Assistant Professor of English

Department

About the University

Established in 1965, Metropolitan State University (MSU Denver) was founded to serve students who were underrepresented in higher education whose life paths and experiences did not fit the traditional mold. Sixty years later, the University continues to serve over 16,000 of Colorado’s extraordinary and diverse students, providing them with the foundation on which to build their unique aspirations. As the third largest public institution of higher education in Colorado, MSU Denver is a model university for today’s college students.

Proud of its federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution that also offers graduate programs (gHSI) and the only Seal of Excelencia certified institution in Colorado, the University serves the most diverse undergraduate student population in the state, as well as the most first-generation students. Through affordable, flexible, and holistic education, MSU Denver helps students build essential skills grounded in a multicultural and global perspective that lead to undergraduate and graduate degrees, and career and life success.

At MSU Denver, we are committed to our CADRE values:Community, Access, Diversity, Respect, and Excellence. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where all community members are valued and belong. Our dedication to breaking down barriers to education, fostering open dialogue, and promoting world-class scholarship ensures that we provide exceptional services and innovative learning opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff.

About the Department of English

The Department of English serves an eclectic and diverse mix of students and prioritizes values that reflect those of the university at large including a shared commitment to community, accessibility, diversity, respect and excellence.  The successful candidate will join a collaborative team that includes over twenty full-time faculty and a talented group of professional staff and part-time affiliates.  We offer undergraduate degrees in English and Linguistics; our English major includes concentrations in Creative Writing; Literature, Film and Media Studies; Professional Writing and Rhetoric; and English with Licensure in Secondary Education. Our minors include Creative Writing, Film and Media Studies, Literature, Professional Writing and Rhetoric, Disability Studies, and Linguistics.

Position Summary

The Department of English at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at assistant professor rank, specializing in film studies. This is a nine-month faculty appointment beginning Fall 2026. Individuals with teaching and research expertise in multicultural cinema and/or gender and sexuality in film are encouraged to apply.

MSU Denver has a robust mentoring program for tenure-track faculty.  The candidate will be enrolled in the Roadrunner Faculty Academy during their first year.  This is a year-long course designed to support new faculty to navigate faculty life and thrive in teaching, scholarly activity and service. 

Responsibilities

This is a full-time tenure-track faculty position (9-month contract) with a focus on teaching, advising, scholarship and service. Teaching includes multiple delivery modes such as in-person, hybrid and asynchronous courses; on-campus teaching is required each semester. The teaching load is 12 credit hours per semester.

Other duties include advising students in academic planning and career exploration; participating in curriculum development and programmatic assessment; serving on departmental, university and professional committees; and pursuing scholarly activities related to the discipline.

Required Qualifications

• Earned PhD in Film Studies or comparable field with a focus in film studies.  ABD candidates are welcome to apply; however, the required degree must be conferred before the fall 2026 semester starts
• Evidence of university-level teaching experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise and ability to teach courses in multicultural cinema
• Demonstrated expertise and ability to teach courses on gender and sexuality in film
• Experience in teaching Introduction to Film Studies and History of Film
• Teaching experience in area of expertise/research
• Evidence of high-impact teaching practices across different teaching modalities
• Evidence of community-engaged teaching and/or scholarship
• Record of scholarly pursuits that align with department’s priorities for scholarship

We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every preferred qualification. We are most interested in finding the candidate who will best contribute to our Department and the University.

Salary for Announcement

The salary range for this faculty position is $55,000 - $65,000 at Assistant Professor rank. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, education, experience, specialty and training.

MSU Denver offers excellent benefits that include medical, dental, retirement, tuition benefit, free RTD pass, and more. For a brief overview of these options, please visit our Benefits section.

Instructions to Apply

To apply, complete an application online through our career site, https://msudenver.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/MSUDenver and search for JR104910.

To support a thorough evaluation of your qualifications and potential contributions as a faculty member, please upload the following required materials:

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of Interest/cover letter that includes evidence of required and preferred qualifications
• Teaching philosophy (2 pages max). Please detail your interest and prior experience with teaching diverse adult learners. Describe three values that guide your teaching practices, focusing on engagement with diverse students and how you will foster an inclusive classroom environment that removes barriers and promotes equitable access and advancement. Include examples from past experiences teaching and/or mentoring students 

• Quantitative and/or qualitative evidence of successful independent university-level teaching experience

• A list of three references and their contact information

References will not be contacted until later in the search process and only with the candidate’s permission.

Due to volume of applications received, only applications completed as outlined above will be considered. Please ensure you have uploaded all required documents into the Resume/Cover letter section of the application. A maximum of 5 files can be uploaded; you may combine all documents into one pdf file if needed.

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

Deadline

Priority will be given to applications received through Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM MST; applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Posting Representative

Posting Representative Email

Benefits

The University’s benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan. Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more.   

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf. 

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at[email protected].

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.