Artist in Residence

Position Description
Distinguished Visiting Creative Writer Search

The Duke University English Department invites nominations and applications for a distinguished playwright with a national or international reputation for a one-year position as Artist in Residence. We seek candidates who are committed to the teaching of playwriting to undergraduates. The ideal candidate will be a playwright, preferably with an MFA, with work that has been produced, and with experience in teaching undergraduate students. Candidates should be committed to engage with the literary and intellectual life of the English department, which includes public readings as well as faculty workshops and/or working groups.

The position could run either from August 1, 2027 to April 30, 2028 or Jan. 1, 2028 to Dec. 31, 2028. Residency in Durham, North Carolina is required. To apply, please submit through Academic Jobs Online a curriculum vitae, letter of application, evidence of teaching excellence, 3 letters of reference, a writing sample (15 to 25 pages in length, as well as a synopsis of the excerpted play) and proposed descriptions for two courses. The application address is: https://english.duke.edu/artistinresidencesearch .

The search committee welcomes letters of nomination for potential candidates.  We ask that all nominations be sent to [email protected], using “Artist in Residence” as the subject line.

The committee will begin its deliberations on November 1, 2026. Applications received by that date will be guaranteed full consideration.

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, 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.

Duke University is an 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, ethnicity, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke University 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.

Please note that Duke University specifically seeks information about past misconduct or policy violations (in the past ten (10) years) and/or relevant pending investigations as part of the application process. Disclosures will not be an automatic bar to hiring but, instead, will initiate further dialogue regarding past actions and steps taken to address them. Disclosures will not be shared with search committees during the application review process.