Tenure Track Position, Assistant Professor of Art (Photography)
San Francisco State University, School of Art invites applicants for a tenure track Assistant Professor position in Photography to start in August 2018.
The School of Art seeks individuals with a background in photography and lens-based practices.
The School of Art reflects a diverse and fluid set of creative practices and critical methodologies driven by nationally and internationally recognized professionals. Faculty are committed to a collective mission of teaching and research to support student growth in art practice and art history within a liberal arts context. Students are encouraged to engage in interdisciplinary approaches in production as well as conceptual strategies within both the B.A. and M.F.A. degree programs.
Qualifications
Candidates should have M.F.A. or equivalent degree.
Candidates should have a strong background in both darkroom and digital photography and demonstrate a commitment to conceptualize and explore beyond conventional practice, informed by contemporary visual art concerns. The successful candidate will be fluent in both lens-based image-making and digital/electronic media practices, traditional silver and non-silver processes, and image dissemination strategies (e.g. electronic, web, virtual space, moving images, installation and exhibition practices). Preferred candidates should have experience teaching, or mentoring minorities, or other underrepresented groups.
Candidates must have an active record of achievement and potential for professional growth in their specialty area(s) through exhibitions, critical reviews, awards, grants and residencies. Candidates must demonstrate excellence or potential for excellence in teaching, and the ability to teach introductory photography and digital media courses, advanced topic-based electives and seminars, and M.F.A. critique seminars. They should incorporate visual literacy and the meaning of images and historical and contemporary uses of photography and digital/electronic media into their teaching. Preferred candidates will have teaching experience with a diverse student body. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to working cooperatively with colleagues in and outside Art programs, to provide engaged pedagogy in a faculty learning community, and evidence of interpersonal skills and collegiality. Candidates must be able to demonstrate how they have or will incorporate inclusion, diversity, and educational equity in their courses and/or scholarship/creative works.
Position Summary
The School of Art at San Francisco State University seeks a candidate with specialization in photographic practices, with a demonstrated commitment to conceptualize and explore beyond conventional practice, informed by contemporary visual art concerns.
The position is in the School of Art at San Francisco State University, which is part of the California State University system. The University seeks to promote appreciation of scholarship, freedom and, human diversity through excellence in instruction and intellectual accomplishment, serving a diverse study body of 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The School of Art is focused on developing socially engaged art practitioners, art historians, and arts professionals whose individual and collective efforts contribute to personal and intellectual growth, as well as community-building and cultural production.
The position includes a full-time faculty workload per the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the California State University and the California Faculty Association. The workload primarily includes teaching assigned undergraduate and/or graduate courses in photography and lens-based practices, and conducting an active ongoing program of creative work, which advances knowledge in the field of one’s specialty.
The teaching assignments will be in undergraduate courses in Art and M.F.A. seminars. Teaching assignments will be primarily in photography courses, as well as digital media courses, undergraduate interdisciplinary studio courses and capstone experiences. Faculty are expected to develop and propose special topics based courses as electives in the undergraduate degree. Graduate course assignments include interdisciplinary critique seminars, and special topic graduate studios, as well as thesis supervision. Faculty are expected to maintain an active ongoing scholarship program of research, creative work and exhibition. The scholarship may address a range of topics in the areas of expertise for the candidates.
Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to, directing and assisting technician in maintaining and supervising photography facilities, productive participation on departmental, college, and university-wide committees; holding regular office hours to mentor and advise undergraduate students; and advise, mentor and supervise graduate students; participating in curriculum development and improvement, particularly with regard to student learning outcomes; and remaining current in both subject area and teaching methodologies.
Essential Job Tasks
- Prepare course materials such as syllabi, lecture and discussion materials, readings and assignments, assessments, and learning resources;
- Prepare and deliver effective lectures to undergraduate and graduate students in topics concerning photography/lens base image making and digital/electronic media practices, and provide technical and conceptual criticism in graduate seminars in Art;
- Initiate, moderate, and facilitate classroom discussions;
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, papers, etc. in a timely manner;
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations or other learning assessments;
- Maintain student grades and other required records or reporting materials;
- Guide and supervise department technicians in support of safe, clean studio facilities and equipment.
- Conduct research in one's field of interest and present documentation of an high level of activity associated with being a professional, working artist on a national and international level in significant institutions, and selections into collections, publication, and professional conferences.
- Stay current on developments in the discipline by reading new literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences;
- Plan, evaluate and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction;
- Hold regularly-scheduled office hours for the purpose of advising and assisting students;
- Actively participate in collegial interactions in fulfilling service assignments and other duties at the department, college and university level;
- Actively participate on assigned committees in accordance with department or College directives and needs, and SF State's strategic vision;
- Supervise student laboratory work, graduate and undergraduate assistants
- Additional duties as assigned.
San Francisco State University is a member of the CSU system and serves a diverse student body of 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The University seeks to promote appreciation of scholarship, freedom and, human diversity through excellence in instruction and intellectual accomplishment. San Francisco State University faculty are expected to be effective teachers and demonstrate professional achievement and growth through research, scholarship, and/or creative work. Our goal is to attract a world-class and diverse faculty committed to build a multicultural educational environment.
San Francisco State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer with a strong commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other legally protected category. We strongly encourage the application of individuals from historically underrepresented groups.
Application process
Submit a letter of intent/interest, a current CV, 20 images of recent personal work, 20 images of student work, a statement of teaching philosophy, a description of research interests, and names and contact information of three references. Applications should be submitted as a single PDF, labeled as follows: Last Name, First Name_Photo Application. Letters of recommendation upon request. Submit all materials online to https://sfsu.submittable.com/submit by December 1, 2017. Applications will be reviewed until position is filled.
San Francisco State University is a member of the CSU system and serves a diverse student body of 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The University seeks to promote appreciation of scholarship, freedom and, human diversity through excellence in instruction and intellectual accomplishment. San Francisco State University faculty are expected to be effective teachers and demonstrate professional achievement and growth through research, scholarship, and/or creative work. Our goal is to attract a world-class and diverse faculty committed to building a multicultural educational environment.
San Francisco State University is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer with a strong commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other legally protected category. We strongly encourage the application of individuals from historically underrepresented groups.
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any employment with the CSU.
SF State is a totally smoke-free campus.
Please email artsrch@sfsu.edu with any questions you may have.