Department Chair/Associate or Full Professor of English
Posted 2025-04-22Posting Details
Come and join the Bearkat community!
Named after Texas' legendary hero, General Sam Houston, the
university boasts a rich historical legacy that resonates with the
spirit of Texas, which provides a balance between a peaceful,
natural setting and proximity to urban amenities. With a student
population of over 21,000, SHSU offers a vibrant and dynamic
community. SHSU has a small town feel with large scale
opportunities. Located in the Piney Woods region of East Texas and
just an hour drive north of Houston, Huntsville provides area
residents with a sense of community and belonging.
SHSU offers compelling options for individuals seeking a fulfilling
and impactful career including a superior benefit package , competitive
salaries and a flexible work environment fostering work/life
balance. SHSU offers programs that support a healthy work-life
balance, contributing to employee well-being and job satisfaction,
as well as, professional development opportunities with our
educational assistance and
dependent assistance programs.
Position Information
This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the
provisions of the Texas Education Code ?1.215, which authorizes
the employer to obtain criminal history record information.
Position Title
Department Chair/Associate or Full Professor of English
Requisition
202400125F
Rank
Associate or Full Professor
FLSA status
Exempt
Hiring Salary
Commensurate with education and experience.
Position Category
Position Type
Full-Time Tenure Track
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department
Dept of English
Open Date
08/28/2024
Quicklink
https://shsu.peopleadmin.com/postings/40726
Refer Applicants To
Contact Name
Dr. Jason Enia
Title
Professor & Chair, Department of Political Science
Director, Center for the Study of Disasters & Emergency
Management ( CDEM )
SHSU Box 2149
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341-2149
Contact Phone
936-294-1467
Contact Email
Position Details
Duties Performed in the Usual Course of the Job
As Sam Houston State University is experiencing a period of
explosive growth, the English Department seeks applications for the
position of Chair of the Department from candidates with an
energetic and sustained commitment to the future. This full-time,
tenured position will begin Fall 2025. Compensation includes a
regular 9-month salary commensurate with rank and experience, a
Chair? stipend, and full-time summer pay (which equals 33% of the
9-month salary).
The chair oversees strategic recruitment to meet the growing needs
and opportunities of the department and university community.
Manages the department? budget to support existing and developing
programs, and supports faculty research, teaching, and service
across the department. Collaborative academic disciplines and
programs: three master? degrees (English MA, Creative Writing,
Editing and Publishing MFA, and Technical Communication MA), a dual
MA in literature/ MFA in creative writing degree, a Graduate
Certificate in English, one bachelor? degree, five undergraduate
minors, and one undergraduate certificate. The chair is supported
in these endeavors by an office staff, an associate chair, and
program directors and area coordinators. The chair also teaches two
courses per academic year.
Ideal candidates will possess: a record of transformative,
transparent, collaborative leadership; experience developing and
expanding relationships inside and outside of the university;
experience working within a multidisciplinary department;
experience supporting contingent and tenure-track faculty;
experience advocating for the humanities; and a commitment to
recruiting and serving students with various backgrounds and
ability levels.
Educational Requirements for the Position
Earned Doctorate in English or related field.
Experience Required for the Position
University teaching at the undergraduate level. Proven record of
academic leadership. A strong record of publication. Qualifications
for appointment at the level of Associate Professor or Full
Professor
Other Requirements for the Position
Preferred Experience
Demonstrated publication success in English or a related field as
well as experience in encouraging publication productivity in
faculty. Experience as a department head or director in English or
closely related department, as an associate/assistant chair, or as
a program director. Experience teaching at the graduate level,
including chairing committees for master? theses, capstone
projects, portfolios, and/or other similar projects. Experience
with curriculum development. Demonstrated capability to manage
budgets, schedules, and projects. Experience as an effective
communicator, office supervisor, and advocate for staff and
faculty. Experience or demonstrated potential for supporting and
mentoring faculty through the tenure and promotion process.
Special Instructions Summary
Please note: References provided in the References section of
the application will receive an automated email reference request
at the time the application is submitted.
Interested candidates must submit a statement of leadership that
articulates their understanding of the current and future landscape
of English studies and speaks to their approach to working with a
variety of disciplines and specializations within a single
department.
Home to a distinctive student population of over 22,000, Sam
Houston State University ( SHSU ) is in Huntsville, Texas, on the
rapidly developing Interstate-45 corridor between Houston and
Dallas. SHSU is 70 miles north of downtown Houston and 170 miles
south of Dallas, ideally situated between the 4th and 9th largest
cities in the country and two of the 10 fastest-growing cities in
the U.S. SHSU . In Fall 2023, SHSU welcomed its largest first-year
class in history and celebrated a retention rate of over 75% for
returning students.
A great name in Texas education, Sam Houston State University
offers over 85 bachelor? degree programs, more than 60 master?
degree programs, 10 doctoral programs, and 1 professional doctoral
program (DO), including award-winning programs, nationally and
internationally recognized scholars, and innovative initiatives to
help students develop and succeed. SHSU is classified as a ?2:
Doctoral University?igh Research Activity?by the Carnegie
Commission on Higher Education, and it was recently recognized
byU.S. News and World Reportfor being one of the top
performers in social mobility. In addition, the Carnegie Commission
on Higher Education classified SHSU as a ?ommunity Engaged?university. This honor has been awarded to 311 public institutions
nationwide, and it acknowledges SHSU? significant commitment to
serving the community.
The Department of English is a large, multidisciplinary department
composed of over 40 full-time and 45 part-time faculty members
across specializations in literature, creative writing, technical
communication, composition and rhetoric, secondary education, and
language and linguistics. Students pursue degrees in English across
the department? various graduate programs in literature, creative
writing, and technical communication, and the undergraduate degree
in English. Additionally, the department houses the first-year
composition program and the integrated reading and writing program
that assists developmental students in their first-year composition
classes. The department is located on campus in the Evans Complex,
which contains dozens of classrooms designed for close discussion,
dozens of faculty offices, two computer labs, a maker space, the
award-winning Texas Review Press, a recently remodeled ?ngaged?classroom space, two conference rooms, a student lounge, faculty
breakroom, and a 100+ seat auditorium capable of holding large
lectures and film screenings.
Open Until Filled
Yes
EEO Statement
EEO Statement
Sam Houston State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity
employer and Smoke/Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants
will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,
creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, religion, sex,
national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, sexual
orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity or expression. Sam
Houston State University is an ?t will?employer. Employees with a
contract will have additional terms and conditions. Security
sensitive positions at SHSU require background checks in accordance
with Education Code ?51.215.
Annual
Security and Fire Safety Report
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
?* How did you learn about this position?
?The Chronicle of Higher Education
?Diverse Issues in Higher Education
?HBCU Connect - Historically Black Colleges and
Universities
?HACU - Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
?The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
?Association for Women in Science
?TWC - Work in Texas
?Inside Higher Ed
?Higher Ed Jobs
?HERC - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
?SHSU Website
?SHSU Employee
?SHSU Recruiter
?Other
?If your response to the question above was 'SHSU Employee'
please indicate employee's name and department.
(Open Ended Question)
?If your response to the question above was 'Other' please
indicate from what source.
(Open Ended Question)
Candidate Documents
Required Documents
?Cover Letter
?Curriculum Vitae (Faculty)
?Statement of Teaching Philosophy
?Statement of Research & Goals
?Reference Contact Information
?Transcripts
Optional Documents
?Letter of Recommendation 1
?Letter of Recommendation 2
?Letter of Recommendation 3
Apply Job!