Dear Colleagues:
The English Writing Department at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown is searching for an assistant professor of professional writing. Applications must be received by March 20, 2026, to receive full consideration; the hire will begin teaching in late August.
Please see details below.
Michael W. Cox, PhD
Professor of English
Coordinator of Professional Writing
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown seeks a diligent, collegial writer/teacher for an assistant professor position in its Department of English Writing. This position will be on a three-year renewable contract beginning in late August of 2026.
This faculty member’s specialization must be in a field of professional writing (e.g., technical writing, professional communication, report and grant writing, etc.). Professional experience in the field (e.g., having worked as a tech writer) is a huge plus for those applying. A PhD in Professional Writing, broadly defined, is required, as this new hire will teach such courses as Technical Writing; Intro to Professional Writing (i.e., writing in or about one’s future profession); Business Writing; and Grammar, Usage, & Style. An ABD in Professional Writing, with a firm date set for the dissertation defense, is also acceptable.
Expertise in digital communication is expected, including the use and abuse of A.I. The hire may also teach Composition, and if the hire has some background in creative writing, they may also be called on to teach occasionally in this area. Many of the courses mentioned here serve STEM and Business majors, who comprise the majority of students on this campus. The hire will be expected to publish regularly in refereed journals in their field. They will also serve on departmental and university committees. The teaching load is four courses per semester, including two sections of Technical Writing and two other courses.
Qualifications other than the degree, publications, and specialization noted above include college teaching in relevant course areas; evidence of teaching effectiveness; commitment to teaching excellence; and strong potential for a sustained record of publication.
For full consideration, upload letter of application, vita, transcripts, evidence of teaching effectiveness, one refereed article regarding some facet of professional writing, and three letters of reference (directly from source or placement office) on Pitt’s Talent Center site https://www.join.pitt.edu/faculty-appointments ; the number for this faculty position is 26000104. Finalists will be required to submit official transcripts. Review of applications will begin on March 20, 2026, and continue until the position is filled; to receive full consideration, all materials should be received by the initial review date.
Pitt-Johnstown is a comprehensive four-year undergraduate campus of the University of Pittsburgh System, located 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh on a beautiful 650-acre wooded site in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. The college community includes roughly 2,200 undergraduate students and 150 full-time faculty distributed across seven academic divisions: Business & Enterprise, Education, Engineering & Computer Science, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Nursing, and Social Sciences. Each division offers four-year baccalaureate programs.