November 1, 2023
Assistant or Associate Professor in Black Speculative Writing
In support of its commitments to inclusive excellence in academia and research, The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada has launched a university-wide Black Faculty Cohort Hiring Initiative (BFCHI) to recruit up to 23 Black scholars over the next four years.
As part of this initiative, the School of Creative Writing invites applications for a tenure-stream appointment in the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in Black speculative writing (i.e. Black alternative imaginations and/or futurisms in any genre, including fiction, non-fiction, lyric forms, graphic forms, etc). The new faculty member will join a multi-departmental research cluster in Black Informatics and Creative Arts. The cluster will consist of UBC’s School of Creative Writing, the Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory, and i-School.
In forming the research cluster, the three departments are interested in recruiting faculty whose scholarly expertise, innovation, and developments are guided by and situated in Black thought. The cluster harnesses the polydisciplinarity of Black creativity, imagination, and cultural production as a way to engender dynamic flow amongst creative, research-based and theoretical practices to address some of the most timely issues of our day including AI, information, and data, while cultivating speculative imaginaries to envision different collective futures.
Creative Writing is seeking an established or promising Black speculative writer with a focus on the Black diaspora and an interest in cross-disciplinary collaboration. Expertise in media or games would be an asset, as would expertise in issues of disability, gender, carcerality, and/or climate change.
The School of Creative Writing is one of the oldest and largest creative writing programs in North America, and offers opportunities to write in more genres and formats than any other. Through this research cluster and through related planned initiatives in the Black speculative imagination, the School aims to make UBC a key gathering place for shared scholarship and innovation in Black and other marginalized speculative storytelling and critical/creative practice, in conversation with related endeavors around Black thought unfolding worldwide.
Requirements for this position: graduate degree (e.g. MFA in Creative Writing) preferred, but a combination of education and appropriate writing and publishing experience may be considered; demonstrated excellence in speculative writing (one or more book publications with an established press, or the equivalent, preferred); experience in a second genre an asset; evidence of or demonstrated potential for excellent teaching ability of university-level creative writing courses. If you are unsure whether you meet the stated qualifications, we urge you to consider submitting an application anyway. Please contact Professor Nalo Hopkinson for more information: nalo.hopkinson@ubc.ca.
The successful candidate will be expected to teach a total of 4 courses (12 credits) per year, to participate in Creative Writing program administration, to supervise graduate theses, and to maintain an excellent record of teaching, service, and scholarly activity, which includes a distinguished record of professional publication.
The expected pay range for this position is $9,167 – $10,417/month for the Assistant Professor rank, or $11,250 – $12,917/month for the Associate Professor rank. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Application Process
Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, this search will be restricted to qualified Black scholars. We welcome applications from Black scholars who may also identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, multi-racial persons, persons with disabilities, women, and/or members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Candidates are invited to self-identify through the Applicant Diversity Survey, which takes approximately two minutes to complete. All questions are voluntary, with an option to decline to answer. Applicants who wish to be considered for this initiative must self identify as ‘Black’ to be considered eligible. All information collected by UBC will remain confidential and any reported data will be in aggregate form shared with the Search Committee co-chairs in order to track intersectional diversity and support and equitable and meritorious search process.
https://creativewriting.ubc.ca/about/job-opportunities/
Interested applicants must submit all of the following documents:
- a letter of application
- a CV
- a writing sample of 20-30 pages
- a teaching portfolio (which should include a statement of teaching philosophy and some or all of the following: student evaluations, peer assessments, 1-2 sample course syllabi)
- UBC aspires to promote inclusive excellence by supporting and recognizing efforts to advance equity, diversity and inclusion as well as decolonization (EDID) through the academic and research ecosystem. Please provide a brief (1-2 page) statement describing your current and future commitments or interests related to EDID. Your comments may relate to lived/living experience, professional work or practice, academic and research activities, and/or community-engagement.
In addition, applicants should arrange for three confidential letters of recommendation to be sent directly via email to crwr.admin@ubc.ca.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority for the position. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University gathers information about applicants’ status as either a permanent resident of Canada or Canadian citizen. All applications must include one of the following statements:
- Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
NOTE: Other than information about Canadian status, applicants need not identify country of origin or current citizenship.
Review of applications will begin on December 11, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled.
Any inquiries may be sent to Nalo Hopkinson at nalo.hopkinson@ubc.ca. Please put the phrase “BFCHI HIRE” in the subject heading.
Career Interruptions
UBC acknowledges that certain circumstances may cause career interruptions that legitimately affect an applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like consideration given to the impact of any such circumstances due to health, family, or other legitimate reasons in order to allow for a fair assessment of their research productivity.
Dual Career Inquiries
UBC is committed to supporting candidates within a dual career household. Inquiries about spousal/partner employment may be directed to the Office of the Provost & Vice President Academic at moura.quayle@ubc.ca.
Commitment to Accessibility and Accommodations
The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible work environment for all members of its workforce. Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an accessible process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact crwr.admin@ubc.ca. Confidential accommodations are available on request by contacting Sonia Dhillon at crwr.admin@ubc.ca.
If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or form more information and support, please visit UBC’s Center For Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/working-injury-illness-or-disability/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.