Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing

Sweet Briar College is a liberal arts college for women with a long history of forging female leaders.  Sweet Briar College is repeatedly named by US News and World Report as one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges in the nation.  Sweet Briar College is growing rapidly, attracting students who are drawn to it for its excellent liberal arts program, coupled with distinctive programs in women's leadership, engineering, sustainability, arts, and its legendary equestrian program.

The College boasts a modern core curriculum focused on women's leadership in the 21st century and undergraduate programs in the arts, sciences, and humanities, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. It is one of only two women’s colleges in the United States with an ABET-accredited engineering degree. The women’s leadership core curriculum is innovative and energizing.

When students graduate, they are persuasive communicators who know how to think on their feet and bring people together. No matter what they study or where they go, Sweet Briar women are prepared to lead. The campus community is a family of faculty, staff, coaches, and alumnae who support and encourage students and each other. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, students lead research, ask questions, and forge supportive relationships with faculty that can last for decades.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Sweet Briar College is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints who would strengthen the College.

Job Title: Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing

Classification: Full-time, tenure-track, benefits eligible faculty position.

Reports To: Arts Division Head

Sweet Briar College invites applications for a tenure-track position of Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing, to begin teaching in Fall 2027, with a specialization in creative nonfiction. The English and Creative Writing program at Sweet Briar College employs a studio curriculum with an emphasis on project-based learning. As working writers, our faculty engage in projects that shift and develop over time and are informed by what we’re reading and what we discover as we write and by the changing world around us. English and Creative Writing courses at Sweet Briar combine the reading and discussion of classic and contemporary literature with instruction in both analytical and creative writing. 

The standard teaching load is three courses per semester and includes teaching in our general education Leadership Core curriculum. The successful candidate will teach at least three sections each year of one of those Leadership Core courses, The Mindful Writer, a first-year writing course in which students receive subscriptions to the New Yorker magazine and use those articles as models for their own writing. Other opportunities to teach in the Leadership Core and across the curriculum are possible based on the candidate’s qualifications and interests. 

Candidates ready to work with a diverse student body are especially welcome. Sweet Briar prides itself on creating a learning environment that encourages young women to fulfill their highest potential. Leadership in all walks of life is fostered by the special connections our faculty make with their students, and Sweet Briar women translate their academic experiences into interesting and important lives. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• AnM.F.A. and/or a Ph.D. in English and creative writing;
• Experience teaching first-year writing, multi-genre workshops, and nonfiction seminars;
• At least one book, published by or under contract with, a national press;
• Demonstrated commitment to outstanding teaching;
• Demonstrated interest in working across disciplines and engaging in collaborative teaching and service; and
• Excellent communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Published work in a second genre, especially fiction; and
• Experience overseeing a student literary magazine.

How to Apply:

To apply, visit the Sweet Briar College Career Center:https://sbc.edu/human-resources/faculty-staff-job-openings/. All applications should include: 1) cover letter; 2) CV; 3) teaching statement 4)a writing sample of 25 pages(published book excerpts or work published or forthcoming in literary journals); and 5)the names and full contact information for three professional references.Items should be in a single PDF file, if possible. Review of applications will begin on 11/12/26.

The salary range for this position is $56,000.00- $62,000.00 per year. This is commensurate with education and experience and will be determined in accordance with institutional guidelines.