BCAS - Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, in Art & Art History- 530716

Job Description

Job Description

Department/Organization
204211 - Art

Rank
Assistant Professor

Position Summary
The Department of Art and Art History at The University of Alabama invites applications for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track, Assistant Professor position in Graphic Design beginning fall semester 2027.

Detailed Position Information
The Department of Art and Art History at The University of Alabama invites applications for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track, Assistant Professor position in Graphic Design beginning fall semester 2027. The ideal candidate will demonstrate commitment to creative activity, teaching excellence, scholarship, and university and community service.

The successful candidate will teach courses at the undergraduate level and will serve on the graduate faculty. This position includes teaching and research responsibilities. The candidate's primary creative engagement should be within the graphic design field. While a broad range of skills is required, one or more of the following focus areas are sought, but not limited to: interactive design, motion design, print media, branding/identity, packaging design, graphic design history, and 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 individual will work with other faculty members in the area on curriculum development, facilities management, coordination of instructors, and scheduling. 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.

Importantly, the candidate should demonstrate an ability to conduct a sustained program of creative research and production. An established record of creative activities, awards, and/or industry recognition that demonstrates a high level of professional engagement with contemporary practice is essential.

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, and the BFA in Graphic Design. Important resources include the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art, the Sella-Granata Art Gallery, the Paul R. Jones
Collection of American Art, and the UA Gallery at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. 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 39,000 students and continued growth is projected for the coming years. 60% 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 Barna 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.

Minimum Qualifications
• Master of Fine Arts degree in graphic design or related field.
• Evidence of active professional engagement, exhibition record, and/or scholarship.
• Demonstrated excellence and recognition of dynamic ongoing creative research that can build towards tenure.
• Evidence of commitment to university level teaching.

Preferred Qualifications

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Candidates for this position must visit The University of Alabama website at: to initiate an application with Human Resources and to upload materials saved as pdf's directly into the appropriate section: 1. Cover letter addressing qualifications 2. Curriculum vitae/resume 3. Teaching philosophy that addresses both your personal teaching approaches to graphic design, as well as what you feel is important for a contemporary graphic design program 4. Contact information for three professional references {letters of reference will only be requested from finalists) 5. 20 examples of professional work, please include size, date, and medium 6. 20 examples of student work 7. Links to pertinent websites are also welcome in lieu of, or in addition to a pdf document 8. Web-links to examples of time-based media can also be included PDFs should not exceed 15 MB Only fully completed applications will be reviewed. Review of applications will begin January 8, 2027, and continue until the position is filled.

About the Division/College/School
The J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama offers an exciting and dynamic environment for faculty seeking to make an impact in their field and in the lives of the innovators and changemakers of tomorrow.

As the largest college at The University, we house over 9,000 students and 1,000 faculty and staff across our 22 departments.

With nationally recognized programs and award-winning faculty, our College has positioned itself as a leader in higher education. Our facilities and resources include state-of-the-art laboratories, research centers, and performance venues, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for research and creative expression.

The College is committed to the liberal arts philosophy that fosters creative and critical thinking and a lifetime of learning.”

About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.

In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.

UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.

For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.

UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.

Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.

The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace (-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) discrimination is illegal poster.

The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.