Howry Professor of Faulkner Studies and Advanced Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor of English

Note for Current UM Employees

Current employees must apply internally via connectU > connectu.olemiss.edu

Position Description

The Department of English at the University of Mississippi seeks a Howry Professor of Faulkner Studies and Advanced Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor of English with significant research in Faulkner studies and with specialization in any area of literary studies. This is an endowed, full-time, permanent position with a 2/2 teaching load. A successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, and assist with directing graduate theses and dissertations. They will also serve as director of a long-standing Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference.

Qualifications:

The department invites applications from candidates with publication and teaching experience in any area of literary studies and with evidence of significant research in the works, life, and/or influence of William Faulkner. Potential areas of literary studies include but are not limited to Southern Studies, modernisms, narrative form, the Global South, media studies and book history, disability studies and medical humanities, twentieth-century American literatures, gender studies, and environmental studies.

Candidates should demonstrate experience or promise in conference organization and collection editing. The Department is renowned for its excellence in Faulkner Studies. Oxford, Mississippi was where William Faulkner lived and wrote for decades. The university has hosted an annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference for over fifty years, with the Howry Chair being the conference’s director and a co-editor of conference-related annual essay collections. The new Howry Chair will be charged with leading the reformulation of a sustainable conference and publication format and will serve as the conference’s director with support from department and university faculty and staff as well as community stakeholders.

About the Department:
The University of Mississippi is a flagship, R1 state university. The Howry Chair will teach in the Department of English, which has thriving literary studies and top-ranked creative writing programs. We are well aware of our responsibility to recruit scholars who are innovative in research and teaching. 

Faculty in the Department of English have the opportunity to work across disciplines with the Isom Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, the Prison-to-College Pipeline, the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, the university’s programs in African American Studies and Environmental Studies, and a variety of other departments and programs.

Position Details

Appointment: 9 month

Assignment Type: Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications

PhD in English or related discipline is required. Assistant Professor candidates should have at least two-years time-in-rank as a tenure-line assistant professor or the equivalent. All candidates must have the equivalent of a published scholarly monograph in literary studies by a recognized press. A contract for publication (issued subsequent to peer review of a complete, finished manuscript) will be considered tantamount to publication.  Candidates should demonstrate a record of current and future potential strength in scholarship and excellence in graduate and undergraduate teaching and mentorship. 

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called for an interview must notify the Department of Equal Opportunity/Regulatory Compliance in writing of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

Application Procedures

Applications must include a cover letter, writing sample, cv, and names and contact information for at least three references. Some candidates may be asked at a later date to submit additional materials, such as a teaching portfolio. 

Please contact search committee chair Professor Kathryn McKee at kmckee@olemiss.edu with any questions. Review of applications will begin immediately, but all applications received by November 7, 2025, will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled or an adequate candidate pool is reached.

About the University of MS & Oxford, MS

Founded in 1848, the University of Mississippi (UM), affectionately known to alumni, students and friends as Ole Miss, is Mississippi's flagship university. Included in the elite group of R-1: Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, it has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics and business. The University of Mississippi, consistently named by The Chronicle of Higher Education as a “Great College to Work For,” is located in Oxford, MS, which is ranked one of the “Top 10 Best College Towns.” With more than 24,000 students, UM is the state's largest university and is ranked among the nation's fastest-growing institutions. The University of Mississippi, which has aggressively implemented many health and wellness initiatives for its more than 2,900 employees, has consistently been named one of Mississippi’s Healthiest Workplaces.

Touted as the “Cultural Mecca of the South”, creativity abounds in Oxford as musicians, artists and writers alike find inspiration in Oxford’s rich history, small town charm and creative community. Oxford is a one-hour drive south of Memphis, TN and is known as the home of Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner. Over the years Oxford has also been known for offering exceptional culinary experiences and as the home of the University of Mississippi and the Ole Miss Rebels, there is always something here to immerse yourself in. Oxford has also been featured as a literary and arts destination in such publications as The New York Times, Southern Living, Condé Nast Traveler, and GQ. Among other cultural activities, annual events include the Oxford Film Festival, a thriving local music scene, and the Ford Center Performing Arts Series. Oxford is a vibrant university town, filled with unique shops and galleries, eclectic restaurants and clubs, historic landmarks, and comfortable inns.

Background Check Statement

The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safe campus community. UM conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

EEO Statement

The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons. The University complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunity and does not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based upon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, age, disability, military status, protected veteran status, or genetic information, or any other legally protected status.