At Iowa, we are committed to helping our PhDs find excellent jobs both within academia and beyond it.  We encourage students to start planning their life after graduation from their very first semester in the program, when they take our Introduction to Graduate Studies course, which hosts a discussion panel on career opportunities for PhDs in academic and nonacademic fields.  

Each year, a committee of faculty headed by the Placement Chair provides individual and collective mentoring to graduate students who are on the academic job market. Additionally, the placement committee maintains a detailed job placement guide, replete with deadlines, sample applications, and advice on everything from generating the job application letter to negotiating one’s first job contract.  Placement meetings start in early fall and run through the beginning of spring term; they cover topics such as interviewing, writing samples, and professionalism. In December, the committee holds mock job interviews in preparation for the MLA convention, followed by mock job talks.

We also encourage our students to explore the expanding array of “alt-ac” and nonacademic careers open to PhDs in the humanities.  As the following list demonstrates, most of our graduates pursue careers in academia, but quite a few have gone on to successful and rewarding careers in nonprofit institutions, business, and law.  The Graduate College Career Services office, which is headed by one of our PhDs, offers excellent programming and advice on the full range of career opportunities for our graduates.  We strongly advise our students to take full advantage of it. 

Current Placements:

Heidi Renee Aijala (ABD)
Assistant Professor (TT), English and ESL (Transitional Education), Pierce College, Washington State, Lakewood, WA
Chelsea Burk (ABD)
Student Support Specialist, Center for Diversity and Enrichment, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Kate Nesbit (ABD)
Assistant Professor (TT), Department of English, Central College, Pella, IA
Katherine Ostdiek (ABD)
Instructional Designer, Bellevue University, Bellevue, NE

2018

Nellene Benhardus (PhD 2018)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of English, The University of Iowa
Kelly Budruweit (PhD 2018)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of English, The University of Iowa
Brett DeFries (PhD 2018)
Visiting Assistant Professor in the Writing Program, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Samuel Fitzpatrick (PhD 2018)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of English, The University of Iowa
Lisa Jackson (PhD 2018)
Development Coordinator, Peace House, Park City, Utah
Bethany Johnson Smith (PhD 2018)
Fellowships Coordinator, Honors Program, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Marija Reiff (PhD 2018)
Assistant Professor,  Department of English, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Lauren Rosales (PhD 2018)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of English, The University of Iowa
Stefan Schoeberlein (PhD 2018)
Assistant Professor of English and Digital Humanities (TT), Marshall University, Huntington, WV
Michelle Taylor (PhD 2018)
Visiting Assistant Professor, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Stephanie Tsank (PhD 2018)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of English, The University of Iowa
Katlyn Williams (PhD 2018)
Lecturer, Department of Rhetoric, The University of Iowa

2017

Jacob Bender (PhD 2017)
English Instructor (TT), Middlesex County College, Edison, New Jersey
Nicholas Borchert (PhD 2017)
English Faculty, Liberty High School, North Liberty, IA
Nicholas Cooley (PhD 2017)
Assistant Professor (TT), Department of English, Great Basin College, Elko, Nevada
Justin Cosner (PhD 2017)
Lecturer, Department of Rhetoric, The University of Iowa
Jennifer Janechek (PhD 2017)
Lecturer, Department of Rhetoric, The University of Iowa
Brent Krammes (PhD 2017)
Assistant Professor (TT), Grace College, Winona, IN
Laura Kuhlman (PhD 2017)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of English, The University of Iowa
Jillian Linster (PhD 2017)
Online Instructor, Department of English, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
Annmarie Steffes (PhD 2017)
Assistant Professor (TT), University of Saint Frances, Fort Wayne, IN

2016

Dorothy Giannakouros (PhD 2016)
Lecturer, Department of Rhetoric, The University of Iowa
Nicholas Kelly (PhD 2016)
Lecturer, Department of Rhetoric, The University of Iowa
Zachary King (PhD 2016)
Assistant Director Of Annual Giving, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN
Sarah Livesay (2016)
Assistant Director of the Hanson Center for Technical Communications, UI College of Engineering, The University of Iowa
Jennifer Loman (2016)
Lecturer, Department of Rhetoric, The University of Iowa
Christine Norquest (2016)
Academic Advisor, Academic Advising Center, The University of Iowa
Jennifer Shook (2016)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of English, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Jennifer Stone (2016)
Lecturer, Department of Rhetoric, The University of Iowa

2015

Raquel Baker (PhD 2015)
Assistant Professor (TT), California State University Channel Island, Camarillo, CA
Cassandra Bausman (PhD 2015)
Assistant Professor (TT), Trine University, Angola, IN
Shuhita Bhattacharjee (PhD 2015)
Assistant Professor (TT), Presidency University, Kolkata, India
Elizabeth Lundberg (PhD 2015)
Academic Advisor, Academic Advising Center, The University of Iowa
Sonja Mayrhofer (PhD 2015)
Lecturer, Department of Rhetoric, The University of Iowa
Benjamin Miele (PhD 2015)
Assistant Professor (TT), University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX
Joshua Miner (PhD 2015)
Assistant Professor (TT), Department of Film and Media Studies, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Gemmicka Piper (PhD 2015)
Humanities Librarian, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 
Timothy Robbins (PhD 2015)
Assistant Professor (TT), Department of English, Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
Elizabeth Sanders (PhD 2015)
Advancement Officer, Corporate and Foundation Relations, University of Missouri, St Louis, MO
Michael Sarabia (PhD 2015)
Judicial Clerkship with Judge Moses, Montana District Court, Billings, MT

2014

Katherine Bishop (PhD 2014)
Assistant Professor (TT), Miyazaki International College, Island of Kyushu, Japan
Thomas Blake (PhD 2014)
Assistant Professor (TT), Austin College, Sherman, TX
Blake Bronson-Bartlett (PhD 2014)
Visiting Assistant Professor and Research Associate on the Walt Whitman Archive, Department of English, The University of Iowa
Jacob Horn (PhD 2014)
Assistant Professor in Residence (TT): Writing Center Coordinator, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT
Kelly Franklin (PhD 2014)
Assistant Professor (TT), Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI
Robert Gillespie (PhD 2014)
Content Developer, EON Reality, Davenport, IA
Jennifer McGovern (PhD 2014)
Instructor; Writing Center Coordinator, Rogers State University, Claremore, OK
Katherine Montgomery (PhD 2014)
Resident, New Visions for Public Schools / Hunter College Urban Teacher Residency; Freelance Writer/Editor, New York, NY 
Anna Newnum (PhD 2014)
Senior Academic Advisor,  Liberal Arts & Sciences, The University of Iowa
Taryne Taylor (PhD 2014)
Assistant Professor of Humanities and Communication (TT), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
Angela Watkins (PhD 2014)
English Teacher, The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Institute, New Orleans, LA

2013

Daniel Boscaljon (PhD 2013)
Founder and Director, Center for Humanist Inquiries
Craig Carey (PhD 2013)
Assistant Professor (TT), University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Judith Coleman (PhD 2013)
Assistant Professor (TT), Delta State University, Cleveland, MS
Eric Conrad (PhD 2013)
Dean and English Faculty Member, Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, New York, NY
Andrew Crooke (PhD 2013)
Instructor, Department of English, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA
Kerry Doyle (PhD 2013)
Adjunct Instructor, Rowan University, Sewell, NJ
Sarah Fay (PhD 2013)
Professional Lecturer, DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Nicole Gainyard (PhD 2013)
English Teacher, The Miami Valley School (PreK-12 College-Preparatory School), Dayton, OH
Sunghyun Jang (PhD 2013)
Assistant Professor (TT), Korea University, Seoul, Korea
Bryan Mangano  (PhD 2013)
Lecturer, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
Wanda Raiford   (PhD 2013)
Associate Director of the Writing Program; Instructor, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Chris Vinsonhaler (PhD 2013)
Assistant Professor (TT), Borough of Manhattan Community College - CUNY, Manhattan, NY

2012

Adele Holoch (PhD 2012)
Adjunct Faculty, Core Division, Champlain College, Burlington, VT
Stephanie Horton (PhD 2012)
Chair of English Department and Associate Professor (TT), Harper College, Palatine, IL.
James Lambert (PhD 2012)
Assistant Professor (TT) and Director of The Writing Center, Southern Virginia University, Buena Vista, VA 
Matthew Lavin (PhD 2012)
Clinical Assistant Professor of English and Director of Digital Media Lab (TT), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburg, PA
Joshua Matthews (PhD 2012)
Associate Professor (TT), Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA
Joseph Rodriguez (PhD 2012)
Assistant Professor (TT), Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, KS
Elisabeth Shane (PhD 2012)
Juris Doctor Candidate, New York University School of Law, New York, NY

2011

Stephanie Blalock (PhD 2011)
Digital Humanities Librarian; Associate Editor, Walt Whitman Quarterly Review; and Associate Editor, Walt Whitman Archive, The University of Iowa
Bridget Draxler (PhD 2011)
Professor, Writing and Speaking Specialist  St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Richard Garrett (PhD 2011)
Lecturer of English, MSE English Education China Program, University of Wisconsin, Platteville, WI
Marta Holliday-Larkai (PhD 2011)
Assistant Professor (TT), Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
Travis Johnson (PhD 2011)
Chair of Humanities Division and Assistant Professor (TT) and Assistant Professor of English, Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO
Matthew Low (PhD 2011)
Lecturer, Department of English, Creighton University, Omaha, NE
Erin Mann (PhD 2011)
Associate Provost and Assistant Professor (TT), Department of English, Lindenwood University, Belleville, MO
Anne Peterson(PhD 2011)
Educational Content Developer, Measured Progress, Dover, NH
Ann Pleiss-Morris (PhD 2011)
Chair of English Department and Assistant Professor (TT) of English, Ripon College, Ripon, WI
Lindsey Row-Heyveld (PhD 2011)
Assistant Professor (TT), Luther College, Decorah, IA

2010

Amit Baishya (PhD 2010)
Assistant Professor (TT), University of Oklahoma, Normal, OK
Heidi Bean (PhD 2010)
Assistant Professor (TT), Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA
Gunnar Benediktsson (PhD 2010)
Associate, Norton Rose Fulbright Global Legal Practice, Calgary, Canada
Adam Bradford (PhD 2010)
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor of English (TT), Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Laura Capp (PhD 2010)
Owner and Purveyor of Noteworthy Paper Goods & Notions - Postscript, Ashland, NE
Joanna Davis-McElligatt (PhD 2010)
Associate Professor, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA
Douglas Dowland (PhD 2010)
Associate Professor (TT), Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH
Joshua Gooch (PhD 2010)
Assistant Professor (TT), D'Youville College, Buffalo, NY
Katherine Gubbels (PhD 2010)
Assistant Professor (TT), Adams State University, Alamosa, CO
Chad Hines (PhD 2010)
English Teacher, University in Teotitlan de Flores Magon, Oaxaca, Mexico
Cory Hutchinson-Reuss (PhD 2010)
Poet, Iowa City, IA
Thomas Keegan (PhD 2010)
Head, Digital Research & Publishing, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Heidi Lavine (PhD 2010)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Westminster College, Fulton, MO
Joanne Nystrom Janssen (PhD 2010)
Assistant Professor (TT), Baker University, Baldwin City, KS
Deborah Manion (PhD 2010)
Acquisitions Editor, Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, NY
Willis McDonald (PhD 2010)
Communications Director, Rep. John Delaney (D-MD6), Washington, DC
Lynne Nugent (PhD 2010)
Managing Editor, The Iowa Review, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Joshua Raulerson (PhD 2010)
Director of Communications, Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), Pittsburgh, PA
Chad Wriglesworth (PhD 2010)
Associate Professor, St. Jerome's University, Ontario, Canada

2009

Lisa Angelella (PhD 2009)
Assistant Professor (TT), Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA
Mark Bresnan (PhD 2009)
Assistant Professor (TT), Stevenson University, Stevenson, MD
Nicole (Nicki) Buscemi (PhD 2009)
Associate Professor, North Shore Community College, Lynn, MA
Sucheta Choudhuri (PhD 2009)
Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX
Kimberly Cohen (PhD 2009)
Course Mentor - Children's Literature, Western Governors University, Accord, NY
Vickie (Clarke) Larsen (PhD 2009)
Assistant Professor (TT), English Department, University of Michigan, Flint, MI
Erica Daigle (PhD 2009)
Editor, Continuing Education - Course Develpment, Louisana State Univeristy, Baton Rouge, LA
Angie Warfield (PhD 2009)
Associate Professor, Department of English, St. Louis Community College - Forest Park, St. Louis, MO

2008

Steven Almquist (PhD 2008)
Associate Professor, Department of English and Writing, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL
Jennifer Banash (PhD 2008)
Self-Employed Author, Hope, ME
John Craig (PhD 2008)
Associate Professor, Department of Languages and Literatures, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
Jessica DeSpain (PhD 2008)
Associate Professor (TT)/Graduate Director, English Department, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
Melissa Donegan (PhD 2008)
Lecturer, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Jeffrey Doty (PhD 2008)
Assistant Professor (TT), Department of English, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Everett Hamner (PhD 2008)
Associate Professor, English Department, Western Illinois University, Moline, IL
Kate Krueger (PhD 2008)
Associate Professor, English and Philosophy Department, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR
William Ness (PhD 2008)
Adjunct Professor, ESL,  Avila University, Kansas City, MO
Sean Scanlan (PhD 2008)
Assistant Professor (TT), New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY
Michael Smolinksy (PhD 2008)
Chief Content Officer, Ethis, Inc., White Plains, NY
Jennifer Sherer (PhD 2008)
Director, Labor Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Ania Spyra (PhD 2008)
Associate Professor, English Department, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN

2007

Michael Chasar (PhD 2007)
Associate Professor (TT), Department of English, Willamette University, Salem, OR
Mark Dowdy (PhD 2007)
Lecturer, Department of English and Comparative Literature, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Stacy Erickson (PhD 2007)
Associate Dean of Academic Resources/Associate Professor (TT), Department of English, Manchester University, North Manchester, IN
Ted Genoways (PhD 2007)
Contributing writer at Mother Jones, The New Republic, and On Earth, Lincoln, NE
Joyce Kelley (PhD 2007)
Associate Professor (TT), Department of English & Philosophy, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL
Wesley Kisting (PhD 2007)
Associate Dean and Associate Professor, Department of English and Foreign Languages, Augusta State University, Augusta, GA
Matthew Miller (PhD 2007)
Associate Professor, English Department, Yeshiva University, New York, NY
Justin St. Clair (PhD 2007)
Associate Professor, English Department, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
Erica Still (PhD 2007)
Assistant Professor (TT), Department of English, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Jeffrey Swenson (PhD 2007)
Associate Professor of English, Chair, Hiram College, Hiram, OH
Mimi Van Ausdall (PhD 2007)
Instructor, Department of English, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minneapolis, MN
Keith Wilhite (PhD 2007)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Siena College, Loudonville, NY

2006

Young Hee Kwon (PhD 2006)
Assistant Professor (TT), Department of English Language and Literature, University of Seoul, Seoul, Korea
Mary Moran (PhD 2006)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Amy Spellacy (PhD 2006)
Assistant Dean of Advising & Associate Professor, Gallatin School, NYU, New York, NY

2005

Mark Bruce (PhD 2005)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN  
Anthony Enns (PhD 2005)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Dalhousie Univeristy, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Marty Gould (PhD 2005)
Associate Professor, Department of English, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Mary Hayes (PhD 2005)
Associate Professor, Department of English, The University of Mississippi, University, MS
Jack Mallot Jr. (PhD 2005)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

2004

Megan Alter (PhD 2004)
Manager, English Language Arts, ACT, Iowa City IA
Bidisha Banerjee (PhD 2004)
Professor, Department of Literature and Cultural Studies, The Education Univeristy of Hong Kong, Pokfulan, Hong Kong
Jean Fernandez (PhD 2004)
Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Isiah Lavender III (PhD 2004)
Assistant Professor (TT), Department of English, Louisana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 
Thomas McLean (PhD 2004)
Professor, Department of English & Linguistics, University of Otago, Duedin, New Zealand
Ervin Nieves (PhD 2004)
Student Success Coach, Diversity at Iowa, The University of Iowa
Jennifer Ryan-Bryant (PhD 2004)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Buffalo State, Buffalo, NY

2003

David Banash (PhD 2003)
Professor, Department of English, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
Robin Barrow (PhD 2003)
Lecturer, Department of English, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Damon Franke (PhD 2003)
Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Thomas Gannon (PhD 2003)
Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Mary Beth Pope (PhD 2003)
Professor, Department of English, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA
Joann Quinones Perdomo (PhD 2003)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Earlham College, Richmond, IN
Eun-Jung Yook (PhD 2003)
Associate Professor, Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea

2002

Douglas Anderson (PhD 2002)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Caldwell University, Caldwell, NJ
Martin Buinicki (PhD 2002)
Professor, Walter G. Griedrich Professor of American Literature, Department of English, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN
Jodi Byrd (PhD 2002)
Associate Professor, Department of Engish, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Gerald Harp (PhD 2002)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Lewis & Clark, Portland, OR
Sharon Kennedy-Nolle (PhD 2002)
Writing Consultant, Iona College, Rochelle, NY
Sean Meehan (PhD 2002)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Washington College, Chestertown, MD
James Tweedle (PhD 2002)
Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Literature, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Jessica Walsh (PhD 2002)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Harper College, Palatine, IL

2001

Ayana Abdallah (PhD 2001)
Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Albany, Albany, NY
Lera Baker Smith (PhD 2001)
Sculptor, Lera Baker Smith Enterprises, San Diego, CA
Gregory Beatty (PhD 2001)
Freelance Writer, Six Red Marbles, Bellingham, WA
Elizabeth Clark (PhD 2001)
Adjunct Faculty, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR
Michael Clarke (PhD 2001)
Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Sarah  Coggins (PhD 2001)
Associate Professor of Instruction, Department of Rhetoric, The University of Iowa
Laura Dubek (PhD 2001)
Professor, Department of English. Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Beth Fisher (PhD 2001)
Director, Academic Services, The Teaching Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Elizabeth Henry (PhD 2001)
Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies, University of Denver, Denver, CO
Eleanor Hersey (PhD 2001)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, CA
Kristin Kalsem (PhD 2001)
Charles Hartsock Professor of Law, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Jason Mezey (PhD 2001)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA
Michele Morano (PhD 2001)
Associate Professor, Department of English,  DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Don Kimball Smith (PhD 2001)
Associate Professor, Department of English, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Anne Stapleton (PhD 2001)
Associate Professor of Instruction, Department of English,  The University of Iowa
Lara Trubowitz (PhD 2001)
Education Director, A World of Difference Institute, Anti-Defamation League, Chicago, IL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This page is updated once per month. To submit a career update, please use our Submit News form, or e-mail english@uiowa.edu.