The English department's Graduate Placement Committee is designed to assist PhD, MFA, and postdoctoral candidates in the application process for faculty positions in film, composition, literature, and creative writing by focusing on strategies for best representing one's candidacy in what has become a highly competitive job market. The committee works with candidates on how to compose and strengthen their CVs, cover letters, teaching portfolios, and other materials. And as there is an interviewing component to the application process, the committee offers strategies for representing one's candidate publicly and professionally. Annually, the committee conducts mock job interviews for prospective candidates, and, for the upcoming year, the committee will offer mock job talks.
Please feel free to contact the English graduate office at 412-624-6549 for information.
Our MFAs have been quite successful in finding academic employment. Here are a few of our recent graduates who hold faculty positions at colleges and universities:
- Derek Handley (MFA 2007), US Naval Academy
- Salvatore Pane (MFA 2010), University of Indianapolis
- Sarah Harris (MFA 2008), Albertus Magnus College
- Carlos Delgado (MFA 2008), Biola University
- Aubrey Hirsch (MFA 2007), Chatham University
- Rebecca Skloot (MFA 2007), University of Memphis
- Julie Marie Wade (MFA 2006), Florida International University
- Eugene Cross (MFA 2006), Penn State Behrend
- Karin Lin-Greenberg, (MFA 2006), College of Wooster
- Kristin Naca (MFA 2003), Macalester College
- John Temple (MFA 2002), West Virginia University
It's worth noting, however, that teaching writing is not the only meaningful way to put your MFA to good use. There are as many ways to create (and fund) a professional writer’s life as there are writers. Check out our Living the Literary Life and Graduate Testimonials pages to learn more about all the ways in which we spell “success”.