Elma StuckeyColumbia College Chicago is an urban institution of over 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students emphasizing arts, media, and communications in a liberal arts setting. The Department of English is seeking applications for an annual, one-year, non-renewable position to start in August 2010. Poets from underrepresented communities and/or those who bring diverse cultural, ethnic, theoretical, and national perspectives to their writing and teaching are particularly encouraged to apply.
Position is named for Elma Stuckey, a poet born in Memphis who lived in Chicago for more than 40 years. Author of The Big Gate (1976) and The Collected Poems of Elma Stuckey (1987), she has been described as "the A.E. Housman of slavery"-a poet who recast for contemporary readers "those things that were kept from the ears of the unknowing slavemasters."
The Creative Writing, Poetry Program has a commitment to excellence in teaching and is founded upon strong ties between the study of literature and the practice of creative expression. An active reading series brings well-known poets to campus monthly; faculty and students also produce two national literary magazines: Court Green and Columbia Poetry Review.
Successful candidate will teach one course per semester (undergraduate workshop, craft, and/or literature seminars), give a public reading, and possibly supervise a small number of graduate theses. Qualified candidates will have received an MFA in poetry or PhD in English (with creative dissertation) or other relevant terminal degree in past five years, demonstrate experience and excellence in college-level teaching, and have strong record of publication in national literary magazines.
Columbia College Chicago encourages female, Deaf, LGBTQ, disabled, international, and minority individuals to apply for all positions. Position is contingent on funding. Salary: $30,000, benefits not included. Application deadline: 02/05/10. To be considered, please send cover letter, CV, 5-page sample of published poetry, sample syllabus for undergraduate or graduate-level poetry workshop or literature course, three letters of recommendation (at least one should address teaching), and statement of teaching philosophy as Word or PDF files to Dr. Lisa Fishman at: EnglishPoet@colum.edu.