Michigan State University, College of Arts and Letters
Technology, Culture, and Creativity Cluster
For our growing dynamic initiatives at the intersections of technology, culture and creativity, the College of Arts and Letters invites applications for a multidisciplinary team that embraces a design thinking approach dedicated to a common sense of values: creativity, teamwork, end-user focus, and curiosity. Successful candidates should be committed to engaging students in real-world problems within the larger cultural shift from a consumer culture to a creative society increasingly defined by mediated experiences. The ideal candidates will excel in their disciplinary fields. They will also analyze and theorize the larger questions posed by the ever-changing media landscape and its potential for creative community participation and positive social change. We are committed to embedding the creative disciplinary questions of how we author, design, and perform cutting-edge new media experiences within a larger social and cultural context. Those hired will support the College of Arts and Letters in its focus on shaping students who go out into the world and have an impact.
In addition to collaborating in the development of College of Arts and Letters initiatives and in grant activity to support those initiatives, the new faculty will join the relevant vibrant departments (Art and Art History; Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures; Theatre) as described below.
WRAC POSITION DESCRIPTION-Digital Humanities
The Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University seeks a colleague in Digital Humanities, Community Informatics, or Digital Media and Culture. We are interested in scholars who bridge the gap between critical and creative studies, and whose teaching and research is in one or more of the following areas: human-computer interaction; information architecture, cultural informatics, user-experience design; or new media arts and storytelling. This is an academic year, tenure system faculty (rank open) or academic specialist appointment to begin fall 2011. Salary competitive and commensurate with background and experience. The position is part of a cluster hire for the new technology, culture and creativity initiatives of the College of Arts and Letters. (For more about the College of Arts and Letters multi-disciplinary initiatives go to: www.cal.msu.edu.) The ideal candidate will bring enthusiastic willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues in the department and college. Within Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures (WRAC), the new colleague will contribute to the department’s vertical writing curriculum that includes first-year writing, an undergraduate major in professional writing, and a graduate program in rhetoric and writing. Depending on precise area of expertise, major teaching responsibilities will include such courses as web authoring and information/interaction design as well as courses that will contribute to new college initiatives in digital humanities; other expectations include an active research agenda, grant activity, and contribution to outreach and engagement.
In its vertical writing curriculum, WRAC’s mission is to offer culturally and technologically relevant writing instruction, focused on processes of inquiry. WRAC is home to cutting-edge research on digital writing practices, professional and technical writing, community literacies, and cultural rhetorics. Further information about the department is available at http://wrac.msu.edu/.
Qualifications: Applicants expected to hold a PhD or other terminal degree in rhetoric, writing, or a related field or (in the case of specialists) have equivalent professional experience.
All applications for this position must be submitted electronically at the Michigan State University Human Resources website (http://jobs.msu.edu/). Applications should include a statement of interest describing qualifications and experience and a c.v. Review of applications will begin February 21, 2011, and continue until position is filled. For inquiries contact Bill Hart-Davidson at hartdav2 [at] msu [dot] edu.
WRAC Position Description: Multimedia Writing
The Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University seeks a colleague whose teaching and research focus principally on multimedia writing and video composing, with desirable subsidiary interests in global and cross-cultural contexts for multimedia writing and video composing and/or visual rhetoric. This is an academic year, tenure system faculty (rank open) or academic specialist appointment. Salary competitive and commensurate with background and experience. The position is part of a cluster hire for the new technology, culture and creativity initiatives of the College of Arts and Letters. (For more about the College of Arts and Letters multi-disciplinary initiatives go to: www.cal.msu.edu)
The ideal candidate will work at the intersection of critical and creative studies and will bring enthusiastic willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues in the department and college. Within Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures (WRAC), the new colleague will contribute to the department’s vertical writing curriculum that includes first-year writing, an undergraduate major in professional writing, and a graduate program in rhetoric and writing. The major area of teaching responsibility will be courses in multimedia writing and video composing; other expectations include consulting on multimedia and visual composing in curricular and co-curricular contexts; maintaining an active agenda of research and/or multimedia production; seeking external funding for projects; and contributing to university outreach.
In its vertical writing curriculum, WRAC’s mission is to offer culturally and technologically relevant writing instruction, focused on processes of inquiry. WRAC is home to cutting-edge research on digital writing practices, professional and technical writing, community literacys, and cultural rhetorics. Further information about the department is available at wrac.msu.edu
Applicants expected to hold a PhD or other terminal degree in rhetoric, writing, or a related field or (in the case of specialists) have equivalent professional experience. We seek colleagues with a record of scholarship and teaching or equivalent professional experience in at least two of the following areas: film, video, or audio-visual production and analysis; audio-visual media production with/in community and cultural groups; outreach and engagement involving new media technologies; multimedia composing in project-based courses; social networking and content management work related to the digital humanities.
Applications should include a statement of interest describing qualifications and experience and a c.v. Review of applications will begin February 15, 2011, and continue until position is filled. For inquiries contact Prof. Ellen Cushman (cushmane@msu.edu or 517-432-2575) or Prof. Bump Halbritter (drbump@msu.edu or 517-432-2569).
About Michigan State University
Known internationally as a major U.S. public university with global reach, Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research, and outreach for nearly 150 years. MSU is a member of the Association of American Universities, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the Big Ten athletic conference. In 2012, Michigan State University will be home to the new Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, designed by world renowned architect Zaha Hadid, which will become a premier venue for modern and contemporary art.
MSU is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The university actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans and persons with disabilities.
