Professionalization
Preparing Students for the Job Market
Our PhD students enter the academic job market with excellent credentials as both scholars and teachers.
Students receive careful mentoring throughout the job search. In addition to the advising provided by students’ dissertation committees, two faculty members each year serve as job placement officers. Beginning several months prior to the fall application deadlines, the placement officers lead a series of intensive workshops, with sessions dedicated to each separate element of the application package, including the cover letter, dissertation abstract, cv, teaching statement, and/or teaching portfolio. Students also practice interviewing and presentation skills.
Placement
In the last several years, UR English PhDs have secured academic positions all over the world, as follows:
2020-2024
Helen Davies, PhD 2020
Assistant Professor of English, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Anastasia Nikolis, PhD 2020
Assistant Professor of English, St. John Fisher College
Oishani Sengupta, PhD 2022
Assistant Professor of English, University of Texas at El Paso
Matthew Skwiat, PhD 2022
Assistant Professor of English (2024-current), UVA Postdoctoral Fellow (2022-24), Morehouse College
Ashley Conklin, PhD 2023
Assistant Professor in Writing, Speaking, and Argument, University of Rochester
Kyle Ann Huskin, ABD
Multispectral Imaging Technician, Universitat Hamburg, Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures
Alex Zawacki, ABD
Lecturer in Digital Humanities and Multispectral Imaging Scientist, University of Gottingen
Erin Francisco, ABD
Assistant Director of DEI Projects & Initiatives, SUNY Oneonta
Tenure-track positions in recent years prior to 2020:
Arkansas Tech University
Auburn University (Montgomery)
The Citadel
CUNY-Hostos
Eastern Connecticut State University
Gachon University (South Korea)
John Abbott College
Lyndon State College Vermont
Merrimack College
Morehouse College
Oklahoma State University
Potomac State College (a division of West Virginia University)
St John Fisher College
SUNY at Cortland
Texas Tech University
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
University of Connecticutt (Avery Point)
University of Maryland
University of Maryland (University College Europe)
University of Minnesota (Duluth)
University of Northern Colorado
University of Texas, El Paso
University of Washington
University of West Georgia
Ursinus College
Winona State University
Worcester State University
Other graduates have been awarded postdoctoral fellowships at:
Georgia Institute of Technology
Stanford University
SUNY at Buffalo
Tulane University
University of Rochester
University of Virginia
In addition, our PhDs have entered non-tenure-track or visiting professor positions at:
Boston University
Columbia College Chicago
Emory University
Merrimack College
Northeastern University
Notre Dame de Namur University
Oklahoma State University
Pace University
Universitat Hamburg
University of Gottingen
University of Michigan
University of Mississippi
University of North Carolina Asheville
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rochester
Stonehill College
SUNY at Cortland
SUNY Orange
Warren Wilson College
Xavier University of Louisiana
Several recent alumni have launched successful careers at university and college writing centers, such as those at:
University of California Merced
University of Massachusetts
Stanford University
A number of our graduates have entered the field of university administration, at institutions such as:
Cornell University
Empire State College
Rochester Institute of Technology
SUNY Oneonta
University of Rochester
West Virginia University
UR PhDs in English may pursue non-academic careers as well, and our graduates have held positions such as:
Archives Assistant, University of Rochester Rare Books and Special Collections
Director of Scholarly Communication for the Modern Language Association
Director of Educational Content at Elevate Labs (education technology company) in San Francisco
Medical Publication Head at Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics
English Teacher, Porter-Gaud Preparatory Day School (Charleston, SC)
Communications Coordinator, Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh