27-46 Tenure Track Assistant Professor of English - Children's Literature and Publishing

27-46 Tenure Track Assistant Professor of English - Childrens Literature and Publishing

Location

West Chester University, PA

Job Type

Regular / Full-Time

Job Number

27-46

Department

College of Arts & Humanities

Division

English

Opening Date

09/15/2026

• Description
• Benefits

Position Summary

Join a vibrant equity-minded campus community whose excellence is reflected in its community, cultural engagement, and student success. The Department of English invites applicants for a Full-time, 9-month, Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor of English with a specialization in Children's Literature and Publishing. The position begins in July 2027.

WCU is a regional flagship of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and a Carnegie-designated Doctoral University - High Research Activity (R2). As a comprehensive public institution, WCU is committed to excellence in teaching, advancing research and creative activity, and serving the public good. Our vibrant and inclusive campus community supports faculty in developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally while contributing to the health and well-being of their communities. The University offers more than 100 graduate and undergraduate programs in the sciences and mathematics, business and public management, arts and humanities, health sciences, education and social work, music, and interdisciplinary studies. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

The Department of English, part of the College of Arts and Humanities, empowers students as readers, writers, and thinkers to grasp the nuances of texts (literary, rhetorical, visual, etc.) and to use language to participate effectively in academic, aesthetic, and professional contexts. Our programs prepare students for productive lives as critical thinkers, informed citizens, and ethical leaders. Our teaching and research emphasize the ideal of a socially conscious education that values critical literacy and communication as resources for democracy. We pursue these goals via teaching that reflects innovative scholarship, uses current technologies to facilitate learning, and responds to the cultural diversity of our student body. The department comprises over fifty full-time faculty members and serves hundreds of undergraduate majors and minors and masters degree students, as well as thousands more in our First-Year Writing program. Learn more about the English Department.

The faculty position involves teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in youth literature, publishing, and book history within the English Department, as well as courses in general education writing. Faculty teach four courses per semester, and all faculty in the department teach First-Year Writing and/or other general education courses during most semesters. Courses may be offered through in-person, online, and/or via distance education modalities, depending on department need. The ideal candidate will use innovative teaching skills and demonstrate strong attention to the learning and teaching needs of the department's students. Their experience, substantive specialization, and pedagogical training will serve to strengthen the departments mission and vision. The faculty will collaborate with other departmental and college faculty & staff to ensure student success.

Responsibilities include:

• Teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses in youth literature and publishing or book history. Secondary teaching responsibilities include courses in First-Year Writing (general education composition). At least 50% of the faculty members 4/4 teaching load will comprise courses in general education writing.
• Engage in scholarly activities such as research, presentations, publications, and/or grants in children's literature and publishing. These activities are necessary for tenure and promotion.
• Provide academic advising, including mentoring student researchers.
• Serve the department, college, and university through participation on committees and various forms of service work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D in English specializing in childrens literature/culture and publishing. A Ph.D in Library and Information Science may be considered if demonstrated focus of research, publication, and teaching is youth literature and publishing. ABD may be considered - degree must be completed on or before August 2027.
• Demonstrated teaching expertise and an active research agenda in children's literature and publishing
• Demonstrated ability to teach courses in First-Year Writing/English Composition

Preferred Qualifications

• Secondary areas of research and teaching include global/comparative/multicultural children's literature and/or children's film & technology

Special Instructions

West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers highly competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

Apply online at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/wcupa. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Compliant with applicable collective bargaining agreement, this advertisement may be closed without notice upon receipt of a sufficient pool of qualified candidates.

Applicants must successfully complete the application, interview process, research presentation, and teaching demonstration to be considered as a finalist.

Required Documents for Consideration

To be considered as an applicant for this position, in addition to the application form, please submit the following:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Statement of Research Interest
• Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be requested at a later date)
• List of three (3) reference with contact information (Name, Affiliation, Email, and telephone number).
• Service Statement (see below):

West Chester University is a community of educators that develops graduates to succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

WCU GRADUATES WILL:

• Apply scientific reasoning and demonstrate quantitative and qualitative literacy
• Collaborate with others to solve problems and address societal needs
• Communicate effectively and participate in civic discourse
• Engage inclusively in a diverse society
• Understand the ethical implications of decisions and the world in which they live

INSTITUTIONAL GOALS:

To fulfill its mission as a public institution serving the Commonwealth, West Chester University will focus on student success and institutional improvement as measured by the degree to which WCU demonstrates:

• Access to learning
• Community and cultural engagement
• Continuous improvement
• Critical thinking
• Inclusion
• Scholarly and creative activities
• Sustainability

Given this, please select from one of the prompts below to create a service statement (no more than 1 page)

Engagement with the Campus Community

• Describe your efforts to create an inclusive and supportive campus environment for all students, faculty, and staff. How have you contributed to fostering a sense of belonging in your department or institution?

Mentorship and Student Support

• How have you worked to support and mentor students with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives? Share specific examples of how you have helped students navigate challenges in their academic or professional journeys.

Outreach and Community Involvement

• Discuss your experiences working with community organizations, schools, or educational programs that aim to expand access to higher education. How have you helped ensure broader participation in your field?

Pedagogical and Curricular Contributions

• How have you contributed to developing curricula, programs, or initiatives that are accessible and relevant to a broad range of students? Provide examples of how you have designed or implemented courses that engage with multiple perspectives.

Professional Development and Collaboration

• Reflect on your participation in initiatives, committees, or professional development activities that aim to create a welcoming academic environment. How have you collaborated with colleagues to enhance student success and engagement?

Research and Scholarship Impact

• In what ways has your research or scholarly work contributed to increasing opportunities, perspectives, and voices in your field? Describe any projects or initiatives aimed at broadening participation, access or engagement.

All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of all preemployment criminal background checks.

Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty and staff advances West Chester University's educational mission. West Chester University is an Affirmative Action - Equal Opportunity Employer.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act and Act 73 of 1988, West Chester University publishes a combined Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR). The ASFSR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASFSR is available for review on the Public Safety website.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers highly competitive salaries and excellent benefits. The University is part of the State System of Higher Education and is a public, regional, comprehensive institution serving over 18,000 students. The University is in West Chester, Pennsylvania, 25 miles west of Philadelphia and only a few hours from New York City and Washington D.C. The area is home to world-class libraries, museums and hospitals.

Application Questions?

Email hrs@wcupa.edu for questions regarding the application process.

WCU proudly offers comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance, generous retirement plans, many wellness programs, a tuition waiver for self and family members, and training, development and advancement opportunities.

• On the first working day, new employees are eligible to enroll in medical, prescription, dental and vision benefit plans. Medical and prescription drug coverage includes PPO health, prescription drug, and hearing coverage.
• Dental and vision coverage is offered at no cost to employees.
• The Healthy U Wellness program rewards participants with reduced health care premiums and provides tools and resources to maintain good health.
• Flexible spending accounts allow employees to withhold income from their paychecks before taxes for reimbursement of approved medical and dependent care expenses.
• A University mission to support employee personal and professional growth.
• PASSHE tuition waiver lowers the cost of college expenses.
• Leave and time-off benefits include generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays.
• Choice of two group retirement plans with generous employer contributions.
• Voluntary retirement plans offer two additional options to save and invest money for retirement and are available to all employees upon their date of hire.
• Group life insurance is provided at no cost to all permanent employees.
• Voluntary long-term disability insurance (LTD) and voluntary group life and personal accident insurance (VGLIP/AD&D) are available to employees.
• State Employee Assistance Program (SEAP) provides a wide range of free services including counseling, legal, and financial services.

The employee group for this position is Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF).

For additional benefit details please see the PASSHE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PAGE .

The information is provided for general purposes only. Legal Plan Documents will govern any discrepancies that may arise. Benefits, benefit levels, and eligibility rules are subject to change. The benefits described are available to most employees; however, certain eligibility requirements must be met.

Employer West Chester University

Address 201 Carter Drive, Suite 100

West Chester, Pennsylvania, 19383

Website http://www.wcupa.edu