Adjunct Faculty - MFA Critical Thesis

Naropa University; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 44,640 - 61,380; Part time

Job summary

Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado is seeking an Adjunct Professor for the MFA Critical Thesis course. The candidate will guide second-year students in developing their critical theses through mentorship and seminar discussions.

Responsibilities include creating a syllabus, facilitating class discussions, and providing feedback on student work. A terminal degree and published work are required, alongside teaching experience. The position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an innovative educational approach.

Qualifications

• At least one full-length book published or under contract with a reputed press.
• Demonstrated scholarly engagement with literary criticism or related fields.
• Experience mentoring advanced student research and writing.

Responsibilities

• Develop a syllabus for the critical thesis course.
• Teach and facilitate seminar meetings.
• Provide feedback on student writing and research.
• Mentor students through the thesis process.

Skills

Literary criticism

Teaching experience

Mentorship skills

Understanding of equity and access

Contemporary literary culture

Education

Terminal degree (MFA or PhD) in a relevant field

Job description

Position Title

Adjunct Professor - MFA Critical Thesis

Job Details

No. of Positions to Fill: 1

Department/Program: Writing & Poetics 12090

Work Location: Arapahoe Campus

Reports to: Valerie Hsiung

FLSA Classification: Exempt/Salaried

FTE: 15% (6 hrs/week)

Compensation: $4,500 per semester for 3-credit course

Job Summary

The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics seeks a talented adjunct faculty member to teach WRI 875: Critical Thesis during the Fall 2026 semester. This course serves as a foundational component of the MFA curriculum for second‑year students as they prepare to undertake their Creative Thesis in the spring semester. Working in both a collective and individual mentoring capacity, the instructor will guide students through the process of conceiving, researching, writing, and revising a substantial critical thesis that articulates the intellectual, artistic, historical, and cultural contexts informing their creative practice. The instructor will help students develop scholarly research methodologies, engage literary and theoretical texts, formulate original arguments, and articulate a personal poetics. Through seminar discussion, individual mentorship, and sustained feedback, the course supports students in producing a critical thesis that serves as both a rigorous scholarly inquiry and a foundation for the creative work that follows. In addition, the instructor is expected to organize, collaborate with JKS administration, and act as a panelist & moderator for the critical thesis panel, which usually occurs at the end of the semester and is a multi‑hour event in the afternoon/early evening.

Course Description

WRI 875: Critical Thesis is a weekly communal mentorship course designed to support second‑year MFA students in the development of a substantial critical thesis. Positioned as a gateway to the Creative Thesis process, the course helps students identify and investigate the literary, artistic, theoretical, historical, and cultural concerns that animate their creative work. Through research, reading, discussion, writing, peer exchange, collective and individual mentorship, students develop the skills necessary to produce an original scholarly text that situates their work within broader conversations and traditions. The course encourages students to critically examine questions of influence, lineage, aesthetics, form, genre, politics, and artistic practice while articulating the intellectual foundations of their own poetics. Students will engage with literary criticism, poetics, theory, archival materials, and other scholarly resources as they develop, draft, and revise their critical thesis. Particular emphasis is placed on cultivating an independent critical voice and generating the intellectual framework that will support the student's Creative Thesis in the succeeding spring semester.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop a rigorous and coherent syllabus with a full semester‑long arc.
• Teach and facilitate all scheduled class meetings.
• Create a supportive, collaborative, and intellectually rigorous seminar environment.
• Guide students through the process of developing, researching, drafting, and revising a critical thesis.
• Mentor students both collectively and individually throughout the semester; design a class structure that maps out time for group meetings and one‑on‑one meetings.
• Support students in articulating a personal poetics and identifying the intellectual, artistic, and historical contexts of their work.
• Introduce students to relevant scholarly, literary, theoretical, and critical methodologies.
• Provide substantive written and verbal feedback on student writing and research.
• Facilitate peer discussion, workshop, and critical exchange.
• Assess student work and submit grades in accordance with university policies.
• Maintain regular communication with students and respond to questions in a timely manner.
• Organize, collaborate with JKS administration, and act as panelist & moderator for the critical thesis panel.

Minimum Qualifications

• Terminal degree (MFA or PhD) in Creative Writing, English Literature, Poetics, Cultural Studies, Comparative Literature, or a related field.
• At least one full‑length book with a reputed press published or under contract (self‑published books do not count).
• Demonstrated scholarly engagement with literary criticism, poetics, theory, or related fields.
• Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary literary culture, particularly innovative, experimental, and avant‑garde writing traditions.
• Graduate‑level teaching experience.
• Experience mentoring advanced student research and writing projects.
• All candidates must demonstrate understanding of the dynamics of privilege and oppression and their impact on equity, access, and opportunity.
• All candidates must demonstrate an appreciation for the values of Naropa University and the ability to embody these values in work, communication, and collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in contemplative education.

Physical Requirements & Environmental Conditions

• Faculty members spend most of their time in classrooms or virtual meetings, with some time in offices.
• Potential exposure to interruptions, distractions, heat, cold, dust, and dampness on campus.
• Reading academic texts and materials, student papers, etc.
• Operating a personal computer and audio‑visual equipment.
• Standing or sitting for hours at a time.
• Moving around campus for classes and meetings.

EEO Statement

Naropa University is an equal‑opportunity, non‑discriminatory employer and Title IX is a federal civil‑rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.