Pennington Post Doctoral Fellowship in English (American Literature),UMKC School of Humanities and Social Sciences

UNIVERSITY of MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of English

UMKC is rated R1 by the Carnegie Research Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

The Department of English at the University of Missouri-Kansas City invites applications for the Pennington Postdoctoral Fellowship, a two-year, full-time appointment beginning August 2026. We seek an early-career scholar with a PhD in English or a closely related field (degree must be in hand by the time of appointment), a specialization in American literature, and a strong record of teaching and research.

The Pennington Fellow will pursue an active program of research and publication while contributing to the teaching and service missions of the department. The expected teaching load is 2-1, with opportunities to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in English, in addition to courses in General Education and the Honors Program, depending on the fellow's expertise and departmental needs. We are especially interested in candidates with experience in innovative, inclusive pedagogy and demonstrated commitment to student success.

This is a full-time, 9-month, benefit-eligible, unranked academic appointment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in English or a related field awarded by August 2026
• Specialization in American literature
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching
• Evidence of a strong and developing research agenda

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in interdisciplinary or public-facing scholarship
• Experience working effectively with non-/traditional students from varied backgrounds.

The fellowship offers a competitive salary, infrastructure to support your research endeavors, and a vibrant intellectual community within a public urban research university committed to the arts and humanities.

Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

For consideration, you must apply online at https://www.umkc.edu/hr/careers/. Click Academic Positions, Job Opening ID 57340.

To apply, please submit the following materials in the online portal:

• Letter of application
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of research interests (2 pages)
• Statement of teaching philosophy (1-2 pages)
• A writing sample (no more than 25 pages)

Please have three letters of recommendation sent directly from the recommender to Cassie Allen, the Department of English's staff person, at cjallen@umkc.edu.

For questions about the position, please contact umkcfacultysearch@umkc.edu and include the Job Identification number 57340 and name of the position.

Reasonable accommodations may be requested during the application and recruitment process. If you need an accommodation, please contact the Office of Equity and Title IX at (816) 235-1323.

Higher education transcripts will be required for candidates advancing as finalists.

Review of applications will begin October 1, 2025, and continue until the position is filled.

If you are experiencing technical problems during application, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu .

UMKC is a public, urban, Carnegie R1 rated university with more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. It is part of the larger University of Missouri System. Our university is committed to being a model urban university that is recognized for our partnerships with surrounding urban communities to effectively foster a healthy, safe, and more economically secure quality of life.

For more information about the UMKC English Department, visit: https://shss.umkc.edu/areas-of-study/english/index.html.

Kansas City offers the best of both worlds-a vibrant, urban community with Midwestern appeal. The city's rich history and its modern-day, innovative thinking come together to create an eclectic group of neighborhoods that offer a little something for everyone. From thriving arts districts, an energetic downtown nightlife, casual to upscale shopping and champion sports teams, you will have no problem making yourself at home. Of course, one of Kansas City's biggest claims to fame is its food, especially its world-famous barbecue. Foodies will delight in the culinary scene found throughout the city. Ranging from award-winning chefs to cozy pizza joints, Kansas City definitely is not lacking any flavor.

UMKC's campuses are conveniently nestled in the middle of all the action. Volker Campus is just minutes from the legendary Country Club Plaza, perfect for shopping or restaurants for lunch or after-work happy hours. Surrounded by hip neighborhoods and eateries, the Health Sciences Campus is located downtown near University Health Truman Medical Center and Children's Mercy Hospital.

UMKC is proud to be "Kansas City's university," and the campus and its people celebrate all the characteristics of the surrounding community. To learn more about life in Kansas City and find more resources, visit VisitKC.com.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.