Pepperdine University

The Humanities and Teacher Education Division of the Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at Pepperdine University invites applications for a full-time Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing to begin August 2025. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate level courses with primary responsibilities in the Creative Writing program and secondary responsibilities in the English program. This is a multi-genre position — a background in fiction writing is required; additional background in poetry writing is preferred.

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated passion for teaching and inspiring students and hold an MFA or PhD with an emphasis in creative writing and expertise in fiction writing, experience teaching undergraduate creative writing courses, and an active publishing agenda. A secondary interest in poetry writing is preferred. Publishing experience in the field is required. The undergraduate courses in the Creative Writing program that the successful candidate will teach will likely include multi-genre intro courses and intermediate or advanced fiction writing courses (including novel writing) - and English composition. Other course opportunities might arise as needed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Successful applicants must have an active commitment to the Christian mission of the University and reflect on their willingness to support the mission of Seaver College.

Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2024 and will remain open until filled. Please submit all application materials by clicking https://apply.interfolio.com/152128.

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.

This is a Full-Time, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $69,000 - $72,000 per year

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials via this link:

1. A letter of application
2. A curriculum vitae
3. Three current letters of reference. All letters should be specific to the position and completed within one year prior to the date of submission. The name and email address for each individual providing a letter of recommendation is required when submitting an application.
4. Transcripts of all graduate work (Unofficial copies are acceptable for the application; however, official transcripts may be required for selected applicants.)
5. Teaching statement. The teaching statement should reflect on the candidate’s values, beliefs, and goals regarding the teaching and learning process and any pedagogical practices used or envisioned to achieve these goals. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
6. Scholarly/Creative agenda. The statement should outline applicants’ short- and long-term objectives and goals for their research and/or creative activities. Candidates should reflect on currently published or presented work(s) as a foundation for the statement. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
7. Response to Mission. Pepperdine University’s mission statement declares that we are a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Religiously affiliated with the churches of Christ, it is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context which celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. In pursuit of its mission, Pepperdine reserves the right to recruit and hire persons who richly embrace the goals and Christian mission of the University.
8. At Seaver College, the undergraduate college of letters, arts, and science at Pepperdine, our faith calls us to uphold the highest standards of academic and scholarly excellence. To achieve this goal, the college’s mission statement affirms that we are a Christian college where each student is a person of infinite dignity and their total development is centered at the heart of our educational enterprise. Arising from our faith, we commit to pursue truth relentlessly in all disciplines, fully confident that it has nothing to fear from investigation.
9. Candidates should thoughtfully reflect on the Christian missions of Pepperdine University and Seaver College and address the following areas in their response.
   • A consistent pattern of support for generally accepted Christian values and the mission of Pepperdine University.
   • Active participation in a community of faith.
   • Either current practice or vision for integrating faith and learning in the classroom.
10. Depending on the position, the search committee may request that additional materials accompany the application (e.g., prior teaching evaluations, portfolio of scholarly work, etc.)
11. All documents submitted must represent the original contributions of the applicant and may not be prepared using an generative artificial intelligence tool, except to provide an accommodation in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and state and local regulations regarding individuals with disabilities.

For inquiries about the position, please contact:

Dr. John Struloeff (john.struloeff@pepperdine.edu)

Search Committee Chair

Humanities and Teacher Education Division

Pepperdine University, Seaver College

Malibu, CA 90263