Associate Professor, Program Director for Photography

<< Back to Careers @ UArts

JOB TITLE: Associate Professor, Program Director for Photography
DEPARTMENT:  Photography
REPORTS TO: Dean, School of Art
Contract: Appointment begins with a 5-year renewable contract

Summary: The University of the Arts seeks a renowned, forward-thinking photographer-educator who is motivated to build an internationally competitive photography program. The ideal candidate will have the foresight, desire and experience to transform our existing undergraduate Photography program into one that prepares students in a variety of practices to meet the artistic and industry challenges of the future. The new program director will show innovation with regard to the wide-range of opportunities available across a constantly changing field and inspire students and faculty in learning communities to further develop the shared culture in the School of Art at UArts. Salary and rank are commensurate with experience. 

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography degree program provides practical, professional training balanced with a fine-art aesthetic. Through visiting artists, gallery exhibitions, internships, diverse faculty, and significant engagement opportunities with the fine art and photo education communities, students develop technical proficiency and an innovative, creative background preparing them for any career in the photo industry.

UArts Core Values

  • Integrity and Diversity: We are a supportive community committed to individual and artistic integrity and inclusion. We promote and respect self-expression, a wide range of ideas, and diversity in all its forms.
  • Excellence, Creativity and Passion: With a focus on excellence, we inspire, challenge, and support the unconventional thinkers, dreamers and doers who are passionate about using their creative works to impact society.
  • Connections and Collaboration: We connect design and the performing, visual, communication and liberal arts in the classroom and the community, expanding artistic possibilities, outcomes, and lives through creative collaboration.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: 

  • Leadership: provides academic leadership for the program and sit on the leadership cabinet of School of Art Directors, works closely with the Dean and the Dean’s office team, sits on numerous committees within the School of Art and across the University
  • Teaching: teaches a course load that includes introductory, intermediate and advanced courses within the Photography department. Teaches 6.0 credits per term in fall and spring.
    • Program Director will receive one 3.0 credit course-release each term, fall and spring, leaving 12.0 credit teaching load, presumed, 6.0 credits (2 courses) each semester in fall and spring.  Will teach a range of subjects from intermediate to advanced levels, lecture engagingly, and teach their courses as an ensemble with other instructors to create learning communities
  • Faculty: mentors faculty, resolves issues, supervises the faculty and completes reappointment, biennial evaluation, promotion support and staff evaluation letters, attends class observations, makes recommendations to the dean for new part-time faculty, orients and mentors new faculty; mentors all new faculty in standard syllabi preparation
  • Curriculum & Scheduling: supervises curriculum standards, reviews all course syllabi, develops new courses as appropriate for program to remain relevant and competitive, spearheads assessment implementation and initiatives in the program, creates all course schedules
  • Program Assessment & Planning: works with faculty on course assessment, development and improvement, authors all materials, responses, self-studies and curriculum proposals for any strategic plan initiatives, changes in curriculum, or Middle States committee work, etc.
  • Students: advises and counsel students, maintains strong communication with the community of Photography students, organizes for the program, orients and participates in student course advising, partners/coordinates/oversees outside the university initiatives for our students such as internships or community partnerships.
  • Program Support & Facilities Oversight: Maintains support and upkeep for (all facilities) and oversees  and acts as coordinator of the photo gallery by working with a  faculty committee on the exhibitions series, scheduling, confirmation/insurance forms, etc. The Photography facilities are located on the 14th and 15th floors of the Terra Hall building. They are maintained by the University’s Office of Technology & Information Resources (OTIS). The OTIS Media Resource Center (Equipment Room) serves the Photography program as well as other programs in the University. The services provided by OTIS—which includes a help desk/service center, tech support, print services and the wireless/Ethernet infrastructure—allows for sufficient resources to support all UArts programs and their varied technological needs. 
    • The Photography facilities were constructed in 1999 and underwent a major renovation in 2018, which included the creation of a new digital imaging lab, a laptop lab, a dedicated Photography classroom and a Photography program gallery. In addition, to our studio space, daylight studio, digital large format printing lab, special projects for alternative processes and two darkrooms and wetlabs. 
  • Budget: preps all following fiscal year budget materials and manages and oversees departmental expenditures, including material and supplies and restricted account for scholarships, programming, and awards
  • Program Recruitment: supports/coordinates/participates in school/Admission recruitment efforts, e.g. Open House, supervises all program orientation presentations
  • Fundraising & Cultivation: supports/participates in university Development efforts, e.g. award donor luncheons, works with the dean and Advancement on corporate or foundation grants, works with other program directors in and out of the School of Art to update or create new Photography paths and Outside Discipline Requirements

Administrative Duties

  • Creates a vision for the Photography Program, develops new courses and contributes ideas for the evolving nature of existing courses;
  • Identifies, hires, supervises, and mentors existing and new faculty;
  • Provides academic leadership and management for the program;
  • Maintains a professional photography or creative, research practice; promotes the Photography Program, serves on University committees; advises and mentors students; participates in curriculum development and other departmental activities;
  • Supervises full and part-time Photography Program faculty. 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the incumbent; they do not purport to describe all functions.  Incumbent may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions may change from time to time as necessary. 

Qualifications & Experience

  • The college is seeking candidates with professional experience, preferably with an MFA degree, although a BFA degree coupled with extensive professional experience would also be considered (likely 7-10 years or more);
  • The successful candidate should be a leader in the field and have a demonstrated record of excellence in the industry, with a broad range of professional accomplishments, knowledge, awareness, and experience in photography;
  • The candidate should have strong connections to the photography community as evidenced through conference presentations, invited lectures, and professional networks;
  • All candidates should have a strong mastery of visual form, image making, and conceptual problem solving and inform their creative practice with practical application;
  • Candidates should have a commitment to advancing the photography discipline through the innovative use of evolving technologies and practices, traditional, and new media;
  • Candidates should be familiar with professional fields adjacent to photography, such as film and video, animation, printmaking, fine art, and show an interest in exploring how these disciplines can effectively interact with the photography discipline; 
  • Applicants should provide evidence of academic leadership, teaching experience, and/or professional experience that would warrant an appointment at the rank of Associate Professor; candidates should have a commitment to teaching, a willingness to take an active role in fostering innovative ideas and curriculum that advance the program, and a commitment to building an inclusive culture that fuels creativity and encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our communities.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the staff member is continuously required to sit and use hands to finger; occasionally required to walk; seldom required to reach with hands and arms; required to talk and hear and travel to meetings across campus with other staff and faculty for planning purposes. Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and peripheral vision.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a staff member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position works in a professional well-appointed office environment.

Brief History of the Photography Program
Founded by Sol Mednick, a successful commercial and fine art photographer as well as founding member of the Society for Photographic Education, photography moved from a “division” to a degree-granting department in 1954. Prior to 1954, photography courses were offered but no specific program of study existed. The Photography program moved into its current facilities in August 1999. Prior to 2011, Photography was a BFA program within the Media Arts department along with Film + Video and Animation. When the creation of the current schools took place in 2011, Photography decided it had more in common with the School of Art programs than it did Film and Animation and landed under the School of Art umbrella.
                                                             
For more information about the Photography program at University of the Arts, please visit https://www.uarts.edu/academics/photography 


About The University: 
University of the Arts’ mission is simple: to advance human creativity. Established in 1876, UArts believes creativity is the most essential skill for success in today’s society and has educated generations of groundbreaking artists, performers, designers and creative leaders for more than 141 years.  After being granted university status in 1987, University of the Arts became the largest institution of its kind in the nation, offering programs in design, fine arts, media arts, crafts, music, dance, theater and writing. It now features 30 undergraduate arts majors, 15 graduate programs and the nation’s first PhD program in Creativity. UArts is also home to innovative centers across disciplines, including the Center for Immersive Media, Lightbox Film Center, Philadelphia Art Alliance and Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery. Learn more about UArts.

TO APPLY: Interested qualified applicants should submit the documents on the following list via email to Gehia Davenport, Senior Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the School of Art, using jobs@uarts.edu. 

Please ensure the job title is in the subject line.

  • A letter of application detailing qualifications;
  • An up-to-date CV;
  • Statements on the future of photography and teaching philosophy;
  • Sample syllabi for those with teaching experience;
  • A digital portfolio of examples of recent professional and/or personal work and examples of work by students, if the candidate has teaching experience;
  • The contact information for three professional references;
  • A diversity statement that addresses the candidate’s values regarding diversity and history working with or teaching diverse populations.

The preferred submission format for all materials other than video samples, is a single email attachment (single PDF or zipped folder), no more than 8-10 MB in size.

Submissions materials other than cover letter, CV, future of photography and teaching philosophy statements, syllabi, reference list, diversity statement, video files, and PDF portfolios will not be reviewed. Please do not submit supplemental materials or letters unless they are requested. 

The search committee will begin reviewing complete applications on March 29, 2021. Full consideration will be given to complete applications received by April 26, 2021. Review of complete applications will continue until the position is filled.

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, The University of the Arts publishes its Annual Safety Report at the following link for your reference:
http://www.uarts.edu/about/campus-crime-fire-reports

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Title IX Statement: The University of the Arts prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in its programs and activities, including admission and employment, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The Title IX Coordinator and Diversity Administrator is responsible for overseeing compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws and regulations. To contact the Title IX Coordinator, e-mail titleix@uarts.edu, or visit The University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, Room 260, or call 215-717-6366. To learn more about the University's Title IX policy and response to sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, please visit www.uarts.edu/titleix. Inquiries may also be directed to the Federal agency responsible for enforcing Title IX, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.


 

Launch Experience