Teaching Assistant/Associate Professor in American Discourse and Democracy and Environmental Literature

PhD in English, Rhetoric, or related interdisciplinary humanities field

Environmental Literature and Rhetorics of American democracy and discourse

N/A

The English department is home to multiple undergraduate programs including Creative Writing, Film, English Education, Literary Studies, and Rhetoric and Technical Writing. The English department also offers an M.A. program with concentrations in Literary Studies, Rhetoric and Composition, and Teaching Literature and Writing.

Additional information about the Department of English, Appalachian State University, and surrounding areas may be accessed at: www.appstate.edu.

The Department of English at Appalachian State University invites applications for a non-tenure-track Teaching Assistant or Associate Professor in Environmental Literature and American discourse and democracy. The position will begin in August 2026 pending final administrative and budgetary approval. The successful candidate will teach a 4/4 load consisting primarily of Environmental literature, such as ENG 2220: Environmental Literature, Writing, and Film and ENG 3715: Literature and the Environment, as well as ENG 2330: Discourse and Democracy as part of ASU's Foundations of American Democracy program. Candidates may also have the opportunity to teach at the General Education and upper levels in other areas of departmental need. Responsibilities also include serving on departmental committees and other related service work. Competitive candidates should demonstrate their experience in critical pedagogies and supporting success for students of all backgrounds.

An A.B.D. (Ph.D in hand by August 2026) or Ph.D. in English, Rhetoric, American Studies or another closely related interdisciplinary humanities field as well as evidence of successful teaching are required. Preference will be given to candidates who have teaching experience in theories, literatures, and rhetorics of environmental humanities and democracy.

To ensure full consideration, please submit 1) a letter of application that focuses on relevant pedagogical experiences in literature and the environment, discourse and democracy, and supporting student success, 2) a CV, 3) a sample syllabus for ENG 2330: Discourse and Democracy that focuses on course description and schedule of readings, and 4) three letters of reference. Review of applications will begin in February 1, 2026. Finalist Zoom interviews will occur in February & March. Only electronic applications will be considered.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

ABD with reduction in rank and salary: ABD will be considered for this position. Evidence of successful defense of the dissertation must be received by July 31 for a fall hire or November 30 for a spring hire. If confirmation of defense is not provided by the deadline, the candidate will receive a new one-year fixed-term contract and be hired at the rank of Instructor. The candidate's salary will also be reduced to a lower rate commensurate with other full-time instructors in the same department. However, if degree verification is provided before the end of the one-year fixed-term contract, the candidate will be returned to the rank of assistant professor with commensurate compensation beginning July 1 of the following academic year.

No ABD consideration: Only candidates with an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution will be considered for the position. Since ABD will not meet the minimum requirements, ABD will not be considered.

PhD in hand by August 2026 is required.

The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.

The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.