Position Overview
The Department of Design at the University of Kansas is seeking a faculty member at the Assistant Teaching Professor level to work with undergraduate students in its newly established program in Animation.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and engaging design thinker and maker with a passion for visual storytelling, character animation, and the development and exploration of animation tools and techniques, who is interested in working closely with our faculty to build this new program. Candidates with experience in teaching, curriculum development, and robust professional practice will stand out. We also encourage recent master’s degree graduates eager to launch a career in animation education, or education and mentorship minded industry professional to apply.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate professional level skills in 2D or 3D animation practice with a focus on narrative and character animation, complemented by a strong historical familiarity with the medium, and a passion for educating students in these areas.
Candidates should also have a strong background in industry standard production tools and methods, and current professional practice standards.
Ideal candidates will demonstrate a proficiency in one or more of the following areas:
- 2D and/or 3D character animation – body mechanics, acting, dialogue, character animation workflow and tools.
- Directing for animation – storyboarding, visual storytelling.
- 3D Skills – modeling, rigging, texturing, or lighting for animation and games.
- Animation production and project management.
This position is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between The University of Kansas and United Academics, United Academics of KU, AAUP, or AFT. UAKU is the exclusive representative. As the State of Kansas is a right to work state, you have the right to be a member or not be a member of a union without fear of personal or professional repercussions.
About the Department of Design
The Department of Design, housed in Chalmers Hall, prepares animators, illustrators, experience designers, graphic designers, marketing creatives, motion designers, product designers, UX/UI developers, and other multidisciplinary communicators to thrive as innovative practitioners, and socially engaged leaders, in an ever-changing professional field. Design students have access to studio spaces, computer labs, a letterpress lab, a Riso lab, and digital fabrication labs. Students gain insights from lectures and workshops with world-renowned designers, collaborations with industry partners, and opportunities to participate in short-term study abroad programs and semester-long internships in the US and abroad.
Students earn a BFA in Design with programs in Animation, Illustration, Industrial Design, Visual Communication Design, and Interaction Design. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design is a four-year, 120-credit-hour degree program. All design students spend the first semester in general design foundation courses and in the second semester begin taking foundation courses in their chosen major.
KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate, and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. This is a non-tenure position with up to a 3-year limited term contract, which has the possibility of renewal based upon a comprehensive evaluation.
Job Description
The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.
Allocation of effort: 1.0 full-time equivalent appointment will be distributed as follows:
- Teaching/Advising (70%) – Teach required courses in animation program, as well as animation courses open to all other majors, at the undergraduate level. The typical teaching expectation for this position is a 3/3 course load. Participate in the planning and integration of existing and new course work & technologies in the Animation undergraduate program. Candidates must also meet department expectations in terms of student advising.
- Service (20%) – Serve the department, university, state, and the profession. This includes attending departmental meetings, participating in committees and boards, and performing select administrative departmental functions.
- Research and/or Applied Professional Practice (10%) – Conduct research, creative, and/or professional work that focusses on animation and its application. Collaborate with clients on the application of this work and/or disseminate this work through peer-reviewed publications and conferences.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in animation, illustration, entertainment design, film, visual communications, or a related field. Candidates with a bachelor's degree in animation or a related field with 5 years demonstrated professional experience will also be considered. Industry professionals with an interest in academia are encouraged to apply.
- A strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in teaching, research, and/or industry experience, specifically in the areas of 2D/3D animation and related fields.
- Ability to demonstrate a commitment to collaborate and support faculty colleagues, develop curriculum, and help expand animation studio offerings.
- Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills and a strong collaborative spirit for teamwork and service.
This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have the foundational knowledge and skill set required to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is based on accreditation requirements, institutional standards of academic and professional excellence, alignment with peer institution benchmarks, and contributes to the credibility and effectiveness of the role within the university community.
Additional Candidate Instructions
A complete application will include the following items:
- Cover letter addressing qualifications
- Resume/CV
- Statement of teaching philosophy
- References: the names, addresses and phone numbers of at least three references qualified to evaluate your professional experiences and achievements.
- A representative visual on-line portfolio of creative work and/or personal work.
- A representative on-line portfolio of student work.
- Supporting materials such as links to websites, videos, research, blogs, prints, books, etc. can be submitted as links in addition to on-line portfolios.
Application review began Monday, November 2, 2026 and will continue until position is filled
Contact Information to Applicants
Jeremy Shellhorn, Chair of the Department of Design
jeshellh@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$64,000 - 72,000. Group insurance plan, including medical, dental, and hospital coverage is available.
Application Review Begins
Monday November 2, 2026
Anticipated Start Date
Wednesday August 18, 2027
