Preferred areas of scholarly interest include writing program administration/studies, composition theory and pedagogy, empirical research design and methods, writing assessment, and working with linguistically diverse students and culturally relevant teaching practices. The successful candidate will transition into the director position by the beginning of their second year.  In addition to leading the program and facilitating weekly mentoring meetings with the cohort of new master’s-level student teaching associates, the Writing Director teaches one course per semester and engages in an active research program.  Successful applicants will demonstrate the ability to balance teaching, professional and scholarly activities, and service to the department and university.

We are seeking applicants with demonstrated experience in and/or commitment to teaching and working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and members of underrepresented groups. Candidates must satisfy two or more of the eight Building on Inclusive Excellence (BIE) criteria. Candidates that meet BIE criteria: (a) are committed to engaging in service with underrepresented populations within the discipline, (b) have demonstrated knowledge of barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline, (c) have experience or have demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring underrepresented students, (d) have experience or have demonstrated commitment to integrating understanding of underrepresented populations and communities into research, (e) have experience in or have demonstrated commitment to extending knowledge of opportunities and challenges in achieving artistic/scholarly success to members of an underrepresented group, (f) have experience in or have demonstrated commitment to research that engages underrepresented communities, (g) have expertise or demonstrated commitment to developing expertise in cross-cultural communication and collaboration, and/or (h) have research interests that contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education. Please indicate in a separate diversity statement how you meet at least two (2) of these criteria. Additional guidance on our BIE program for applicants is here.

The Department of Rhetoric and Writing Studies is a freestanding academic unit within the College of Arts and Letters comprised of nationally and internationally recognized faculty with interests in rhetoric, composition, writing center studies, literacy, technical/professional communication, cultural rhetoric, digital, visual, and multimodal rhetorics, and sustainability. The department currently has six tenure track faculty members and many full-time lecturers.  We offer a B.A. in Rhetoric and Writing Studies; an undergraduate Certificate in Professional Writing; an M.A. in Rhetoric and Writing Studies with a general track and concentrations in the Teaching of Writing and Professional Writing; and a graduate-level Advanced Certificate in the Teaching of Writing. Additionally, we administer the University Writing Center, provide the majority of the courses for the university’s two-semester university-wide General Education writing sequence and its required upper division writing requirement, as well as courses in business, scientific, and professional writing.  We host a yearly Landmark Lecture series that brings well-known scholars to campus. We also offer faculty-led summer study abroad programs in Ireland, with opportunities to expand these experiences in partnership with the Office of International Affairs. Faculty engage in collaborative activities with colleagues in other units, such as the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences program and the University Honors program. Our faculty are dedicated to developing curricula and programs that support the diverse student body at SDSU, including through an ongoing anti-racist working group and the previously mentioned NEH-funded grant program. (For more information, please see the department’s website: http://rhetoric.sdsu.edu.)

Established in 1897, SDSU is the oldest institution of higher education in the San Diego region, with a campus in San Diego serving 36,000 undergraduate and graduate students and additional locations in Southern California’s Imperial Valley and Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia.  SDSU is included in the Carnegie Foundation’s Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity category. SDSU offers bachelor degrees in 97 areas, masters in 84 and doctorates in 23. See http://www.sdsu.edu for more information.  A large, diverse, urban university, an Asian-Native American-Pacific Islander-Serving Institution and a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence, SDSU is diverse in many ways, including race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, pregnancy, medical condition, and covered veteran status. We strive to build and sustain a welcoming environment for all.

Candidates should submit 1) a cover letter indicating research and teaching interests, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) relevant course syllabi, 4) writing sample, 5) three reference letters, and 6) a diversity statement.  Review of applications will begin October 23, 2023, and continue until the position is filled. 

The minimum salary for this position is based on the current CSU salary schedule for Assistant Professors and may be revised based on contract collective bargaining. The anticipated salary range is from $78,000–$82,000. Salary placement will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience, and salaries higher than the published maximums may be offered in limited circumstances. San Diego State University offers a rich benefits package that constitutes a major portion of total compensation. For benefits information, click here.