The Associate Director for Writing in the Disciplines spearheads the Princeton Writing Program’s outreach to the academic departments and to the Graduate School. With a focus on cultivating advanced research and writing skills, the Associate Director leads efforts to facilitate transfer from PWP’s first-year and sophomore course offerings to discipline-specific courses and independent work. The Associate Director also cultivates opportunities for graduate students at all stages of training to develop the professional writing practices required for successful research careers. The role requires close collaboration with the academic departments, as well as the Office of Undergraduate Research, the Office of the Dean of Research, the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning, the Residential Colleges, the Graduate School, and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, among others.
The Associate Director organizes the Writing Program’s annual proposal workshop for NSF applicants; a year-long workshop series for junior paper and senior thesis writers; and week-long Dissertation Boot Camps for graduate students in spring, winter, summer, and fall. The Associate Director also coordinates a slate of regular workshop partnerships with departments (e.g., for juniors in Economics) and responds to special requests.
The Associate Director oversees PWP’s graduate curriculum and enrollment, ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the Writing in Science & Engineering courses (WRI 501, 502, and 503), as well as the Writing in Social Sciences & Humanities course (WRI 504), which provide instruction for international students, proposal writers, and students preparing articles for publication. In addition to developing curriculum and pedagogy, the Associate Director recruits, mentors, and supervises the instructional staff for PWP’s graduate courses, typically a mix of postdoctoral associates and Program faculty.
The Associate Director for Writing in the Disciplines collaborates closely with the Associate Director for the Writing Center on hiring and training Fellows, and managing special requests for academic support. The Associate Director also annually recruits, hires, and provides ongoing mentorship for 2-3 Quin Morton Teaching Fellows (advanced Princeton graduate students who teach First-year Writing Seminars). In addition to their leadership role in the Writing Program, the Associate Director teaches one Writing Program course every five semesters.
Recruitment, Hiring, Training, and Mentorship
*Advertise and conduct interviews for postdocs to teach Writing in Science and Engineering (WSE) graduate courses, typically 2-3 per year. Oversee and guide the team of instructors teaching the Writing in Science and Engineering (WSE) and Writing in Social Sciences and Humanities (WSSH) graduate courses in accordance with shared Program pedagogical principles.
*Spearhead advertising, interviewing, and hiring process for the Quin Morton Teaching Fellows (review ~10 application files; interview select applicants; hire 2-3 finalists each year). Provide ongoing mentorship for Quin Morton Teaching Fellows, including class observations and observing their classes and guiding their participation in the Writing Program in light of their continuing status as graduate students in their departments and their future professional goals.
Outreach and Pedagogical Leadership
*Serve as an ambassador for the Writing Program’s mission to the wider University community through committees and working groups, as well as orientations and other campus events. Update publications, website, and promotional materials as needed.
*In collaboration with Writing Program faculty, consult with individual faculty members from across the University seeking support on teaching writing in their courses.
*Coordinate instruction to and assistance for proposal writers. This includes workshops on proposal writing offered to ~150 participants annually, individual group and follow up opportunities, and collaborations with the Fellowship Office to assistant applicants for National Science Foundation Fellowships as well as Fulbright, Marshall, and Churchill graduate research fellowships.
Enrollment and Academic Support Management
*Advertise graduate courses to align with demand with availability.
*Manage enrollment in the WSE and WSSH courses in accordance with Registrar and Program guidelines.
*Conduct intake meetings with undergraduate juniors and seniors referred by Residential College Deans for enhanced support for independent work and from the Graduate School for graduate students seeking writing support in relation to their coursework and dissertation. Collaborate with the Associate Director for the Writing Center in pairing referred students with graduate and faculty Writing Center Fellows.
Strategic Planning and Assessment
*Spearhead strategic planning for the WSE and WSSH courses and other Writing in the Disciplines initiatives in close consultation with the Director and campus partners.
*Monitor and assess enrollment and student evaluation data for the WSE and WSSH courses in collaboration with the Senior Associate Director for Curriculum and Assessment.
*Monitor and assess participation and evaluation data for PWP sponsored workshops in collaboration with the Senior Associate Director for Curriculum and Assessment.
*Manage WSE and WSSH resources and records in accordance with University record retention policies.
Teaching - 0%/50%
*Teach a First-year Writing Seminar (or its equivalent) once every five semesters. In recognition of the intensive feedback Writing Program instructors offer students as part of PWP faculty’s shared pedagogy, each WRI course counts as .25 FTE (instead of the university standard .1665). 50% duty time during that semester.
Essential Qualifications:
The successful candidate will be a dynamic leader, knowledgeable in Writing Program pedagogy, with an outstanding record in the teaching of writing. They will have experience working effectively with students from a broad range of disciplines, will have a proven record of successfully carrying out complex administrative tasks in an academic setting, and will bring a spirit of collaboration to the position.
Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills are a must, as are flexibility, openness, and imagination in the context of an evolving institutional landscape. The Ph.D. is required.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience as a Princeton Writing Program faculty member and/or administrator is preferred.
A record of publication in a liberal arts discipline and/or on writing pedagogy is welcome.
Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS