Chair, Department of Photography and Film
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts
Position F28010
Full time Tenure Track Position beginning July 1, 2012
Review of Applications will begin January 2, 2012 and continue until position is filled.
The Department of Photography and Film in the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University, is seeking a dynamic chairperson to lead a successful department as it defines photography for students in the coming years. Artists working in photography or other lens based media, or scholars in allied fields (e.g., critics, curators, art historians) are encouraged to apply.
The Photography and Film department has a strong history with a renowned visiting artist program. The department offers a BFA with 120 undergrads, the majority in Photography. The MFA program in photography is a two-year, full time degree accepting five students annually for a class of ten. The Photography and Film Department has the resources and infrastructure to support both analog and digital processes. Applicants should have strong administrative skills and be conversant with contemporary art issues, critical theory, and contemporary studio practice.
The chair will articulate a vision for the department, be an equitable administrator and an enthusiastic advocate for their program. As the department’s chief advocate, the chair will lead the departments' recruitment efforts for undergraduate and graduate students focused on increasing the number and quality of applications. The chair will establish high expectations and be a champion for faculty research and scholarship. The School of the Arts welcomes opportunities for intellectual exchange between programs and disciplines, and the Photography and Film chair should possess the skills to work with a large and diverse faculty, staff, and student body throughout the School of the Arts.
U.S. News & World Report ranks the School of the Arts as the top public university art and design school in the nation. The Photography and Film Department is one of ten fine art programs in the School of the Arts. The School of the Arts is comprised of over 3000 students and 15 nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts. Virginia Commonwealth University is an ethnically and culturally diverse urban institution serving 32,000 students.
VCU’s School of the Arts students are known for their meritocratic imagination, strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. The School of the Arts has cultivated an environment of collegiality and support for its faculty, which has been key to the success of the institution. The city of Richmond, also a significant figure in the success of the School, has a robust community of artists and arts institutions, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and VCU’s planned Institute for Contemporary Art. VCU has strong connections to the major urban art centers of North America, and increasingly, the international art world. The School has a sister campus in Doha, Qatar, offering a BFA and MFA in design.
In addition to day-to-day administrative, academic, and managerial decisions, the chair must maintain, in concert with the faculty, an environment conducive to both hands-on practice and critical discourse. This faculty position is tenure-track at the rank of associate/full professor, while the chair’s assignment is renewed by School of the Arts Dean. A significant national or international reputation and an MFA, PhD, or equivalent is required. Five years teaching experience plus administrative experience is preferred. Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU. Rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications and experience. The appointment date is July 1, 2012.
To apply, please send a letter outlining your interest in the position, an academic vita, 10 examples of professional work; and names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of four current references to Jack Risley (jhrisley@vcu.edu), Search Committee Chair. Only electronic applications will be accepted. (Documentation of creative work should be in the form of medium-size jpegs [approximately 300 kb per image]. Referral to a web page or other online image site is also an option.)
Department of Photography and Film Chair Search Committee Chair
Jack Risley, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts
P.O. Box 842519
Richmond VA 23284-2519
Review of applicants will begin January 2, 2012 and continue until position is filled.
Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information about the position and the VCU School of the Arts contact our website at http://arts.vcu.edu/.
