"Department of Art & Art History: Assistant Professor"

Department: Art and Art History

Months per Year: 9 months

Position Summary:

The Department of Art & Art History at the University of North Carolina Asheville, a public liberal arts and sciences university, seeks qualified applicants with expertise in Foundations for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant professor position that will begin in the fall semester of 2026. The successful candidate must have earned a Masters in Fine Arts or closely related discipline prior to July 1, 2026 and will be expected to teach 12 contact hours per semester (typically three or four classes); establish their scholarly activities that involve undergraduates; and engage in service to the institution, the community, and the profession. The department is particularly interested in individuals with expertise to teach courses and conduct research in the Foundations area including, but not limited to: Foundation Drawing, Two-Dimensional Design, and Three-Dimensional Design. Ideal candidates will bring innovative pedagogy, a broad understanding of contemporary art and design, and an interest in interdisciplinary and collaborative practices. While the medium of the applicant's creative and scholarly practice is open, proficiency in drawing, painting, and design is preferred. The person in this position will also serve as the lead coordinator of our departmental Foundations Program, mentor adjunct faculty in collaboration with other faculty, and create a curriculum that supports both BA and BFA degree programs. Individuals with demonstrated excellence in teaching, a strong commitment to undergraduate education, and a well-developed plan to establish an active research program that involves mentoring students are strongly encouraged to apply. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the core curriculum and engage in departmental and university-level service.

UNC Asheville values interdisciplinary perspectives, often incorporated in teaching within the core curriculum. Multidisciplinary perspectives are welcomed, as is pedagogical collaboration with colleagues from across the campus. UNC Asheville has also been a national leader in undergraduate research for over 30 years, and over 67% of our students graduate each year having been involved in this important learning experience. The University fully embraces the idea of mentored undergraduate research being one of the highest forms of teaching, and the institution values success in this facet of a faculty member's work. Therefore, the successful candidate for this position must be able to articulate a clear vision for a sustainable, highly productive, and preferably externally funded scholarly activities that includes undergraduates.

Minimum Education/Experience/Skill:

A Masters in Fine Arts or related field with expertise in Foundations earned prior to July 1, 2026 is required for this position. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate through application materials and in the interview that they have demonstrated excellence in undergraduate education, a concrete research agenda that includes the mentoring of undergraduate students, a desire to contribute to general education requirements, and have interests in interdisciplinary work across the university.

Applications for this position should be submitted electronically at https://jobs.unca.edu. Complete applications require a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy that includes interest in or potential for interdisciplinary teaching outside of the department, a statement of planned scholarship and creative activities, 20 images of personal artwork, 20 images of student artwork, undergraduate transcripts, and graduate transcripts. Each applicant should also request three letters of reference, to be sent separately, that address the candidate's written, verbal, and interpersonal skills; ability to teach and mentor undergraduate students; and potential to develop successful, externally funded scholarly activities. Review of applications will begin December 7, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries may be directed to Suzie Dittenber, sdittenb@unca.edu, Associate Professor of Painting, Department of Art & Art History.