Academic Unit Head, School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication

James Madison University; Harrisonburg (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University seeks an Academic Unit Head for the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication in Harrisonburg, VA. The appointment is 12‑month tenured with a 1‑1 teaching load, starting July 1, 2027, leading the program and faculty with research, teaching, and service responsibilities.

Requirements include a Ph.D. in related field and a proven record of teaching/research excellence, with a commitment to inclusive leadership and transparent communication.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Technical Communication, or Writing Studies and a record of teaching and research meriting tenure.
• Demonstrate ability to facilitate collaborative leadership and advance programmatic vision.
• Foster a welcoming, supportive culture and support a wide‑range of perspectives.
• Communicate with transparency and clarity.

Responsibilities

• Advise and advocate for faculty with a strong research/teaching profile at advanced Associate or Full Professor level.
• Lead as AUH (department chair) in a 12‑month tenured appointment with a 1‑1 teaching load starting July 1, 2027.

Skills

Collaborative leadership

Transparent communication

Inclusive environment

Education

Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Technical Communication, or Writing Studies

Job description

Academic Unit Head, School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication

Working Title: Academic Unit Head, School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Arts and Letters

Department: 100361 - Writing, Rhetoric and Tech Comm

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position?: No

Is this a grant-funded position?: No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?: No

Beginning Review Date: 11/09/2026

About JMU

Mission

We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision

To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are

Situated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full‑time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information

The School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication, which is part of the university's College of Arts and Letters, has approximately 40 full- and part-time faculty members. The program is a vibrant stand‑alone writing department dedicated to the art and science of writing across a variety of modes and genres. The School offers B.A. and B.S. degrees, a minor, and an M.A. in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. It also has a strong presence in the university's General Education Program, offering over 150 sections of first-year writing each year. The program's innovative curriculum emphasizes critical rhetorical awareness in creating and consuming user centered texts; navigating the ethical complexities of emerging technologies; and hands‑on workplace experience, with students completing a required internship and working with clients and partners regularly.

The department is part of JMU's College of Arts and Letters, which enrolls more than 3,100 undergraduate majors and about 150 graduate students across ten academic units. Home to several interdisciplinary centers and institutes, the college embraces the teacher‑scholar model and encourages excellent applicants within our particular disciplines, as well as scholars and teachers eager to work across them.

Duties and Responsibilities

We seek a faculty advocate with a strong and continuing record of research and teaching experience that is consistent with appointment at the level of advanced Associate or Full Professor at an R2 institution. The AUH, or department chair, is a 12‑month tenured appointment with a 1-1 teaching load, beginning July 1, 2027.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• hold a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Technical Communication, or Writing Studies (or a related field with substantial graduate coursework in a Writing Studies field) and have attained the rank of advanced Associate or Full Professor, with a record of teaching and research achievement meriting consideration of tenure upon appointment;
• demonstrate the ability to facilitate collaborative leadership in advancing programmatic vision;
• foster a welcoming, supportive culture and support a wide‑range of perspectives; and
• communicate with transparency and clarity.

Preferred Qualifications

• support faculty teaching, research, and creative scholarship in the academic unit;
• implement university and departmental policies;
• collaborate with colleagues within and beyond the academic unit;
• identify emerging program needs and opportunities and engage in strategic planning and implementation;
• manage enrollment and foster growth in undergraduate and graduate programs; and
• advocate for departmental needs in the evolving landscape of higher education.

Additional Posting Information

1. A cover letter, which includes a discussion of the candidate's qualifications for the position.
2. A curriculum vitae.
3. 1-page research statement/trajectory (uploaded under "Other Document #1").
4. 1-page statement of administrative policy and leadership (uploaded under "Other Document #2").
5. The names and contact information for three references that we may contact later in the selection process.

For more information regarding the position, contact search chair Dr. Peggy Plass at [e-mail].

JMU's Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice

After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: [phone].

Reasonable Accommodation

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.