Assistant Professor

  • Type: job
  • Location: The University of Alabama, Department of Art and Art History 700 Capstone Drive, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401
  • Deadline: Dec 29 2017 at 12:00AM
Position Summary:

The successful candidate will teach graphic design at the undergraduate level. The candidate will be an essential member of the Department of Art and Art History, working with other faculty on curriculum development, facilities management, coordination of instructors, and scheduling. The candidate will also teach as part of the wider graduate studio faculty in the department. Importantly, the candidate will conduct a program of creative research and production that can build toward tenure. Other responsibilities include: participation in departmental duties such as student advising and mentorship; program assessment and management; service to departmental, college, and university committees; and participation in community outreach and program recruitment.

Ad Text:
The Department of Art and Art History at The University of Alabama invites applications for a full-time, nine-month position for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Art in Graphic Design, beginning fall semester, 2018. The successful candidate shall demonstrate commitment to teaching excellence, creative activity and scholarship, and university and community service. The Department of Art and Art History especially values the importance of a diverse and inclusive community; minorities, women and/or those who identify as LGBTQ, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Currently, the department offers several graphic design courses within the Digital Media program area. The successful candidate will be instrumental in developing curriculum for a new graphic design area within a dynamic, evolving department. The candidate’s primary creative engagement should be within graphic design with demonstrated experience within the field. While a broad range of skills is required, one or more of the following focus areas are sought but not limited to: print media, digital illustration, interactive design, motion design, web design, branding/identity and packaging design, commercial/industry practices. The applicant should be well versed in the theory of graphic design pertaining to contemporary practice, as both a fine art and applied discipline. The candidate should be committed to all levels of teaching from introductory to graduate levels. The candidate will be a member of the wider departmental graduate faculty, and should be capable of teaching and mentoring graduate students of varied disciplines.
Importantly, the candidate will conduct a program of creative research and production that can build toward tenure.
Other responsibilities include: participation in departmental duties such as student advising and mentorship; program assessment and management; facilities management; service to departmental, college, and university committees; and participation in community outreach and program recruitment.

Required qualifications:
• Master of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design or related field.
• Demonstrated excellence and recognition of ongoing creative activity, through exhibitions, awards, industry recognition, and/or similar.
• Evidence of commitment to college/university teaching in Graphic Design.
The Department of Art and Art History offers the BA and MA degrees in Art History and the BA, BFA, MA, and MFA degrees in Studio Art. Important resources include the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art, the Sella-Granata Art Gallery, and the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art at The University of Alabama. The University of Alabama, the state’s flagship public research university, is located in Tuscaloosa, about 50 miles southwest of Birmingham. UA’s enrollment is diverse, drawing from the state of Alabama, the Southeast region, and the nation, and increasingly from around the world. The total enrollment exceeds 37,000 students and continued growth is projected for the coming years. 51% of students come from outside the state of Alabama.
Tuscaloosa supports a vibrant arts community with many venues that host exhibits and events. These include the Bama Theatre, the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre, as well as many galleries both on campus and off. Across the Black Warrior River, Northport is home to the Kentuck Arts and Crafts Center. Each year, the Kentuck Arts Festival brings together over 270 nationally and internationally acclaimed folk artists. Throughout the year there are many festivals and events in the city which make Tuscaloosa a culturally vibrant location to live. Additionally, Tuscaloosa is in the middle of a busy interstate corridor, close to Birmingham, Nashville, New Orleans, and Atlanta.
The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Step 1 – Candidates for this position must visit The University of Alabama website at http://facultyjobs.ua.edu to initiate an application and upload materials.

A PDF including:

1. Cover letter addressing qualifications
2. Curriculum vitae/resumé
3. Teaching philosophy that addresses both your personal teaching approaches to the photographic arts, as well as reflects what you feel is important for a contemporary graphic design program
4. Contact information for three professional references (upload to the “Other Document 1” tab)
5. Two sample syllabi, if available: (1) introductory-level graphic design course and (1) upper-level course of your choice (upload to the “Other Document 2” tab)

Step 2 – In addition, applicants should email the following directly to: [email protected]

6. 20 examples of professional work, please include size, date, and media
7. 20 examples of student work
8. Links to pertinent websites are also welcome, but should be included in addition to above
9. Web-links to examples of time-based media can also be included, clips should not exceed one minute in length.

PDFs should not exceed 15 MB. Only fully completed applications will be reviewed. Review of applications will begin in January 2018, and continue until the position is filled.