The University of Oklahoma is seeking a director to lead the OU Writing Center at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. A recent recipient of the College Composition and Communication Writing Program Certificate of Excellence, the OU Writing Center has a strong reputation for developing and implementing effective and engaging programs that support and develop student writers. They are especially committed to expansive pedagogical approaches and inclusive practices that advocate for underrepresented or marginalized graduate and undergraduate students. The Writing Center Director will lead efforts to support student writers through Writing Center workshops, in-person and online writing support, and peer/community learning and writing opportunities, as well as direct the Expository Writing Program which offers students the opportunity to sharpen their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills through innovative, topic-focused courses.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership on issues of writing for undergraduate and graduate students; contribute to campus and community culture related to supporting writing and writers.
• Plan programs, workshops, and events that respond to the institutional mission and goals.
• Prioritize access for all learners and work with academic areas and the Office of the Provost to support student success and retention efforts.
• Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion in recruiting, hiring, teaching, evaluating, and promoting students and staff.
• Provide professional development opportunities for Writing Center staff and student employees, as well as Expository Writing Program faculty and staff.
• Serve the OU campus on committees; contribute to shared governance initiatives.
• Maintain an influential scholarly agenda that impacts writing center theory and practice beyond OU.
• Maintain the strong reputation of the OU Writing Center through collaborations with external networks and the profession.

This is a 12-month, open-rank faculty appointment (tenured or tenure-track) in Academic Affairs, reporting to the Provost, with campus-wide support from the Writing Center’s interdisciplinary advisory board. The Director will identify key areas of investment and manage resources towards ambitious student writing goals for the Norman campus. The position includes a competitive salary, full benefits, and a generous travel and research stipend. The director is scheduled to start on July 1, 2020.

While the work of supporting writers is often linked to writing studies, candidates from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. They especially invite scholars with writing center experience from STEM, the Social Sciences, Fine Arts, and/or scholars whose work is informed by social justice, queer studies, critical race studies, Indigenous studies, Latinx studies, disability studies, digital media studies, and/or community engagement. The OU Writing Center offers a multi-disciplinary approach in work with students and hires both undergraduate and graduate students from a range of disciplines.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of writing studies, inclusive writing pedagogies and practices, and writing center scholarship
• Experience supervising students; providing student development opportunities
• Experience teaching and/or developing curriculum
• Experience collaborating across higher education contexts
• Ability to engage in writing center research and assessment
• Ability to represent the program and its mission to a wide range of stakeholders.

 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Earned PhD or other terminal degree
• Experience working with student writers as a writing consultant or instructor
• Demonstrated commitment to building environments where indigenous, international, multilingual, students of color, and other marginalized students are valued, respected, and provided opportunity to flourish in their pursuit of excellence
• Demonstrated knowledge about writing challenges and assets specific to students from diverse cultural and disciplinary backgrounds
• Exceptional writing, organization, facilitation, and interpersonal communication skills, including public speaking experience
• Ability to articulate philosophy of inclusion for pedagogy and administration
• Research experience and familiarity with scholarship on writing center theories, practices, or access; writing across the curriculum; or writing studies
• Demonstrated facilitation and management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work under minimal supervision and as part of a team

 PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with students in a writing center
• Experience supporting underrepresented populations in higher education
• Administrative experience supervising staff and managing budgets
• Proven track record of scholarly presentations and publications related to writing centers, writing across the curriculum, or writing studies.
• Experience supporting students in a program working toward social justice in higher education

The University of Oklahoma, located 20 miles south of Oklahoma City in Norman, is the Carnegie- ranked Very High Research Activity [R1] flagship university in the state. See more about OU here. Oklahoma is home to 39 tribal nations, each of which has a distinctive culture, history, and government. They acknowledge that the history of the university and the state represents settler colonialism and remains in tension with what is now understood about the lands that were proclaimed “unassigned” and opened for white settlement in 1889. In line with commitments to diversity, inclusion, access and equity they strongly encourage applications from candidates from underrepresented or marginalized communities.

To apply, visit here. Please direct questions to search co-chairs Dr. Megan Elwood Madden or Dr. Sarah Ellis. The first review date is December 2, 2019.