What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Professor of English in American Literature position at Berea College?
Please note that references provided at the time of application for staff positions will not be contacted until the applicant has been offered the position.
Description
The English Department at Berea College seeks applications for a tenure-track position in twentieth- and twenty-first century American literature. The English Department envisions the category of “Americanist” broadly and welcomes scholars with literary research interests in cultural studies, race, gender, sexuality, militarism, Appalachian literature, critical ethnic studies, and/or environmental studies within the national context. In conceptualizing the “Americanist” in a way that encompasses both white literatures and other literatures often conventionally and arbitrarily classified as “ethnic,” we especially invite scholars who may specialize in African American, Asian American, Latinx, or Indigenous American literatures. In addition to teaching courses in their specific fields of interest, the successful candidate should be able to design and teach the later American literature survey (1865-present), introductory and advanced literary methods courses, and first-year writing and composition to non-majors in the General Studies program.
The successful candidate should hold a Ph.D. in American Literature at the time of appointment. Teaching responsibilities include a 3/3 load. Other responsibilities include continuing professional and scholarly growth, advising, and providing service to the Department and College. The ideal candidate will have an established record of excellent teaching at the undergraduate level, display professionalism when interacting with members of the Berea College community and demonstrate a commitment to carrying out the unique mission of Berea College.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, graduate transcripts, a 500-word statement of teaching philosophy, and contact information for three references. Additional materials may be requested at a later date. Review of candidates will begin October 20, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.
Your Key Responsibilities
3/3 teaching load
Teach the later American literature survey (1865-present), introductory and advanced literary methods courses, and first-year writing and composition to non-majors in the General Studies program
Continued professional and scholarly growth
Advising
Providing service to the Department and College
Founded in 1855, Berea College is nationally recognized as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls more than 1,500 students from 46 states and U.S. territories and more than 70 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides all of them with a no-tuition promise, valued at more than $204,000. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive yet demanding academic environment, and most are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only ten federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students are expected to work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus. Berea College is also the only institution in Kentucky to receive the 5-Star Rating from Money Magazine, 2025. Washington Monthly has named Berea College the #1 Best College in the nation in its 2025 College Guide. Berea College appears in their rankings as #1 College (overall): Best College for your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars, #1 Best-in Class College, #1 Liberal Arts College and #1 Best Bang for the Buck Southern College.
Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 16,000) lies forty miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.
Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.
Berea College is always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. If you think you are ready to be a part of an exciting team, then we encourage you to continue with this applicant friendly, online job application!
Berea College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.
Our Benefits
Berea College offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and their families including health care, dental, vision, retirement, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability and an Employee Assistance Program. The benefit package also includes access to the Child Development Laboratory for children of College Staff, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, Seabury Center Membership, Staff Development Funds and Tuition Reimbursement.
Eligible staff employees also receive paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
Part-time employees who work an average of 24 hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.
To learn more details, visit our benefits page at https://www.berea.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits.
Our Unique Culture
Berea College strives to be a place where people with various Christian interpretations, different religious traditions, and no religious traditions work together in support of Berea's Great Commitments.
Over the past century, various leaders of the College have applied the College’s inclusive scriptural foundation and spirit to their expanding world and welcomed those whose beliefs were consistent with the Christian gospel of impartial love. Therefore, Berea College today affirms its inclusive Christian tradition even as it respects the traditions of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, as well as other faiths, and those holding no religious beliefs. We strive not to ignore our differences, but rather seek to understand each other honestly and respectfully, and together create a climate where anyone can openly discuss what they believe without fear of sanction. To that end, all persons who are willing to share in the spirit and the work of the Great Commitments as shaped by its preamble are welcome to study, to teach, and to work at Berea
Labor Supervision
In support of Berea College’s great commitments, staff and faculty serve as labor supervisors. Our fourth great commitment, The Dignity of Labor, promotes learning and serving in community through the student Labor Program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work, mental and manual, and taking pride in work well done. Student Labor Supervision includes scheduling, assigning, and approving student work, developing students' workplace acumen, and providing tangible work experience. To learn more about the labor program office please see the following link Labor Program Office.
Description
The English Department at Berea College seeks applications for a tenure-track position in twentieth- and twenty-first century American literature. The English Department envisions the category of “Americanist” broadly and welcomes scholars with literary research interests in cultural studies, race, gender, sexuality, militarism, Appalachian literature, critical ethnic studies, and/or environmental studies within the national context. In conceptualizing the “Americanist” in a way that encompasses both white literatures and other literatures often conventionally and arbitrarily classified as “ethnic,” we especially invite scholars who may specialize in African American, Asian American, Latinx, or Indigenous American literatures. In addition to teaching courses in their specific fields of interest, the successful candidate should be able to design and teach the later American literature survey (1865-present), introductory and advanced literary methods courses, and first-year writing and composition to non-majors in the General Studies program.
The successful candidate should hold a Ph.D. in American Literature at the time of appointment. Teaching responsibilities include a 3/3 load. Other responsibilities include continuing professional and scholarly growth, advising, and providing service to the Department and College. The ideal candidate will have an established record of excellent teaching at the undergraduate level, display professionalism when interacting with members of the Berea College community and demonstrate a commitment to carrying out the unique mission of Berea College.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, graduate transcripts, a 500-word statement of teaching philosophy, and contact information for three references. Additional materials may be requested at a later date. Review of candidates will begin October 20, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.
Your Key Responsibilities
3/3 teaching load
Teach the later American literature survey (1865-present), introductory and advanced literary methods courses, and first-year writing and composition to non-majors in the General Studies program
Continued professional and scholarly growth
Advising
Providing service to the Department and College
Founded in 1855, Berea College is nationally recognized as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls more than 1,500 students from 46 states and U.S. territories and more than 70 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides all of them with a no-tuition promise, valued at more than $204,000. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive yet demanding academic environment, and most are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only ten federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students are expected to work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus. Berea College is also the only institution in Kentucky to receive the 5-Star Rating from Money Magazine, 2025. Washington Monthly has named Berea College the #1 Best College in the nation in its 2025 College Guide. Berea College appears in their rankings as #1 College (overall): Best College for your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars, #1 Best-in Class College, #1 Liberal Arts College and #1 Best Bang for the Buck Southern College.
Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 16,000) lies forty miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.
Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.
Berea College is always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. If you think you are ready to be a part of an exciting team, then we encourage you to continue with this applicant friendly, online job application!
Berea College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.
Our Benefits
Berea College offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and their families including health care, dental, vision, retirement, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability and an Employee Assistance Program. The benefit package also includes access to the Child Development Laboratory for children of College Staff, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, Seabury Center Membership, Staff Development Funds and Tuition Reimbursement.
Eligible staff employees also receive paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
Part-time employees who work an average of 24 hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.
To learn more details, visit our benefits page at https://www.berea.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits.
Our Unique Culture
Berea College strives to be a place where people with various Christian interpretations, different religious traditions, and no religious traditions work together in support of Berea's Great Commitments.
Over the past century, various leaders of the College have applied the College’s inclusive scriptural foundation and spirit to their expanding world and welcomed those whose beliefs were consistent with the Christian gospel of impartial love. Therefore, Berea College today affirms its inclusive Christian tradition even as it respects the traditions of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, as well as other faiths, and those holding no religious beliefs. We strive not to ignore our differences, but rather seek to understand each other honestly and respectfully, and together create a climate where anyone can openly discuss what they believe without fear of sanction. To that end, all persons who are willing to share in the spirit and the work of the Great Commitments as shaped by its preamble are welcome to study, to teach, and to work at Berea
Labor Supervision
In support of Berea College’s great commitments, staff and faculty serve as labor supervisors. Our fourth great commitment, The Dignity of Labor, promotes learning and serving in community through the student Labor Program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work, mental and manual, and taking pride in work well done. Student Labor Supervision includes scheduling, assigning, and approving student work, developing students' workplace acumen, and providing tangible work experience. To learn more about the labor program office please see the following link Labor Program Office.
Salary : $204,000
