Job Information
Missouri State University Posting Details in Springfield, Missouri
Posting Details
Position Information
Position Title Assistant Professor, Creative Writing/Poetry - 9 month appt
Work Location Springfield Campus
Department English
HR Home Department 021100 REYNOLDS COLLEGE OF ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES
Pay Grade Unclassified
Sponsorship Information
Applicants must be currently authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States on a full-time basis. This position may not be eligible for work visa sponsorship.
Position only available to current, regular, full-time Missouri State University employees? No, Position is available to all applicants.
Faculty Appointment Type Tenure Track
Term (if applicable) 9 month
Begin Date of Appointment 08/17/2026
Exempt/Non-Exempt Exempt
General Function
The Assistant Professor is a member of the ranked faculty with an intermediate academic rank who has demonstrated achievement in the areas of teaching, research, and professional service appropriate to the discipline. The Assistant Professor’s teaching responsibilities are assigned by the academic department head and may include serving as an academic advisor. The Assistant Professor engages in scholarly activities beyond those associated with teaching and is expected to demonstrate professional productivity in research, based upon the availability of resources and consistent with the mission of the University.
Description of Primary Duties
The Department of English at Missouri State University invites applications for a tenure-track (Assistant Professor) position in Creative Writing (Poetry) to begin August 2026. This position represents an exciting opportunity to contribute to a dynamic department that is committed to teaching and creative expression that is built on a robust understanding of craft and form.
In August 2026, the department will be launching an MFA in Creative Writing which will augment an already exemplary undergraduate program that retains a strong commitment to the intersection of creative writing, literature, and cultural studies, including rhetoric, writing, and media. The program, as well, supports a nationally recognized press, Moon City Press, which publishes the highly regarded Moon City Review and three additional titles per year, two by competition and one by editor’s selection.
This position seeks a poet and teacher who is attentive to the breadth of programming at Missouri State University and the Ozarks, a region that is committed to culture and creativity. The position will support aligned academic programs that enhance student post-graduation opportunities and career preparation.
Responsibilities include creative and research activities in line with the department’s tenure and promotion guidelines; teaching of undergraduate and graduate courses, including general education courses, and a robust range of creative writing courses, including courses on craft, form, and publication; advising of undergraduate and graduate students, including serving on thesis committees; and service to department, college, university, and the profession.
Minimum Acceptable Qualifications
The minimum acceptable qualifications for the position of Assistant Professor are prescribed in the Faculty Handbook.
Additional Qualifications
Required qualifications include a terminal degree ( MFA or Ph.D. in Creative Writing with a poetry concentration) or a related field by the time of appointment with an active creative/research agenda with at least one published book; demonstrated evidence of effective teaching in relevant areas; a commitment to preparing students for post-college success.
As part of the application, candidates will be required to submit a cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, unofficial transcripts, writing sample, evidence of teaching effectiveness, statement of creative/research interest, statement of teaching philosophy, and the names and contact information of three references who can speak to the candidate’s qualifications.
Link to Job Description http://www.missouristate.edu/human/jobdescriptions/21377.htm
Open Date 02/25/2026
Close Date (If Close Date is blank then the posting is considered open until filled)
Special Instructions to Applicants
First date of consideration will be March 27, 2026. Review of applications will continue until position is filled.
Please note that documents that contain passwords, digital signatures, and other artifacts such as watermarks may not convert properly. If your document contains any of these items, please print and scan the document, then upload the scanned version to your application.
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate school transcripts will be required at the time of hire.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Non-Discrimination Statement
Missouri State University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict non-discrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff, and students. In accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including ancestry, or any other subcategory of national origin recognized by applicable law), religion, sex (including marital status, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other subcategory of sex recognized by applicable law), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. Sex discrimination encompasses sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, and is strictly prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
This policy shall not be interpreted in a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
The University maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity employer. Inquiries concerning the complaint/grievance procedure related to discrimination on the basis of a protected class, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, or compliance with federal and state laws and guidelines, should be addressed to the Director, Office for Institutional Compliance, Carrington Hall 205, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65897, Compliance@MissouriState.edu, 417-836-4252.
Background Check Statement
Employment will require a criminal background check at University expense.
Posting Detail
Posting Number 20260011FTF
Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.missouristate.edu/postings/85203
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- How did you hear about this vacancy?
Indeed
Linkedin
Missouri State University Website
Google
Employee Referral
Job Alerts
HigherEdJobs.com
Personal Contacts / Networking
Job Board (CareerBuilder.com, Monster, etc.)
Other
- Please specify the recruitment source where you located this posting. If you selected Employee Referral above, please list the name of the current MSU employee who referred you.
(Open Ended Question)
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Cover Letter
Unofficial Transcripts - 1
Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Curriculum Vitae
Statement of Research Interest
Publication (Writing Sample) -1
Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness -1
Optional Documents
Publication (Writing Sample) -2
Publication (Writing Sample) -3
Course Document -1
Course Document -2
Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness - 2
Philosophy Graduate Education