Other Ethnic American 2010

Page Last Updated: 1/20/2010 (please update when you edit the page)

'CAN PEOPLE PLEASE'' LIST DATES WHEN THEY INCLUDE UPDATES? THERE ARE A LOT OF MLA INTERVIEWS SCHEDULED BELOW WITHOUT ANY DATES OR INFO ABOUT HOW THE INTERVIEW WAS SCHEDULED. THANK YOU. '''

'''[FYI: Some posters are looking for info on African American literature positions. Here's the link to that wiki: http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/African_American_2010]'''

Demographics: ABD (early):

ABD (will finish this academic year): 8

Ph.D. in hand (one-year (2), VAP (4), Lecturer (2)): 8

Assistant Professor: 2

Associate Professor:

Full Professor:

Lurker:

Total: 17

Campus Interviews Scheduled
Arizona State University

Bentley University

California State University, Northridge

Colby College

Columbia College (Chicago)

Denison University

Drew University

Indiana University South Bend

Loyola Marymount University

Northeastern Illinois University

Rowan University

Southern Methodist University

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

University of North Texas

West Chester University

MLA Interviews scheduled
Bentley

California State University, Northridge

Colby

Columbia College (Chicago)

Denison

High Point

Indiana U, South Bend

John Jay College, CUNY

Marquette

Montclair

Pace

Rowan

Southern Methodist

University of North Texas

West Chester

West Virginia

Yale

Arizona State University (Comparative Ethnic, Transnational, or Hemispheric Literary/Cultural Studies)
Phone interview completed: 11/21
 * 10/28 email ack.

Do you know if they're planning to do MLA interviews?

No MLA interview. They claim it's for budgetary reasons. Of course, it also allows them to move more quickly than schools on the MLA schedule (flyouts in January) ,and thus make offers earlier.

From what I understand, their department is hiring for 10 positions, so I imagine there are budgetary concerns. Has there been any further word on this position?

Did anyone schedule a campus interview with ASU? Are these searches in literature at ASU still happening?

Campus interviews scheduled -- see ASU English homepage for details.

Beware of this institution. You can read about it all over the Chronicle. Compounded with the financial meltdown in AZ because of real estate inflation I'd be very wary

Bentley University (ethnic American lit)

 * MLA interview scheduled via email on 12/10
 * campus visit invite via email

Brown University (American Indian Studies)

 * Asked for intro to book ms. sometime in November and told that applications would be reviewed in early December.
 * email confirming completed application (12/2) (X5)
 * anyone get a call for an interview yet? (12/15)
 * Has anyone had contact with the Brown U folks about the status of this search? (1/14/10)

Yes. (1/31)
 * Nothing yet here, still keeping my fingers and toes crossed, but not holding my breath. The semester does not start up until January 26, so it is possible that nothing will happen until closer to/after that time. (1/15/10)
 * Heard from a reliable source no ABD's considered; only post-doc fellows and those already with jobs shortlisted. (1/21/10)
 * The same person told me that the sc only want Indian poets and fiction writers.
 * So all of those established poets and fiction writers who happen to be ABD were not shortlisted.
 * Rec'd phone call on 12/4/09 asking for writing sample. Told there was a short list of 7 people.
 * so, any confirmations on if people have been contacted for interviews yet? (1/28)

California State University, Northridge (American Indian Studies Program)

 * Does anyone know if they are interviewing at MLA?
 * interviews being scheduled now . Q: Has anyone actually received a call for an interview? (12/15)  A: Yes. (12/18)
 * EOE letter sent (12/15). Acknowledgment and EOE letter received, 12/17/09. Any news? (12/18)
 * received EOE letter and acknowledgment 1/18/10 so I am assuming the search is still on?
 * interviews are in process (1/28)

Colby College (English, specialization in Chicana/o and Latina/o Literature)

 * 11/6 email request for writing sample
 * 11/5 e-mail request for writing sample
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone 12/4
 * MLA interview scheduled by email 12/5
 * Campus interview scheduled 1/4

Columbia College (Chicago)
Am curious, how did MLA interview go for people?
 * anyone heard anything from this one? The Anglophone page shows they scheduled that interview. Anyone heard about the US Latino/a Literature position?
 * According to the Spanish wiki, someone got a phone call on 12/7 for an interview. Has any one on this page gotten an interview request?  A: Nope
 * I received phone call around same time--scheduled an MLA interview.
 * Visit scheduled 1/4

Dartmouth College (Native American Studies)

 * E-mail ack received 12/1

Denison University

 * Writing sample request (11/18) (x3)
 * MLA interview scheduled (12/11) (x2)
 * campus visit scheduled 1/6
 * Am curious, how did MLA interviews go for people?
 * My interview went extremely well, more like a conversation.
 * My interview went well too, but one dominated and spoke more than the other.

Drew University (American literature with a secondary specialization in "ethnic literatures")

 * E-mail acknowledgment (10/28)
 * 20th Am Lit page mentions MLA interviews (12/12)
 * Campus visits scheduled (1/14)

Eastern Washington U (3-yr VAP Am Ind Studies) (12/31/09)
nothing yet. Anyone else hear anything yet? Nothing. Just an ack. last month.

High Point University (NC)
A. Alas, no--but I did order three copies of the book.
 * Ack via e-mail 11/24
 * Phone interview scheduled via e-mail 12/8
 * any word about this position? (1/22)
 * e-mail rejection, which included the total number of applications for three searches and a link to the department chair's book: why waste an opportunity for diverse advertisements? (1/27) (x3)
 * Did anyone who received an e-mail rejection on 1/27 have a phone/Skype interview?

Ithaca College

 * Received a robo-response immediately after submitting my application through the online system in October. Haven't heard anything since
 * Is this for the Latina/o Studies position?
 * Yes. Have you heard anything?~ not a word. I just figured I was passed over, since they never did contact my references. ---Hmm, the department seems kind of odd. It made me a bit suspicious that they seem to also be looking for a new director of the program, as I don't think the last one was there too long.  I applied to a postdoc with this program over the summer and the whole thing seemed totally disorganized, with poor communication.  But I figured I'd take a crack at this advertised position anyway, thinking that there's nothing to lose.
 * I had a phone interview mid-Dec. Was awkward. Haven't heard back from them. I got a sense of disorganization and tension among faculty. Anyone else experience this?
 * Still no news about additional phone interviews or campus visits?

Indiana University, South Bend

 * Ack. received by email 10/29, ditto 11/10
 * Writing sample requested by email 11/27 (x3)
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone 12/14 (x2)
 * Email rejection stating that they've made decisions about campus invites. [I did not have an MLA interview with them.] (1/20) (x2)

Iowa State University (Creative Writing/Am Indian Studies)

 * Q: Anyone heard from Iowa State? 11/28
 * A: The search was canceled. Notified by email 12/15. (x4)
 * budgets suck! :-)

John Jay College CUNY (Latino Studies/English)

 * Rec'd acknowledgment 11/12
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone 12/8 (x3)
 * Sorry I'm new to this page -- is this for the Latino Studies or the African American Studies position? Thanks. (It's for the Latino position; I added that to the header. If you're interested in the African American position, I think there's another wiki devoted to African American literature job openings, so you might try that one.)
 * Anybody been contacted for campus interviews yet? (1/19)
 * No word yet. But my MLA interview didn't go so well... (1/20) x2
 * Classes don't begin at John Jay until January 28th or so, so don't worry if you haven't heard anything yet. They might be waiting to get approval from the dean, etc. (1/21)
 * I received a certified, express mailed rejection letter a couple of days ago with a price tag of $5.54. Now that's a first! John Jay has made me feel special even as they reject me. ((1/30)

Loyola Marymount University

 * Rcv'd call (11/19), Invited for campus visit early Dec
 * 4 candidates were brought to campus in Dec; don't know if an offer has been made yet (1/11)
 * I don't know either, but I heard that they wanted to have the hire completed before winter break...
 * Heard from a reliable source that they have yet to decide on a candidate or make an offer to anyone (1/25)

Marquette University
20th/21st c. page indicates that individuals were asked for a writing sample.

from 20-21 c. page:---
 * Writing sample requested by e-mail 11/10 (X2)
 * Writing sample requested in October shortly after submission of app.
 * Rejection via email 12/10
 * me too - and after a ws request, too! (ouch) (same here - big ouch)


 * It hurts when you've been asked for more materials and nothing comes of it. But you guys should feel really good that such a great program took an interest in you and your work. That should provide some consolation. :) [Meanwhile, I never was asked for anything and didn't even get the courtesy of a rejection!]
 * Rejection via email 12/10 (x3), 12/11, 12/15.
 * MLA interview scheduled: 12/10 (by phone). 12/11 (by phone). [From 20-21 c. page]

Montclair State University
Acknowledgment (email) 11/22 (x3)
 * Ack. by post (12/3, 12/7); aa survey received in mail (12/4)
 * Q: Is Montclair interviewing at MLA? Seems like they're sending out acknowledgments pretty late. (12/14)


 * A: No interviews at MLA, only by phone (1/6); Phone interview scheduled by phone 12/9
 * Q: Has anyone else heard anything? (12/17)
 * A: Nothing yet (12/18)
 * A: Rec'd candidate information form by post (12/19)
 * Q: Did anyone interview for this position? (1/4)


 * A: Yes. (1/6)

Q: Any campus interviews scheduled yet? (1/14)

Northeastern Illinois University
Campus visit last week. All the candidates have already had their campus visits. 1/28
 * Acknowledgment letter rec'd 11/10 (2)
 * Will NIU be interviewing at the MLA? I haven't heard a peep from them since the acknowledgment letter.
 * Ackn letter postmarked 11/20 (the spanish wiki has no information either about this position)
 * I e-mailed to ask about the position a couple of weeks ago and never got a response (1/4)

Pace University (NYC): Assistant Professor of Asian-American, Latino/a, and/or Diasporan Literatures with specialty in Queer Studies
How were MLA interviews for those who got them?
 * MLA interview scheduled 12/11 by phone

Rowan University
Request for additional materials (writing sample, teaching philo. and letters) 11/11 x3
 * Rejection via email 12/9. Email notes that they received "nearly 200 applications." (x7)


 * Q: Did anyone else also never even receive a confirmation? (12/12)

A: I don't know, but I got e-mail confirmation a couple of days after e-mailing my application materials and then a request for add'l materials in November. You might want to e-mail the chair to see if the dept received your materials.
 * MLA interview scheduled phone 12/14


 * Rejection via e-mail 12/15 after earlier request for writing sample, etc.(same date x2)
 * Campus visit scheduled by phone (12/31?) x2

Southern Methodist University
Request for additional materials (writing sample, teaching philos & letters) x2 (10/28)

MLA interview scheduled. (x2)

Received rejection via email 12/9 x2; 12/9 rejection after being asked for WS. (Auch!)

Does anyone know if campus interview have been scheduled? (1/5)

I did hear that they scheduled campus visits during MLA, in case people are still waiting. (1/18)

University of Illinois at Chicago (Asian American Studies)
Has anyone heard anything from these folks? I submitted my materials 11/1, got an acknowledgment email, but then nothing. (12/14)

The word I've heard about the search is that it really is geared towards hiring a historian or social scientist (as stated in the job call), since UIC already has senior faculty in Asian Am literature. I applied anyway since I have general AAS teaching experience, but I'm not holding my breath as a lit specialist.

Email news: search is canceled due to budget cuts. (1/8)

University of Louisiana, Lafayette

 * Email indicating short-list status for phone interview; they're not doing MLA. Decisions on interviews to be made first week of December. (11/19) (x3)
 * Clarification: the decision for campus interviews will be made in the first week of December? Phone interviews.
 * Q: Were you asked for a writing sample and dossier before the short-list status was confirmed?Thanks.No.

Anyone hear anything more from the University of Louisiana?

I was one of the shortlisted folks who received an e-mail; no more news yet (12/18) X 3

I was shortlisted but did no phone interview, received nice e-mail from chair saying I would not be invited to campus. (1/16) (x2)

Heard through the grapevine that only ONE candidate is being invited to campus? Can anyone confirm???

Good luck with UL! I interviewed with them last year and, while the faculty seemed nice, the search was chaotic, poorly conducted, with no communication with candidates after MLA. A mess.

I just read the other day in the NY Times that the school axed its philosophy major. Interpret as you will -- might be a sign of larger things.

---The state governing body eliminated the philosophy major, along with several programs at other state schools, despite strong opposition from the university. It is not a sign of larger things so much as it is a direct consequence of budget cuts, which you can read about in the Baton Rouge Advocate, among other sources.

University of New Mexico (American Studies/Native American Studies) (1/4/10)
unmjobs.unm.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=55272

University of North Texas

 * Has anyone received a confirmation? I got the electronic application number, but I haven't heard anything from the department.
 * I applied in October and never even got acknowledgment of receipt of app.
 * MLA interview scheduled. (x3)
 * Congrats! Date of call? Did they request more info from you before scheduling the interview?
 * Thanks. Contacted me on 12/4. They did not request additional materials.  (x2)
 * Campus Interviews Scheduled 12/30

West Chester University, West Chester, PA -- Assistant Professor of Chicana/o or Latina/o Literatures
MLA interview scheduled (12/7) (x2)

Campus interview scheduled (1/5)

West Virginia University
Any word yet? 12/07

MLA Interview scheduled (12/2) (x2)

Anyone hear from them about campus visits yet?

Nope, I've heard from every other school I interviewed with at MLA except for WVU.

Yale University

 * Has anyone heard anything? Even a confirmation?
 * Yes, I received a postcard confirming receipt of the application and including an employment data form, a couple of weeks ago (posted 11/20).(x2)
 * I haven't gotten a confirmation or anything. (11/21)
 * Didn't they do this search last year and drop it? All I got was an employment data postcard and I suspect they may not be going through with it, again. (12/9)
 * Request for "more writing" (12/7) (x2)
 * Notified of MLA interview (by phone); interview schedule and info. to be sent this afternoon by email (12/16)
 * Rejection card 12.18. (x5) Good luck with your MLA interview, person above.

General Questions
This is my first year on the job market. I'm wondering about the number of candidates that are normally asked to interview at the MLA for a single position. Does anyone know the average?

About 16-20. Depends how many days they do, and what time they start end. Usually max is 8-9 per day, and most do the two full days, perhaps plus one of the half-days.

I've heard less, more like 10-12.

Has any ABD been invited for a campus visit yet? (1/8) Yes. Yes also (1/19)

When is the latest that one might expect a campus interview request (for schools that interviewed at MLA)? Some schools seem to be on totally different schedules, which could potentially be a problem...

(1/14) I would say that if you haven't gotten a call by the end of January, if the MLA was in Dec, that you probably didn't make the final pool of three people. Sometimes, if one of the top three choices turns down an interview, the department might go back to their MLA list of interviewees, but that is a very rare occurence.

--If you haven't heard anything by the end of January, it's also perfectly acceptable to email the chair and ask for a status update on the search. Of course, he or she may not respond, but, in my experience, search committees tend to be pretty forthcoming at that point. Good luck everyone!! (1/14)

(1/28) It looks like there is a negative relationship between participation on this wiki and actually landing a job. Most of the updates stall at the original posting or, at best, at the on-campus interview stage. Are people so happy to get a job that they don't remember to come back on here and update it for the rest of the folks who see themselves as being forever in limbo? Or, do search committees look at all of our vitas and give up halfway through the process? -It's way too early for offers. most places are at the campus interview stage.

-when I get a job, I will be sure to post it for you. :-)