AY 26-27 Adjunct Faculty Pool - Comics Studies

Portland State University, College of Urban and Public Affairs; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 22,320 - 44,640; Part time

Job summary

The College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University seeks qualified instructors for its Comics Studies Program. Responsibilities include teaching courses like Writing Comics and Comics Theory.

Applicants should have relevant comics experience and a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. A Master's is preferred along with prior college teaching experience. This position offers a dynamic environment in Portland, with various cultural and academic opportunities.

Qualifications

• Professional and/or academic experience in the area of comics.
• Bachelor's degree is required; a Master's is preferred.
• Experience with college-level teaching is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses on Writing, Publishing, and Editing Comics.
• Engage students in critical discussions about comics.
• Develop curriculum for comics-related courses.

Skills

Teaching experience

Professional/comics experience

Curriculum development

Education

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution

Master’s degree from an accredited institution

Job description

Position Summary

A thriving campus in the heart of the city, Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university and we offer tremendous opportunity to 21,000 students from all backgrounds. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to finding innovative, sustainable solutions to local and global problems. Our location in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities gives our students unmatched access to career connections and an internationally acclaimed culture scene. PSU is the only Oregon university to offer a four‑year degree guarantee.

The English Department offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses to meet the needs of students with a diversity of interests, and academic and professional backgrounds. By studying literature, rhetoric, composition, and critical theory, students in the Department of English acquire experience in inter‑textual and cross‑disciplinary inquiry represented by many cultures and historical periods. They learn critical approaches to texts and issues that enable them to interpret and compare positions, to read closely, critically, and with empathy, to conduct research, to weigh evidence, and to write with insight and expertise.

The Comics Studies Program is looking for qualified instructors to teach a variety of courses, including the specialties of Writing, Publishing, and Editing Comics, as well as other special topics to be announced. Courses could include: WR 398 Writing Comics, ENG 496 Comics Theory, ENG 497 Comics History, ENG 399: Special Topics in Comics, and others.

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional and/or academic experience in the particular area or aspect of comics suitable to the course content.
• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Applicant must reside in Oregon or Southwest Washington.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution and prior college‑level teaching experience.

Key Cultural Competencies

• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.
• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.
• Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adheres to all PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Environmental Stewardship

Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long‑term sustainability goals.

Required Professional Standards of Conduct

At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct, which are available at www.pdx.edu/hr/professional-standards-conduct.

Compensation

Adjunct faculty members are paid per credit hour in accordance with the AFT Collective Bargaining Agreement accessible at https://www.pdx.edu/academic-affairs/academic-unions#psuf.

Application Instructions

Please submit: curriculum vitae, cover letter, references, teaching interest.

Supplemental Questions

• Please describe your experience with teaching and your goals as an instructor.
• Please provide an overview of your experience either as a comics scholar or creator. What roles have you held? How will you translate your experiences into a classroom environment?
• What existing comics courses at PSU would you like to teach? What comics courses would you like to create?

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Professional References

Optional Documents

Optional documents may be provided upon request.