Career Center

The English Department at Old Dominion University invites applications for a Lecturer of General Education Literature. This 10-month renewable appointment begins on July 25, 2024, and includes opportunities for summer teaching and administrative work.

We seek applications from a broad range of literary expertises for this generalist position, but are especially interested in candidates who specialize in LGBTQIA+, LatinX, African American, Indigenous, and/or Asian American literature. Applicants with secondary experience or expertise in narratology, graphic or visual novels, AI, game theory/studies, gamified pedagogies, LitRPGs, or game design are also invited to apply. The search committee is especially interested to hear from candidates who can demonstrate their commitment to the use of inclusive teaching practices in course design, course reading selections, assignments and classroom management.

The Lecturer will primarily teach courses that satisfy the university’s general education literature requirement (Introduction to Literature and American Writers, American Experiences), but may be called on to teach courses in their area of expertise, dependent upon programmatic needs. The position carries a 4/4 teaching load and includes service on two departmental committees. This successful candidate would also work with the Director of General Education Literature in developing curriculum, reviewing outcomes, and facilitating professional development in General Education Literature.

How to Apply: 

Interested candidates should submit the following to the University’s online job application system at https://jobs.odu.edu/postings/19723:

1. A cover letter that highlights one’s experience in the teaching of literature
2. A curriculum vitae; 
3. Unofficial graduate transcripts;
4. A 1-2 page teaching philosophy articulating the applicant’s pedagogical approach, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and an example of innovation in their teaching practice. The committee hopes to learn from the teaching philosophy how the applicant understands themselves as educator and how they would support and work with diverse students.
5. A course assignment/activity/syllabus that illustrates that illustrates their approach to an introductory literature class.
6. Contact information for 3 professional references. The application site will request confidential recommendation letters from these references when your application is submitted.

Full consideration will be given to completed applications received by January 15, 2024, and the position will remain open until it is filled. Inquiries about the position should be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Laura Buchholz (lbuchhol@odu.edu).

About the Department:

The Department of English has an accomplished, diverse faculty and student body committed to equality, social justice, and transformative policies and practices. It offers a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in English as well as a MFA program. The department also delivers courses in ODU’s General Education program, the Perry Honors College, Interdisciplinary Studies program, and ODU Global. All programs offer onsite and online delivery modalities.

Incoming Lecturers will be provided with mentoring and will have access to a rich network of identity-based groups, all of which provide opportunities for formal or informal networking, support, and mentorship. 

About ODU:

Located in the City of Norfolk in the metropolitan Hampton Roads region of coastal Virginia, ODU is a residential, public institution with a student enrollment of 24,000. Almost 40% of students and 30% of faculty are from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. ODU is a national leader in advancing social mobility for its students and is committed to helping underrepresented students succeed. ODU is classified as a Carnegie R1 (Very High Research Activity) institution.

It is the policy of Old Dominion University to provide equal employment, educational and social opportunities for all persons, without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation or genetic information. Individuals from minoritized communities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must have completed all MA or MFA requirements in English or related field by July 24, 2023 and have experience teaching literature at the undergraduate level as the instructor of record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• An earned Ph.D. in English, M.F.A., or other terminal degree in related field.
• Ability to teach across genre and period specialties and to include a diverse selection of texts and voices.
• Evidence of innovative teaching practices. We particularly seek faculty with the ability to connect works of literature to contemporary artifacts, trends, and media that provide students points of entrance to the material.

About Old Dominion University

ODU, located in the city of Norfolk, Virginia, is an R1 public research institution that serves its students and enriches the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world, through rigorous academic programs, strategic partnerships, and active civic engagement. With more than 24,000 students, ODU provides rigorous academics, an energetic residential community, and initiatives contributing $2.6 billion annually to Virginia's economy. With over 160,000 alumni, ODU has a 94 percent employment rate for its graduates within six months, with a dedication to producing top talent for the Hampton Roads region and Virginia. ODU provides educational opportunities for active military, veteran students, and their families and is ranked as the top "Best for Vets" school in Virginia, with 25 percent of their student body being military affiliated. Norfolk is one of the seven cities that make up the historic Hampton Roads region of Virginia, a major recreation area with a population of 1.7 million. Home to the world’s largest natural deep-water port and third busiest port on the East Coast, the Atlantic headquarters of NATO, and Naval Station Norfolk, which houses the U.S. Navy and U.S. F...leet Forces Command, Norfolk was recently named a ‘Best City for Entrepreneurship’ by Entrepreneur Magazine. The Hampton Roads region is experiencing a surge in entrepreneurial activity through collaborative initiatives between the university and local businesses and government agencies.

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