The English department is in the process of filling a tenure-track position in Modern and Contemporary American Literature, which is currently shared by Jean Carwile Masteller and Rick Masteller. The two professors will retire at the end of the year.

A Search Committee, appointed by Lori Bettison-Varga, handles the hiring process. The faculty advertises in publications, online, and by word of mouth. Then the long process of choosing a candidate begins.

The committee has evaluated hundreds of applications, and after narrowing them down, interviewed those most qualified at the Modern Language Association Conference in December in San Francisco. The top candidates from this group are chosen to come to campus and meet with Whitman faculty and students, and to present their research and teaching sessions to the public. Now the committee is in the process of deciding which of the candidates to hire.

“For those seeking jobs, the process is exhausting, exciting, [and] intense,” said English Department chair Katrina Roberts. “For those interviewing, it’s also exhausting, exciting, and intense.”

Students are also closely involved in the process.

“Nominated English majors are first invited, and then the invitation goes out to all majors, to be part of a committee that meets with individual candidates in a series of lunch interviews,” says Roberts. “As well, committee members attend all presentations by each candidate, and submit written feedback.”

The nominated English majors must review the candidates, but all students who attend the lectures are encouraged to provide written feedback to the Search Committee.

“Even with not being part of the committee, I still felt like I had some stake in it,” said sophomore Jenna Mukuno, who reviewed one of the lecturing candidates.

Each candidate gives two presentations: an interactive teaching session with students, and a research lecture.

“I really liked how they [the candidates] had two presentations a week, because that one shot experience where they make it or break it is tough,” said Mukuno, whose schedule precluded her from attending the lecture sessions. “Presenting research is totally different than teaching and…engaging students.”

Jeff Severs, Christopher Leise, Kamran Javadizadeh, and Jen McGovern have lectured so far.

The current economic crisis has affected the candidate search, but not as much as in other universities.

“Late last fall, the College made the decision to defer hiring several tenure track positions,” said committee chair Lori Bettison-Varga. “Like many of our peer institutions, we had to make difficult choices about which positions could be deferred.”

“We’re grateful as well to the administration for so valuing this position as to proceed with it despite the numerous position cancellations across the country,” said Roberts.

Contrary to popular belief, Whitman does not look to hire couples, despite the numerous duos currently teaching.

“Because we have a job share policy, couples who have the same academic disciplinary area may find the possibility of sharing a position attractive,” said Bettison-Varga.

Whitman’s job share policy accommodates professors wishing to share a single position. They may either interview together, or an existing professor may split their position with another. Those sharing a position are guaranteed to share a single paycheck, although they may negotiate with the college if they wish to teach more than a single position requires. The college’s faculty code may be revised depending on the situation.

Thus far, no positions are shared among non-couples. Current couples employed at the college include assistant professors of biology Leena and Thomas Knight, associate professor of pyschology Melissa Clearfield and visiting instructor of philosophy and general studies Mitch Clearfield, and American literature professors Jean Carwile Masteller and Rick Masteller.

“Because we have a job share policy, couples who have the same academic disciplinary area may find the possibility of sharing a position attractive,” said Bettison-Varga.

The English department will conclude the hiring process soon.

“The whole process is really quite an elegant dance,” said Roberts.