"Program Director of Liberal Arts"

Program Director of Liberal Arts

Company: Ringling College of Art and Design

Job Location: Category: Other Liberal Arts Faculty Type: Full-Time Beginning January or August 2026

Full-Time Faculty Appointment with Benefits

Institution Founded in 1931, Ringling College of Art and Design is a private professional college fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Ringling College of Art and Design’s primary mission is to prepare students to be discerning visual thinkers and ethical practitioners in their chosen area of art and design and to provide an intensive professional education in the visual arts. Ringling College has taken a leadership role in the integration of high technology within art and design curricula. The institution’s strategic plan positions the College for continued growth and development. It is authorized to award the BFA in 10 visual arts disciplines and the BA in two degrees - Visual Studies and Business of Art and Design. The residential campus is near downtown Sarasota. A cultural center of Florida, Sarasota is 65 miles south of Tampa and 75 miles north of Fort Myers. Additional information about the College is available at www.ringling.edu.

The Liberal Arts Program. The program provides the general academic courses required for the B.A. and B.F.A. degrees. (General Studies) Please refer to our webpage at www.ringling.edu, for more information about the Liberal Arts Program.

The Position of Program Director Ringling College of Art and Design is seeking an experienced liberal arts faculty member and administrator to undertake responsibilities for the academic leadership of the Liberal Arts Program. The Director of Liberal Arts is expected to be responsible for the well-being and effective operation of all facets of the program. Through a strong, balanced commitment to all areas in Liberal Arts, the Director will lead the program and prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration and enhanced engagement with the studio disciplines where possible. Reporting to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, this is a full-time faculty position with a reduced teaching load, a 10-month appointment and a stipend for administrative responsibilities. The Director position has oversight and the support of a number of area Coordinators within the Program including Social and Behavioral Sciences; Literature and Media Studies; Art History; and First-Year Writing areas. Salary will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications. Appointment is anticipated to be January or August, 2026.

(Required Qualifications) Include Evidence of: A terminal degree in an appropriate Liberal Arts discipline. Evidence of administrative capabilities and demonstrated experience in exercising leadership and consultative decision-making at the departmental level in higher education. A strong academic record with at least five years of college level teaching excellence, scholarship and/or creative endeavor. A viable understanding of curricular issues, budget activities, and enrollment data. A clear collegial ability to communicate and work effectively with faculty, students and administrators. The successful candidate will have: Broad familiarity with the varied disciplines of undergraduate instruction in Art and Design and related academic subjects, including some acquaintance with the teaching and practice unique to each area. Awareness of both current and evolving issues facing Liberal Arts education and curricular strategies to best address them. A respected record as a teacher with empathy and understanding for the role of teaching. Skills as a consensus builder able to combine the interests of differing viewpoints The ability to understand, accommodate, and support a wide variety of directions and interests within the curriculum. A demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion. Successful experience in the design and delivery of academic programs, planning and budgeting, program assessment, articulation and transfer review Capacity to increase the national reputation of the College. Commitment to the integration and evolution of the program and institutional goals.

(Special Instructions to Applicants) Required materials include cover letter incorporating experiences that address the position requirements; resume or CV; employment history; contact information of three references (names, titles, email and telephone numbers); and an unofficial transcript copy of the most relevant degree. Official transcripts will be will be required upon hire. Candidates may be asked to submit additional materials if needed. General questions regarding the job application process may be emailed to aamail@ringling.edu. Apply on-line to https://www.ringling.edu/hr/ Ringling College of Art and Design is an Equal Opportunity Employer [Apply Now](https://www.ringling.edu/hr/)