Assistant Professor

Description

Job ID

FU9825-0008-1898

Position Classification

FT Faculty UDMPU (9 month)

Position Summary

The Department of English at the University of Detroit Mercy invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Creative Writing with a specialization in poetry and/or fiction to begin August 2026. The faculty member will also serve as Director of Creative Writing.

In alignment with the University’s mission, the Department of English is committed to fostering an inclusive environment for undergraduate students through engaged teaching, advising, and mentorship. We host exciting creative writers from Michigan and across the U.S., and students share their own creative and scholarly work at on- and off-campus events. Campus- and community-based initiatives including the Creative Writing Collective, our arts and literary magazine, [sic], and Rx for Reading Detroit offer students and faculty the opportunity to engage with each other and our broader community. To learn more about our department, see www.udmercy.edu/english. 

The Department of English seeks a dynamic teacher-writer with demonstrated excellence in teaching creative writing as well as literature and/or first-year writing courses at the college level. The teaching load is 18 credit hours (6 courses) per academic year for faculty with an active research agenda. Faculty pursue active research and creative agendas and collaborate on program development and assessment, academic advising, and student retention. Faculty teach introductory classes in literature and writing in addition to courses in the areas of our specialization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  

As Director of Creative Writing, the successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating Detroit Mercy's creative writing curriculum and extracurricular opportunities; creating vibrant on- and off-campus programming; and providing mentorship for undergraduate creative writers. 

We welcome applications from individuals who would bring additional dimensions to the university’s mission of providing excellent, student-centered education for a diverse student body. 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications  

• A doctoral degree in Creative Writing. Alternatively, an MFA in Creative Writing and Ph.D. in a related field (e.g., Literature, Rhetoric and Composition, etc.)
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching creative writing (including poetry and fiction) as well as literature and/or first-year writing courses at the undergraduate level.
• Knowledge of and commitment to effective strategies for teaching and mentoring a diverse student body, including first-generation college students.
• Ongoing record of creative writing publications.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring students, with a particular emphasis on nurturing individuals’ development as creative writers.
• Experience with program development/management and/or leadership experience in institutional service at the program, college, or university level.   

Preferred Qualifications  

• Evidence of community engagement through creative writing.
• Understanding of and alignment with Detroit Mercy’s mission and core values, as demonstrated through prior teaching, scholarship (inclusive of creative work), service, and/or community engagement.
• Record of additional forms of public dissemination of creative work (e.g., readings, presentations.).   

Physical Requirements  

Job may require lifting light-weight objects (1 to 10 pounds) with no repetitive bending or stooping. Occasionally lift average-weight objects (1 to 10 pounds).

Work Environment  

Regular exposure to favorable conditions, such as those found in a normal office.

Salary/Pay Information  

Commensurate with experience

Anticipated Schedule  

TBD

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants must apply by completing an application and uploading materials. Materials must include:

• Letter of application that states the applicant’s interest in the position and shares their experience with and approach to program development/management and/or leadership experience in institutional service. The candidate should also reflect on how their scholarship (inclusive of creative work), teaching, service, and/or community engagement resonate with one or more aspects of Detroit Mercy’s mission and core values.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Teaching portfolio that includes.

1. A statement of teaching philosophy and practice that includes reflection on past experiences and potential future contributions to teaching and mentoring students with a wide range of academic and social backgrounds, including first-generation college students.
2.  Selected course materials such as syllabi, assignments, and/or lesson plans.
3.  Student evaluations of teaching and/or observations of teaching by peers or mentors.
4. The candidate may choose to include other materials that speak to their teaching experience.

• Creative writing sample of up to 20 pages
• Official graduate transcripts

Letters of reference (including at least one that speaks directly to the candidate’s teaching) will be solicited from semi-finalists.

Questions regarding this position should be directed to Mary-Catherine Harrison, Ph.D., chair of the Department of English: mc.harrison@udmercy.edu. 

Deadline: To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by January 16, 2026. 

Start date: August 16, 2026

Employee Benefits

At the University of Detroit Mercy, we continually strive to provide a high-quality, comprehensive benefits package to our valued employees. We offer our employees the following benefits: 

· Medical -

         o Three health plans to choose from with a large national provider network

· Dental -

        o UDM’s School of Dentistry FREE to you and your dependents

        o Option to purchase additional dental plan through UNUM

· Vision - 

        o Exams and lenses every 12 months

· Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts offered.

· Employee Assistance Program -

        o Provided to everyone in your household.

· Short-Term and Long-Term Disability.

· Life and AD&D - 

         o One times base salary up to a hundred thousand dollars.

· Option to purchase additional life insurance, accident insurance, and/or critical illness insurance

· Tuition Remission Benefit for you, your spouse, and children. 

· Retirement Plan -

        o UDM provides matches up to 8%

Michigan’s largest, most comprehensive private University, University of Detroit Mercy is an independent Catholic institution of higher education sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and Society of Jesus. Detroit Mercy seeks qualified candidates who will contribute to the University’s mission, diversity, and excellence of its academic community. University of Detroit Mercy is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer with a diverse student body and welcomes persons of all backgrounds.