Open Position: Department Head and Professor, Art and Art History

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Applications and nominations are invited for the position of Department Head, Department of Art & Art History in the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut. The department seeks a dynamic leader with a distinguished record of creative and scholarly achievement, and a clear vision to lead the faculty in shaping the future of the unit. The new Head should be forward-looking, with a broad knowledge of emerging trends and opportunities in the visual arts, and the imagination and flexibility to respond to the changing needs of students and faculty. Candidates should have a strong record in university education and administration, and a national and international profile in research and/or creative practice deserving appointment as a full, tenured professor in the department.

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is in the midst of a transformational period of growth supported by the $1.7B Next Generation Connecticut (http://nextgenct.uconn.edu/) and the $1B Bioscience Connecticut (http://biosciencect.uchc.edu/) investments and a bold new Academic Plan: Path to Excellence (http://issuu.com/uconnprovost/docs/academic-plan-single-hi-optimized_1).  We are pleased to continue these investments by inviting applications for the Department Head of Art & Art History.

The Department of Art & Art History has over 170 undergraduate majors, 15 graduate students, and a full-time faculty of 21, along with a number of specialist adjunct faculty and a committed team of staff. The department is dedicated to the cultivation of artists and scholars with a wide-ranging understanding of the concepts, aesthetics, techniques, and social functions of contemporary art practices within broader historical and cultural contexts. It offers the degrees of BFA in Studio Art (with concentrations in graphic design, illustration/animation, painting/drawing, photography/video, printmaking, and sculpture/ceramics), BA in Art History, and a three-year MFA program in Studio Art. All programs are accredited by NASAD. The department is also committed to enriching the wider university and regional community through a range of courses for non-majors, minor programs in Studio Art and Art History, and a variety of offerings at UConn’s regional campuses across the state, as well as through major public exhibitions and thematic programming in collaboration with other departments and schools across the university. Additional information about the Department of Art & Art History can be found at: http://art.uconn.edu .

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in one or more of the department’s areas of specialization, which range widely across the visual arts and art history. Applications from candidates with experience of working in a program that combines studio art, design, and art history, and with a proven commitment to interdisciplinary research and practice in a Research I university, are especially welcome.

The new Head will be expected to have a strong commitment to academic excellence in a major research institution, and to fostering diversity and inclusiveness at all levels of the academic enterprise, including faculty and staff hiring and student recruitment. She or he will work collaboratively with the Dean, to whom the Head reports directly, and with other leaders within the School of Fine Arts, particularly the Heads of the other academic departments (Digital Media & Design, Dramatic Arts, and Music), and the directors of the Benton Museum of Art and of the Contemporary Art Galleries, to implement the strategic goals of the School and of UConn’s Academic Plan. The Head will oversee budget, personnel (including faculty promotion and tenure procedures governed by AAUP contract, and management of unionized staff), curriculum, and facilities, and work closely with faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and outside constituencies to support and promote the vision and mission of the department.

The Storrs campus is located in a beautiful area of New England, with a moderate cost of living and proximity to major cultural, recreational, and urban centers of the Northeast. The University community provides residents with a rich diversity of cultural, artistic, athletic, and historic experiences, and the surrounding area offers affordable quality housing and top schools for faculty and families.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Earned terminal degree as recognized in candidate’s primary field.
  • Distinguished record of research and practice in the candidate’s primary field of expertise, commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor at the University of Connecticut.
  • Demonstrated success in an administrative leadership role in higher education.
  • Record of successful teaching in higher education.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • At least 3-5 years of experience in an academic leadership position, such as Department Head, Associate Department Head, Associate Dean, or Center Director.
  • Leadership experience in a department or school encompassing studio art, design, and art history.
  • Record of initiative in promoting diversity among faculty, staff, and students.
  • Record of interdisciplinary collaboration in research and/or curriculum development.
  • Demonstrated success in obtaining and managing research funding from external agencies, including major grants and sponsored and entrepreneurial projects.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 10-month tenure track position with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2018. The successful candidate’s appointment will be at the Storrs campus. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TO APPLY

Applications can be submitted through the University of Connecticut Employment Opportunities website (http://www.jobs.uconn.edu). Application packages should be submitted as a single PDF file including: (1) a cover letter; (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) a two-page statement outlining the candidate’s personal vision and goals for education and research in the visual arts, and their approach to academic leadership; and (4) names and contact information of five professional references. (Later in the search process shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit additional statements, on teaching, research, and commitment to diversity, as mandated by University policy.)

Review of applications will begin on Monday, January 8, 2018. The position is open until filled. Employment of the successful candidate will be contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. (Search #2018269)

Inquiries concerning the position should be directed to Arielle Hill-Moses, Assistant to the Dean, at arielle.hill-moses@uconn.edu, or tel. (860) 486-1593.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp .

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.