Assistant Professor of Liberal Studies

The Liberal Studies Program at Alaska Pacific University (APU) invites applications for a full-time faculty position in composition and rhetoric to begin Aug. 18, 2024, with rank depending on educational preparation and experience. Candidates should have demonstrated ability in successfully teaching undergraduate courses in composition and rhetoric to students with a range of academic preparation and from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

THE UNIVERSITY: Founded in 1959, Alaska Pacific University (APU) is a private university emphasizing experiential and project-based learning.  APU is a federally recognized Alaska Native-Serving Institution located in Anchorage, the state’s largest city with a multicultural population of nearly 300,000. APU offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees with a focus on Alaska-critical and globally relevant issues. Grounded in competency development and cultural relevancy, the curriculum fosters high-level intellectual and practical skills encompassing a wide-ranging knowledge of science, cultures, and society as well as an active commitment to personal and social responsibility.

Located on the land of the Dena’ina people, APU embeds Indigenous knowledge in its courses and programs as it seeks to attain designation as a Tribal university. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1, APU is committed to innovative programs that respond to Alaska workforce needs while developing the professional capacity of in-state Alaskans and Alaska Native people  https://www.alaskapacific.edu/ .

THE PROGRAM AREAS: Undergraduate courses in composition and rhetoric are within the Liberal Studies (LS) Program area. The LS area provides foundational coursework in writing, critical thinking and communication and offers bachelor of arts degrees in Alaska Native Governance, Sustainability Studies, Creative and Professional Writing, and Liberal Studies. The University’s Master of Arts Program and the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing are within the Liberal Studies Program area. The LS area is a unit within the Institute of Culture and Environment, which includes Marine and Environmental Sciences; Outdoor Studies; Education; and Environmental Public Health. Honoring Alaska’s cultural and geographic diversity, the Institute prepares students to address and engage our region’s complex and unique challenges. https:// www.alaskapacific.edu/programs/

JOB DESCRIPTION: The contract carries a nine-month teaching load of 24 credit hours for the 2024-2025 academic year. We seek candidates with expertise and demonstrated success in teaching undergraduate courses in composition and rhetoric to students with a wide range of readiness and from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Responsibilities include regularly teaching first- and second-year courses in argumentation and research as well as a course for underprepared students. Responsibilities include service to the university and profession and pursuit of creative or scholarly endeavors.

RANK AND SALARY:  Salary is dependent upon educational preparation and experience as proscribed by a university-wide salary range.

DATE OF APPOINTMENT:  Fall 2024

QUALIFICATIONS: Requirements for this position include (1) an earned graduate degree by the time of appointment in composition and rhetoric, English, or closely related field; Ph.D. preferred but not required or an MFA with significant teaching record; (2) a research agenda centered on composition and rhetoric pedagogy; (3) a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in teaching.

Preferred additional qualifications: Secondary experience in TESOL and/or digital storytelling; professional writing; multimodal composition; writing center administration; journalism; ability to contribute to the development of humanities courses offered by the Liberal Studies Program area.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINE: Please include: (1) your CV (saved as .txt, .doc, .docx, or .pdf); (2) examples of teaching effectiveness in delivering undergraduate courses in composition and rhetoric; (3) names of three references; (4) a letter of interest to [email protected] .  Direct questions about this position to Pamela Maslyk, director, Institute of Culture and Environment, at: [email protected], 4101 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508. Applications accepted immediately; position open until filled.

Alaska Pacific University is an EEO/ADA employer.

Apply Online