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Employment Opportunities

Department Chair & The Mary Lois Wheatley Presidential Chair in Art & Art History

The College of Fine Arts at the University of Utah, the flagship institution of higher education in the state of Utah, invites nominations and applications for an innovative leader to serve as the next Chair of its Department of Art & Art History. This individual will also hold the endowed Mary Lois Wheatley Presidential Chair in Art & Art History. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2024. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Fine Arts, the Chair is the administrative head of the Department, overseeing its personnel, operations, finances, curriculum, and strategic direction, and acting as the Department’s representative and advocate within the College, University, and wider community.

The Department of Art & Art History is home to an active community of artists, scholars, and educators, and offers undergraduate degrees in Studio Art, Art History, Art Teaching, and Graphic Design, as well as graduate degrees in Studio Art, Art History, and Community-Based Art Education. A commitment to excellence in all of these areas is the hallmark of our Department. This is an exciting, transformational moment in our history, as we continue to refine this commitment within the dynamic contexts of art and art history in the twenty-first century. We seek a Chair with a holistic understanding of visual arts as an evolving and interconnected set of practices for creative, cultural, and personal expression. The new Chair will have a successful record of transparent, collaborative leadership, with the interpersonal and communication skills needed to work with diverse groups to achieve meaningful change. Our ideal candidate will have a clear perspective on current trends and challenges in the fine arts in higher education and beyond and will offer a compelling and unifying vision for how the Department will meet those challenges and continue to thrive in the future.

Required Qualifications

  • Terminal degree (MFA or PhD) in visual art, graphic design, art history, or a related field.
  • A distinguished record of creative or scholarly achievement in the study and/or practice of visual arts and design commensurate with a faculty appointment at the rank of a tenured Associate Professor or Professor, including a body of work that represents a significant contribution to the field; demonstrated excellence in post-secondary teaching; and evidence of an active, ongoing program of creative or scholarly research.
  • Significant leadership, administrative, and supervisory experience, including strategic and financial planning, curricular innovation, and recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and students.
  • Evidence of a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with demonstrated ability to lead effective change in diverse groups.

Responsibilities
The Chair will (1) guide the efforts of a well-respected faculty to establish a strategic vision for art education and scholarship within the context of a major research university; (2) provide collaborative, transparent, and empathetic leadership for the Department; (3) sustain and enhance the reputation of the Department both nationally and internationally; (4) serve the Department in official business with University authorities, students, and the public; (5) create and support professional development initiatives for faculty and staff; (6) foster and encourage faculty research; (7) promote student success through recruitment and retention efforts; (8) oversee curricular activities, including ongoing efforts to modernize our curricula; (9) administer school finances, resources, and facilities; (10) engage in donor relationships and funds development; and (11) be an active participant as a member of the Executive Committee of the College of Fine Arts in furthering the College’s goals and mission.

The Department
The Department of Art & Art History is home to over 500 undergraduate and graduate majors, served by a faculty of award-winning artists and educators and distinguished scholars and supported by a highly experienced, professional staff. The Department presently offers a BA and MA in Art History; a BFA and MFA in Art with emphases in books arts, ceramics, illustration, painting and drawing, photography and digital imaging, printmaking, and sculpture/intermedia; an MFA in Community-Based Art Education; a BFA in Art Teaching; and a BFA in Graphic Design.

The rich heritage of art education at the University of Utah began in 1869, when the then-University of Deseret offered its first class in drawing. The painter and photographer George Ottinger arrived in 1882 to supervise drawing courses taught by visiting instructors. In 1888, an Art Department was approved to offer a four-year program focusing on drawing, oil painting, and life drawing. The University of Deseret reformed as the University of Utah in 1892 and, within the University, the School of Art and Sciences was formed in 1901. The School contained a new Art Department. The School of Fine Arts made its first appearance in 1947 and was renamed in 1948 as the College of Fine Arts. Art degrees were offered at the end of a four-year program. An MFA in Art was first offered in 1948, and a Masters of Art in Art History was first offered in 1969. The Art History area was approved in 1995 as an undergraduate program. In 1996, the Department successfully petitioned for a name change to Department of Art & Art History.

Additional information about the Department of Art & Art History can be found at https://art.utah.edu.

The College
The Department of Art & Art History is one of five academic units in the College of Fine Arts, along with Dance, Film & Media Arts, Music, and Theatre. The University also has four professional arts affiliates: Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Pioneer Theatre Company, Tanner Dance, and Utah Presents.

The University
The University of Utah is the state’s public flagship institution of higher education with an enrollment of approximately 35,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offers 111 undergraduate and over 100 graduate degree programs. A member of the American Association of Universities (AAU), the University of Utah is classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the 146 research universities with the “highest research activity” in the nation. The university has been named by Forbes as one of the top ten employers in the state and recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best national universities. The University of Utah has several campus-wide initiatives that contribute to a rich campus climate, attract academic and professional talent, improve access to higher education for historically underrepresented groups, and strengthen the U’s ability to educate the next generation of leaders.

Salt Lake City
The University is located in Salt Lake City at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. Routinely ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S., Salt Lake City is the center of a metropolitan area of over one million residents, with unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation, a major international airport, and extensive arts and cultural activities. The city is home to a number of major art museums and galleries, including the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, and Modern West.

Application
Please submit (1) a letter of application, not to exceed three pages, addressing the position’s qualifications and responsibilities, and including a statement of philosophy that addresses leadership of a comprehensive department of art and art history; (2) curriculum vitae; and (3) names and contact information for five references. Candidates will be notified before references are contacted.

Applications must be submitted electronically at https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/153895.

Screening of applications will begin November 15, 2023, and continue until the position is filled. For additional information, please contact search committee chair Dr. Andrew Patrick Nelson (ap.nelson@utah.edu).

Assistant Professor (Lecturer) - Illustration

The Department of Art and Art History at the University of Utah invites applications for a full-time teaching position in Illustration commencing on July 1st, 2024.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have an MFA or equivalent terminal degree and exhibit a contemporary approach to Illustration. Applicants should demonstrate exceptional skills in illustration with a strong professional record of industry experience. Teaching experience beyond graduate school is preferred. The ideal candidate will provide evidence of a unique visual voice, a strong application of digital skills, rich conceptual thinking, and an ability to translate these skills into the classroom environment.

Our Program

The Illustration emphasis at the University of Utah is a new and rapidly growing program, with over 50 students interested in a broad range of topics within the industry. Our curriculum aims to expose students to these many topics and allow them to tailor their work towards their desired career path, whether that be editorial, publishing, concept predevelopment, or other avenues. Our courses emphasize process, concept, experimentation, and aim to prepare students for real-world challenges. Our emphasis is uniquely structured in a way where students learn technical skills in courses from the Department of Art & Art History’s various other areas – Painting & Drawing, Graphic Design, Printmaking – and then apply those skills in the Illustration core classes.

Position Scope

The new faculty member will help to broaden, build, and strengthen the diversity of offerings in the Illustration emphasis, as well as develop and teach the Digital Drawing course. This is considered a full-time teaching, non-tenure track position. There is a 3/3 course load in a 9-month teaching contract that spans the academic year, from August 16 to May 15. There are also possible opportunities for overload teaching in the summer semester.

Additional teaching-related duties include building curriculum and assisting with the continued growth and recruitment in the Illustration emphasis, as well as Departmental service. The mission of the department is directed towards a diverse, inclusive, rigorous, and responsible environment that reaches across disciplines. Engagement with faculty and students from other College of Fine Arts departments (Film and Media Arts, Dance, Theatre, and Music) is encouraged.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter (including a section on your artistic practice, and a section on how you incorporate diversity into your classroom), teaching philosophy statement, CV, two course syllabi (upload as “Applicant Document – Other”), contact information for three references, a portfolio of 20 examples of the applicant’s work (upload to: Example of Research 1), and 20 examples of the applicant’s students’ work (Example of Research 2). The portfolio should be in PDF format, and include titles/short descriptions, media, size, and year created. References will only be contacted for shortlisted candidates, after the candidate is notified.

Preference will be given to applications submitted by January 16th, 2024. Screening of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Applications must be submitted electronically at https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/153876

Please direct questions about this position to the chair of the search committee: Michael Hirshon, Assistant Professor of Illustration, m.hirshon@utah.edu

Visual Resources Specialist

The Department of Art & Art History is seeking to hire a part-time Visual Resources Specialist. This is a 15 hour a week, non-benefited position, with flexible hours scheduled between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday. The pay rate is $15 to $18 an hour.

Job Summary
Coordinates the logistics of digitizing analog images and materials for use in an educational environment. Catalogs, organizes, and creates digital images, as well as undertakes duties related to converting, storing, and retrieving these materials.

  1. Creates digital images through the use of a digital camera and flatbed and slide scanners.
  2. Catalogs, archives and maintains digital images in an electronic database.
  3. Establishes and ensures that technical and archival standards are met.
  4. Develops quality control standards for digital images. Performs color correction and enhancement of scanned images with imaging software.
  5. Uploads digital images to the web.
  6. Coordinates with staff & faculty to ensure the electronic database interfaces with multiple web browsers.
  7. Trains faculty and students on how to utilize the electronic database in various applications.
  8. Makes recommendations on equipment and materials needed.
  9. Reviews and corrects metadata schemes.
  10. Catalogs, organizes, and preserves existing analog visual materials.
  11. May develop and implement strategies for promoting the use of digital media.
  12. May digitize and archive rare books and unique visual materials.

Job Responsibilities
Disclaimer:
This job summary has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this description. It is not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Problem-Solving:
Challenges encountered include interpreting archival standards and ensuring standards are met, establishing quality control standards for images and slides, and varying training styles depending on the skills and needs of those who undergo training.

Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically required:
Nearly Continuously: Office environment.

Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required: 
Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.
Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.
Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.

 

Interested candidates will be required to submit the following:
Required Documents:

  1. Resume

Optional Documents:

  1. Cover Letter
  2. Addendum to the University of Utah - Veteran Only - Call 801.581.2169 after submission
  3. List of References
  4. Applicant Document - Other

Employer Information
The University of Utah, a Research-1 institution and member of the Association of American Universities, is the flagship of the Utah System of Higher Education. It enrolls approximately 25,000 undergraduate and 8,000 graduate students. The University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, a metropolitan area of 1.3 million people that offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation, with world-class hiking and multiple ski resorts within minutes from campus and eight national parks within hours of the city. Salt Lake City is home to a major international airport with direct flights to major U.S. cities and international locations such as Amsterdam, London, Mexico City, and Paris. In 2022, the Human Rights Campaign scored Salt Lake City a perfect 100 on its Municipal Equality Index.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Department of Art & Art History at the University of Utah welcomes candidates who understand the barriers facing historically oppressed groups in higher education (as evidenced by life experiences and educational background) and who can clearly articulate participation in equity and diversity advancement efforts with respect to teaching, mentoring, research, and service towards building an equitable and scholarly environment. Activities promoting equity and inclusion at the University of Utah will be recognized as important university service during the faculty promotion process.

The University of Utah’s campus-wide diversity initiatives contribute to a richer overall campus climate, attract academic and professional talent, and strengthen the U’s ability to educate the next generation of leaders. The University supports campus-wide diversity initiatives through The Office for Equity & Diversity, School for Cultural and Social Transformation, Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, Center for Ethnic Student Affairs, Women’s Resource Center, LGBT Resource Center, and American Indian Resource Center. utah.edu/diversity.

The University’s centers, including the Black Cultural Center, American Indian Resource Center, the Center for Student Equity & Student Belonging, collectively support and advocate for staff, students, and faculty who connect with Black, Native, Indigenous, and communities of color experiences through research, culturally-affirming education initiatives, and service.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students, staff, faculty and patients from diverse backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education, employment opportunities, and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented groups.

Individuals from historically underrepresented groups, such as minorities, women, qualified persons with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

Search https://employment.utah.edu/ for other opportunities at the University of Utah.