Director, Creative Writing Program

Wilkes University invites applicants for a new Director of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing in the College of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 2005, the program offers both the MA and MFA in seven genres-fiction, playwriting, creative nonfiction, poetry, spoken word, screenwriting, and writing for television-as well as an MA in Publishing. The program is consistently rated as one of the top low-residency programs in the country and currently enrolls more than 80 students.

The Director performs a broad range of duties in this dual faculty/administrative role, and should have proven organizational, administrative, and recruiting skills along with strong records in teaching and creative achievement. The Director articulates and enacts the strategic direction and operation of the program by way of curriculum design and assessment, orientation of new faculty and students, budget management, and community outreach, while cultivating an inclusive environment.

The Director works with university administration and a wide range of other departments; supervises over twenty adjunct faculty mentors and other staff (assistant director, administrative assistant, and graduate assistants); advises the program's graduate students; coordinates an ambitious program of visiting writers, agents, producers, editors, and publishers; oversees course staffing and registration; leads student retention efforts; teaches courses in the two week-long residency sessions; and manages program-related publications, presses, and organizations.

An M.F.A. or Ph.D. is required. The ideal candidate will have prior experience in higher education administration and teaching creative writing at the graduate level, along with a notable record of creative achievement in an area represented by the program. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Wilkes University is an independent, comprehensive university dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and selected professional programs. The University has approximately 2,000 students at the undergraduate level and over 1,500 full time equivalent students at the graduate and first professional levels.

Its institutional focus is on developing strong mentoring relationships with each of its students and contributing vitally to economic development of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The University is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a revitalized city that is located on the lovely Susquehanna River and is within two and one-half hours driving distance of New York City and Philadelphia.

To apply, visit https://wilkesuniversitycareers.applicantpro.com/jobs/. Please be sure to include a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae and three references.

Wilkes University is constantly seeking to become a more diverse community and to enhance its capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. The University strongly encourages applications from persons with diverse backgrounds. Wilkes University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, sex/gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, or genetic information.

Employment at Wilkes is contingent upon the results of a thorough background screening. PA Act 153 requires that persons working in positions with regular and unsupervised contact with minors complete additional clearances, including FBI fingerprinting and PA criminal and child abuse clearances.