Director & Head of the Department of Art

Job Description

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT:

During the application process the “My Experience” page has a section provided “Attachments (Resume/CV, References, Cover letter, etc.)” to upload required documents.

• Use the Upload button to add each document.
• You will be able to upload up to 5 documents. Be aware that the maximum size allowed for any one document is 5MB.
• All documents must be electronically submitted through the Texas A&M Online Employment Services website to be considered.
• Incomplete or improperly submitted applications may be excluded from consideration.
• Please do not withdraw your application in an attempt to upload a missing document, instead please email HR for help.

Please provide the following documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume/CV
• Three professional references with complete contact information (Unsolicited letters of recommendation will not be considered).
• Transcripts (Unofficial will be accepted with application. Official transcripts are required upon acceptance of verbal offer).
  • If transcripts are from an international institution, it is the responsibility of the prospective faculty member to have the transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved credential evaluator.

If you need assistance, please contact us at HR.Hiring@etamu.edu

SUMMARY:

East Texas A&M University invites nominations and applications for the position of Director and Head of the Department of Art. This twelve-month, full-time administrative appointment carries senior faculty rank with tenure. Teaching expectations will be negotiated annually with the Dean. The successful candidate will provide strategic direction and administrative leadership for a comprehensive and dynamic department, guiding its next phase by assessing program strengths and opportunities, establishing clear priorities, strengthening alignment across the Commerce and Dallas locations, supporting faculty and student success, and building key regional partnerships. The Director and Head will identify opportunities for sustainable growth and innovation while ensuring decisions are grounded in evidence, institutional priorities, and long-term viability.

East Texas A&M University seeks a strategic and experienced academic administrator to serve as Director and Head of the Department of Art, which encompasses Visual Communication (Dallas-based), Studio Art (Commerce-based), and Art Education. The department has strong foundations, including a nationally competitive professional design program, excellent facilities, dedicated faculty, and accomplished alumni, and is positioned for a leader who can unify programs across locations, assess future opportunities, and develop a shared vision for the department’s continued success.

The department is ready to welcome a forward-thinking leader who will build on these strengths and take full-time responsibility for its academic, administrative, operational, and external-facing work. Supported by the institution’s commitment to the arts, the next Director and Head will shape a unifying vision that strengthens academic programs, fosters meaningful connections across campuses, and enhances the department’s impact throughout the region and beyond.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Director and Head will serve as the Department of Art’s senior academic and administrative leader, with year-round responsibility for strategic direction, operations, academic programs, personnel, facilities, enrollment, and external engagement. The Director and Head is expected to devote full professional effort to leadership of the department across its Commerce and Dallas locations. The role combines inward-facing responsibilities, including strengthening programs, faculty initiatives, and student success, with outward-facing responsibilities, including partnerships, regional presence, advancement, and visibility. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of departmental programs during the initial years of leadership, with particular attention to enrollment trends, student outcomes, regional demand, resource utilization, and long-term sustainability.
• Develop and execute a strategic plan that strengthens the department’s distinctive regional role by emphasizing community partnerships, clear academic pathways, and effective leadership.
• Align departmental strengths with institutional mission and market opportunities.
• Make evidence-informed recommendations regarding program enhancement, restructuring, consolidation, or other actions necessary to support long-term success.
• Identify opportunities for program innovation and strategic growth based on assessment findings, faculty expertise, student needs, and institutional priorities.
• Position art teacher preparation as a valued pathway alongside professional design and studio practice, with strategic recruitment and curriculum enhancement to serve regional workforce needs.
• Lead the department across its two active sites, the Commerce campus and the Dallas location, exercising full year-round executive responsibility for faculty, curriculum, facilities, budget, and operations at both locations.
• Lead curriculum development and program assessment in alignment with university standards and professional expectations.

Program Integration & Faculty Leadership

• Ensure program continuity by developing strong leadership capacity within the department and cultivating a collaborative departmental community across both sites, Commerce and Dallas, through a culture of shared responsibility, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Support faculty productivity, professional development, and scholarly and creative activity across all program areas, including exhibitions, publications, and professional practice.
• Manage faculty across disciplines, including design professionals, studio artists, and art educators, with respect for the unique expectations and benchmarks associated with each field.
• Lead faculty through necessary programmatic changes with transparency.
• Build consensus around strategic priorities while providing clear, timely decisions.
• Ensure academic quality and program innovation at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Oversee faculty hiring, evaluation, promotion, and tenure processes in alignment with university policies.

Partnership & External Relations

• Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with regional educational, cultural, industry, and community organizations that advance student opportunities, departmental visibility, and institutional priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with public and private K-12 school districts across East Texas for teacher preparation, professional development partnerships, and community engagement.
• Cultivate relationships with DFW arts organizations, design firms, galleries, and cultural institutions to enhance student opportunities and program visibility.
• Position the department as a regional cultural leader through exhibitions, community projects, public art, and partnerships that serve East Texas communities.
• Activate and expand the alumni network across all program areas, including Visual Communication, Studio Art, and Art Education, for mentorship, career connections, and advancement support.
• Enhance departmental visibility and reputation through strategic communications, exhibitions, awards, and media engagement.
• Pursue external funding opportunities through grants and donor cultivation.

Financial & Operational Management

• Manage the department budget strategically, allocating resources to align with departmental priorities.
• Make data-informed decisions about resource allocation, scholarship strategy, graduate assistant funding, and program development.
• Implement transparent budget processes that help faculty understand resource allocation and growth opportunities.
• Oversee facilities and specialized equipment across multiple studios and labs, including ceramics, sculpture/foundry, photography, painting/drawing, Dallas design labs, and letterpress.
• Maintain and enhance the department’s physical infrastructure in coordination with university facilities.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and any applicable accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate curriculum and scheduling across the Commerce campus and Dallas location.

Student Success & Enrollment Management

• Develop and implement strategies that support enrollment stability, student retention, degree completion, and long-term program health across all departmental areas, including graduate program viability.
• Provide vision for the student experience by integrating curricular and co-curricular opportunities.
• Support student professional development through exhibitions, competitions, portfolios, internships, and industry connections.
• Oversee academic advising processes and ensure students receive appropriate guidance.
• Foster a supportive and engaging learning environment that promotes student success.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Terminal degree (MFA or PhD) in studio art, design, art education, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of two years of progressively responsible administrative experience as a department head, director, program director, associate/assistant dean, or equivalent leader in higher education art programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to art teacher preparation as a central component of a comprehensive art program mission, rather than a peripheral or optional function.
• Proven record of student-focused initiatives associated with increased enrollment, retention, and graduation.
• Understanding of both professional design practice and studio arts traditions, with the ability to value and integrate multiple approaches to art-making and creative careers rather than privileging one over others.
• Demonstrated experience using evidence-informed decision-making to support program improvement, strategic planning, and resource stewardship.
• Record of building productive partnerships with academic units, K-12 institutions, or community organizations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills combined with demonstrated ability to make unpopular decisions when necessary for program health.
• Commitment to shared governance, faculty development, and student success.
• Eligibility for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure. The appointment carries faculty rank and tenure, and the position is a twelve-month administrative appointment with teaching expectations to be negotiated annually with the Dean.

PREFERRED EDUCATION / SKILLS/ EXPERIENCE:

• Prior experience rebuilding, reimagining, or significantly restructuring graduate programs at regional comprehensive universities.
• Deep understanding of regional graduate education markets and competition, with demonstrated success in positioning programs distinctively.
• Experience with innovative graduate program models, including low-residency, cohort-based, community-engaged, or interdisciplinary models, beyond the traditional residential MFA.
• Track record of addressing structural enrollment challenges through programmatic change.
• Professional connections in the design or advertising industry, preferably in the DFW region, or a significant exhibition record and professional recognition in studio arts.
• Experience developing interdisciplinary programs or certificates involving multiple colleges or departments.
• Experience managing geographically distributed or multi-site programs, or demonstrated ability to lead across locations and integrate separated units.
• Grant-writing experience and successful external funding acquisition for program development or facilities enhancement.
• Understanding of creative technologies and their strategic integration with traditional studio practice.
• Fundraising and donor-relations experience.
• Experience at regional comprehensive universities balancing access, excellence, teacher preparation, and professional and creative practice missions.
• Knowledge of Texas teacher certification requirements and the K-12 art education landscape.
• Experience managing complex budgets and making strategic resource allocation decisions.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS:

Full-time and part-time faculty and staff

COMPENSATION:

Competitive. Please note this is a 12-month administrative role with limited teaching responsibilities, established and reviewed annually in consultation with the Dean of the College.

NOMINATION/APPLICATION PROCESS:

The Search Committee will begin its review of applications on October 12, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. For priority consideration, all materials must be received by October 9, 2026. Zoom interviews are scheduled for the first week of November, with finalist campus visits planned before Thanksgiving. Candidates for the position are asked to make themselves available for interviews during these times.

Application materials should include: (1) a letter of interest that addresses how the candidate’s experience and qualifications intersect with the priorities and desired leadership characteristics outlined in this profile; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three references for future contact, including the professional relationship of each reference.

Applications must be submitted electronically through East Texas A&M University.

The starting date for the position is negotiable, with January 1, 2027 welcomed as a possible start date.

The search committee will be chaired by Dr. Debbie Lelekis, Associate Dean of the College of Humanities, Social Sciences & Arts and Professor of English. Nominations should be provided to Dr. Lelekis by email at Debbie.Lelekis@etamu.edu. Arrangements for a conversation about the opportunity may also be made with Dr. Lelekis.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

Organization

Welcome to East Texas A&M University, where we transform lives! At our university, we are committed to fostering an environment that ensures students are prepared for success in an ever-evolving world. Our faculty and staff work collaboratively to elevate research, drive innovation, and address global challenges, all while creating a welcoming community where academic excellence can thrive. We strive to align initiatives with the university’s unique rural-urban identity, embracing both the opportunities of city life and the richness of rural traditions. Additionally, we are dedicated to modernizing university operations and business practices to enhance efficiency, support sustainable growth, and improve the student experience.

East Texas A&M University is an Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

Discover more about our sites:

East Texas A&M University (Main Campus)
East Texas A&M at Dallas
East Texas A&M at Mesquite Metroplex Center
East Texas A&M at Navarro College
Texas A&M-Rellis

For additional assistance or questions regarding your job application, please contact (903) 886-5080 or email HR.Hiring@etamu.edu.