West Point Pepperell /Harry M. Philpott Eminent Scholar Chair and Professor of English

Position: The Department of English in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University seeks applications for the West Point Pepperell /Harry M. Philpott Eminent Scholar Chair and Professor of English. We are accepting applications from senior scholars in the major areas of our department: creative writing, literary studies, rhetoric and composition, and technical and professional communication. This is a tenured position at the rank of Full Professor. The start date is August 16, 2025.

Responsibilities: The Eminent Scholar will be expected to take a leading role to further enhance the research profile of the Department. The successful candidate should bring experience, innovation, enthusiasm, and leadership to all research activities in the Department and be prepared to mentor junior faculty, post-docs, and graduate students. The instructional responsibilities of this position will focus primarily on in-person graduate-level courses.

About the Department & Programs: The Department of English comprises 32 tenure-line faculty and 33 full-time lecturers. The Department also routinely employs a number of post-doctoral students and part-time instructors. We offer the B.A., Master's, and Ph.D. in English, and both a Master's and a Graduate Certificate in Technical and Professional Communication. More information about our programs can be found here: https://cla.auburn.edu/english/programs/
Our award-winning faculty has diverse research and creative interests. Our scholarly books appear in top university presses such as Cambridge, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana State, Massachusetts, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Syracuse, and as well as independent presses such as the Arizona Center for Renaissance and Medieval Studies, Brill, and Routledge. Creative books appear in top trade presses such as Penguin Random House and Penguin Riverhead, as well as independent presses such as Tupelo Press. Our faculty members also routinely publish in top journals in their respective fields.

About the College: The College of Liberal Arts ( CLA) comprises 46 majors in a wide range of fields, including the humanities, the fine and performing arts, the social sciences, communications, health services administration, and aviation. We produce successful business leaders, industry professionals, and researchers who work in the U.S. and around the world. The CLA's cutting-edge facilities provide the opportunity to collaborate with other researchers at the forefront of their respective fields. We value diverse backgrounds, and unique perspectives and experiences.

About Auburn University: The Auburn family values tradition while eagerly preparing for the future. Rooted in more than 160 years of history, Auburn University occupies 1,841 acres and is the academic home to more than 30,000 students. Auburn's commitment to active student engagement and professional success, as well as its many public and private partnerships, garners a growing reputation for outreach that delivers broad economic, health, and societal impact. Auburn University is one of the best places to work in the state of Alabama, according to the 2022 America's Best-in-State Employers list released by Forbes magazine.

Location: Auburn, AL, is a vibrant, thriving college town and community. Southern Living recently recognized the city of Auburn as one of the top small towns in the South, and Money magazine named Auburn the best place to live in Alabama. Known as the "Loveliest Village on the Plains," Auburn offers a high quality of life, including a vibrant cultural scene at the new Gogue Performing Arts Center, SEC sports throughout the academic year, award-winning chefs and restaurants, a K-12 school system that is top-ranked in the state, and an exceptional College of Veterinary Medicine for pet care. The Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport is only 90 minutes away with daily shuttle service options to and from Auburn. Birmingham is a similar drive to the north, and Montgomery, the state capital, is only 50 minutes to the southwest.

Successful candidates must possess a terminal degree (M.F.A or Ph.D.) at the time appointment begins from an accredited program in Creative Writing, English, Rhetoric and Writing Studies, Technical and Professional Communication or a closely related field and have secured tenure at a comparable institution.

Candidates must have an established and ongoing record of publication in top presses and journals. They must also have extensive experience mentoring and working with master's level students or advanced undergraduates.

The candidate selected for this position must be able to meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States at the time the appointment is scheduled to begin and continue working legally for the proposed term of employment.

Prior experience in mentoring and working with Ph.D. students is highly desirable. Editorial experience with a journal or a series at a university press is also desirable.

Review of application materials will begin on December 1st and continue until a qualified candidate is selected and recommended for appointment. To be considered for this position, interested candidates must submit a cover letter, a CV, relevant transcripts, two representative publications, and contact information for three references. Please contact the search committee chair Dr. Michael Watkins ( watkigm@auburn.edu) with any inquiries about the position. All application materials should be submitted to: https://www.auemployment.com/postings/49586

Auburn University is understanding of and sensitive to the family needs of faculty, including dual career couples. See dual-career policies here: http://www.auburn.edu/academic/provost/facultyjobs/

AUBURN UNIVERSITY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/ EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. The Office of Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/ EEO) strives to ensure an inclusive and equitable working, living, and learning environment for members of the Auburn University community. Please visit their website to learn more.