Assistant Professor of English in Writing Studies

Overview

The Department of English at Utah State University Tooele seeks applications for an academic-year, nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor of English in Writing Studies, a new department curricular area.  To serve USU students broadly, the successful candidate will be well prepared to teach not only writing studies courses in the English Department, such as its foundational course on professional communication, but also general education courses for USU’s Center for Civic Excellence. The candidate will join a department committed to transformative pedagogies and equal opportunities for all students.  

The successful candidate will have expertise that allows them to collaborate productively with the campus and community in Tooele. For example, a successful candidate might be able to partner with Social Work or Criminal Justice programs in Tooele; have expertise in writing as therapeutic intervention that intersect with Social Work initiatives; have expertise in prison literacy that would intersect with Criminal Justice concerns; and/or have expertise in life writing and community writing that enhances community partnerships. 

The applicant is required to have a PhD in Composition and Rhetoric or a related field, a strong teaching record, and potential for publication. This is a teaching-centered position with a teaching load of three courses per semester (3/3). The candidate will also engage in research as their secondary area. Teaching will be based on the Tooele campus, approximately 30 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. The position begins in August 2026. Review of applications begins February 17, 2026, and continues until the position is filled.

Responsibilities

The successful applicant will contribute to the department in the following ways:  

• Deliver courses from Tooele to USU students across the state in a variety of formats, including virtual and online asynchronous. 
• Provide students with mentoring and educational opportunities to develop transferable workforce skills for a variety of careers and professions.  
• Strengthen the structure and support the development of the department’s Writing Studies curriculum. 
• Teach courses in writing studies, professional communication, integrated humanities in general education, and additional areas of the department’s undergraduate curriculum, based on department need and the successful candidate’s interests and expertise. 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:  

• Must have earned a PhD in Composition and Rhetoric or a related field and must have earned their degree by August 1, 2026.  
• Must have a proven record of effective and innovative teaching of first-year writing studies courses.  
• Be willing to teach students in multiple locations using a variety of virtual and online delivery formats. 
• Must demonstrate potential for a successful research agenda. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Preference will be given to applicants who have a demonstrated interest in teaching professional communication courses at the lower-division level. 
• Experience teaching distance education courses and working with nontraditional student populations is desirable. 
• MFA in creative nonfiction or related field is desirable.  

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

Cover Letter to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

Names and email addresses of three references. If your candidacy advances to the next round of review, your references will be contacted and asked to upload a letter of recommendation. 

Candidates advancing to the next round will be asked to provide a philosophy of teaching and a writing sample. 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or [email protected]. 

*updated 12/2025

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Matthew Pinner

Executive Director

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

Cody Carmichael

Title IX Coordinator

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 402D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| [email protected]

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  [email protected]

*updated 10/2025