Assistant Professor, Photography

Job Summary

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. As a condition of employment, all employees are expected to maintain a permanent residence within the State of Utah. Newly hired employees must provide a valid Utah residential address within thirty (30) days of their start date. All full-time faculty are responsible for teaching assigned courses in accordance with the SLCC Full-Time Faculty Handbook for Compensation and Workload, as well as the Academic Freedom, Professional Responsibility, and Tenure Policy, while upholding the mission, vision, and values of Salt Lake Community College. Tenured and tenure-track faculty are expected to actively engage in professional development, departmental collaboration, and service to the college community. Faculty are expected to maintain a meaningful on-campus presence that fosters connection, collaboration, and engaging student learning experiences. All employees are required to maintain appropriate professional boundaries in their interactions with SLCC students.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Under general supervision, the faculty member will prepare and teach courses across a variety of instructional modalities. A strong commitment to teaching excellence, student success, and creative inquiry is essential. Responsibilities include the ability to develop and deliver instruction in the following areas:

• Beginning through advanced-level photography courses
• Industry-standard software applications including Adobe Creative Cloud programs such as Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and Capture One Pro
• Analog and digital photography processes including camera operation, image capture, digital workflow, printing, and traditional darkroom practices
• Beginning through advanced-level studio lighting techniques and equipment
• Multiple camera formats including DSLR, mirrorless, medium-format, and large-format systems
• Color theory and its application within photographic practice and visual storytelling
• A variety of instructional methods and teaching technologies in face-to-face, hybrid, online, studio, and lab learning environments

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to introduce students to both the artistic and technical foundations of photography in an engaging, supportive, and inspiring manner.
• Advanced knowledge and ability to teach all levels of digital and analog photography.
• Ability to teach photography theory, history, visual culture, and critical thinking as they relate to contemporary photographic practices.
• Experience with digital workflow processes including file management, image output, printing, and color management.
• Extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with professional lighting equipment, including both electronic flash and continuous lighting systems.
• Experience teaching media ethics, project development, professional business practices, copyright law, and responsible visual storytelling within creative industries.
• Ability to contribute knowledge and interdisciplinary collaboration across other areas within Visual Arts & Design.
• Demonstrated understanding of conceptual photography, aesthetics, composition, and contemporary visual communication practices.
• Experience mentoring students in the development of professional portfolios, exhibitions, transfer preparation, and career readiness.
• Experience working with students from diverse academic, cultural, socioeconomic, ethnic, and lived backgrounds, including students with disabilities and underserved populations.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and cross-cultural collaboration skills that support a positive and inclusive learning environment.
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities are valued.
• Candidates will be required to present a portfolio showcasing recent professional, creative, and/or scholarly photographic work.

Minimum Qualifications

Option 1
Bachelor's degree in photography, Visual Arts, Media Arts, or a related field AND Minimum of four (4) years of full-time professional experience in photography, visual arts, advertising, commercial art, assignment photography, or a related media industry field
OR
Option 2
Associate degree in Photography, Visual Arts, Media Arts, or a related field AND Minimum of six (6) years of full-time professional experience in photography, visual arts, advertising, commercial art, assignment photography, or a related media industry field
AND Demonstrated teaching, training, or instructional experience in a high school, college, professional industry, certification training, workshop, or comparable learning environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Photography, Visual Arts, Media Arts, or a related field
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Photography, Visual Arts, Media Arts, or a related field
• Five (5) or more years of professional experience within the photography, media, or creative industries
• Experience teaching at the post-secondary or college level
• Experience teaching in online and/or hybrid learning environments
• Experience with curriculum development, course design, and program improvement initiatives
• Experience integrating emerging technologies, multimedia practices, digital media, and/or AI-related concepts into creative coursework
• Demonstrated commitment to equity-minded teaching practices and strategies supporting student access, belonging, retention, and success