collaborate with Thompson Writing Program faculty on curricular initiatives supporting writing across Duke and serve on college and university committees as appropriate. The Assistant Director of the TWP Writing Studio will also teach three undergraduate courses per year, consisting of two sections of first-year writing and one upper-division writing course. (Normal course load for TWP Professors of the Practice consists of four courses per year, but the Assistant Director of the TWP Writing Studio will receive one course release per year for their administrative and pedagogical work with the Writing Studio.) This position is well-suited for someone who enjoys a combination of collaborative and independent work and enjoys working on a variety of projects simultaneously.
Minimum Qualifications:
- PhD in writing studies or related field with an active and demonstrable research agenda in an area related to writing-center theory and practice
- Demonstrable experience mentoring or providing professional development for new and experienced tutors
- Two years’ experience with college-level writing instruction
- Experience in faculty development
Highly desirable:
- Experience in writing-center administration
- Demonstrable experience working with translingual or multilingual writers
- Experience supporting graduate students’ writing development
- Experience supporting faculty and students with writing in scientific or technical fields
- Experience in tutoring or administration of digital pedagogy
- Experience supporting writers with multimodal communication
A complete application includes the following materials: a cover letter (with your contact information) describing research interests, writing-center and teaching philosophies, and administrative experience; a curriculum vita; syllabi for two courses; a research statement (2-3 pages maximum) that includes current accomplishments, plans for future research, and how you support a diverse and inclusive environment in your research; a statement of teaching philosophy (2-3 pages maximum) addressing your experience and approach to fostering an inclusive learning and mentoring environment for students and writing-center consultants; and three confidential letters of recommendation.
Persons with questions please email Chair, Professors of the Practice in Writing Studies Search, at writingstudiespop2025@duke.edu. No phone calls please. Application period begins September 15, 2024. Full consideration will be given to applications submitted by October 31, 2024. The Thompson Writing Program cannot alter submitted applications so applicants will not be able to request changes or updates to their application materials after submission. Applicants who submit their applications by October 31, 2024, will be informed of the status of their applications by January 15, 2025.
Applicants must apply through Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/program/28255
Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Graduate Student Job Opportunities
Each year we run a competitive search for a select number of Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) of Writing 101 and Graduate Student Consultants (GSIs) of the TWP Writing Studio. For more information, please contact Vanessa Turnier.
Undergraduate Job Opportunities
For students interested in working as a writing consultant in either The TWP Writing Studio or as an Embedded Writing Consultant paired with a W-coded class, the first step is completing Writing 255. Please contact Eliana Schonberg for information about the application process.