Academic Unit Head, School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication
Job no:
Work type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty
Location: Harrisonburg
Categories: Director / Unit Head, Instructional / Teaching Faculty
Working Title: Academic Unit Head, School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication
State Role Title: N/A
Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty
Position Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime
College/Division: College of Arts and Letters
Department: 100361 - Writing, Rhetoric and Tech Comm
Pay Band: N/A
Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience
Specify Range or Amount:
Is this a JMU only position? No
Is this a grant-funded position? No
Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No
Beginning Review Date: 11/09/2026
General Information:
The School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication, which is part of the university's College of Arts and Letters, has approximately 40 full- and part-time faculty members. The program is a vibrant stand-alone writing department dedicated to the art and science of writing across a variety of modes and genres. The School offers B.A. and B.S. degrees, a minor, and an M.A. in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. It also has a strong presence in the university's General Education Program, offering over 150 sections of first-year writing each year. The program's innovative curriculum emphasizes critical rhetorical awareness in creating and consuming user centered texts; navigating the ethical complexities of emerging technologies; and hands-on workplace experience, with students completing a required internship and working with clients and partners regularly.
The department is part of JMU's College of Arts and Letters, which enrolls more than 3,100 undergraduate majors and about 150 graduate students across ten academic units. Home to several interdisciplinary centers and institutes, the college embraces the teacher-scholar model and encourages excellent applicants within our particular disciplines, as well as scholars and teachers eager to work across them.
Duties and Responsibilities:
We seek a faculty advocate with a strong and continuing record of research and teaching experience that is consistent with appointment at the level of advanced Associate or Full Professor at an R2 institution. The AUH, or department chair, is a 12-month tenured appointment with a 1-1 teaching load, beginning July 1, 2027.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
Candidates must
• hold a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Technical Communication, or Writing Studies (or a related field with substantial graduate coursework in a Writing Studies field) and have attained the rank of advanced Associate or Full Professor, with a record of teaching and research achievement meriting consideration of tenure upon appointment;
• demonstrate the ability to facilitate collaborative leadership in advancing programmatic vision;
• foster a welcoming, supportive culture and support a wide-range of perspectives; and
• communicate with transparency and clarity.
Preferred Qualifications
Candidates are encouraged to demonstrate the ability to
• support faculty teaching, research, and creative scholarship in the academic unit;
• implement university and departmental policies;
• collaborate with colleagues within and beyond the academic unit;
• identify emerging program needs and opportunities and engage in strategic planning and implementation;
• manage enrollment and foster growth in undergraduate and graduate programs; and
• advocate for departmental needs in the evolving landscape of higher education.
Additional Posting Information:
Applicants will complete a faculty profile and submit the following:
1. A cover letter, which includes a discussion of the candidate's qualifications for the position.
2. A curriculum vitae.
3. 1-page research statement/trajectory (uploaded under "Other Document #1").
4. 1-page statement of administrative policy and leadership (uploaded under "Other Document #2").
5. The names and contact information for three references that we may contact later in the selection process.
For more information regarding the position, contact search chair Dr. Peggy Plass at plassms@jmu.edu.
JMU's Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.
Conditions of Employment:
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
Advertised: 09 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:
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