Assistant Professor of Practice (non-tenure track) Interdisciplinary Art (Position # 6274) The Division of Art at SMU, Meadows School of the Arts invites nominations and applications in Interdisciplinary Art for an opportunity to be involved in the shaping of a dynamic interdisciplinary curriculum in Art. The candidate selected will be expected to be a significant partner in connecting the Division to an increasingly diverse and globally connected community at the university and in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The successful candidate will be an artist with a significant record of creative practice with at least one year of full-time teaching.
As a faculty committed to interdisciplinary dialogue, we seek an artist and educator working in Interdisciplinary Art with an active artistic presence through exhibitions or other forms of creative work. Teaching responsibilities include introductory and advanced undergraduate courses and graduate courses. Other responsibilities include university service, especially but not limited to directing the Pollock Gallery with the support of the Pollock Gallery Business Manager and the Art Technical Manager, for a 3-2 teaching load.
Interdisciplinary Art integrates contemporary artistic practices, which may include, but are not limited to, visual arts, performance, new media and technology, sound, social practice, environment or bio art, literature or text-based art, curation and public art, with links to the other areas in the Division of Art. Artists of all ethnic backgrounds and philosophical persuasions and women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
This is a Professional and Teaching faculty position for a renewable multi-year contract. While it is not eligible for tenure, it has a three-tier promotion path (Assistant, Associate, Full) and opportunity for long-term contracts which may, at the top rank, be renewed annually contingent on job performance. Professional and Teaching faculty’s primary responsibility is teaching, though courses may be substituted by significant service roles.
Qualifications
Minimum qualifications
• An MFA or equivalent in Art
• An extensive creative portfolio in Interdisciplinary Art with an active exhibition record
• Extensive knowledge of the theory and history of art, including Interdisciplinary Art
• The ability to teach across a broad spectrum of materials and concepts
• One year full-time teaching at the university level
• An interest in curriculum development and commitment to managing and curating the Pollock Gallery.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment for students of all backgrounds.
Preferred qualifications:
• Two years full-time teaching at university level
• Experience curating or managing a gallery, museum, or art space, including organizing exhibitions, collaborating with artists, and engaging with diverse audiences.
• Demonstration of a body of work and teaching that integrates Interdisciplinary Art with contemporary artistic practices and dialogues.
• An engagement with contemporary art theory, issues, cultural studies, or innovative and experimental practices.
Application Instructions
Applications must include:
• Letter of application highlighting the candidate’s accomplishments and interest in the position
• Artist statement describing the artist’s work in relation to historical and contemporary art practices and separate Teaching statement, each not
more than one page in length, separate from the letter of application
• CV
• Name and contact information of three recommenders (the committee will request letters when appropriate)
•20 images of work samples with descriptions. Samples may include video, no longer than 60 seconds per sample. Inclusion of video work reduces the number of overall samples.
Applications must be submitted electronically at the following link: ______________________ . To ensure full consideration for the position, the application must be received by December 15, 2024, but the committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check.
Start Date: 1 August 2025. Contact for further questions: Melanie Clemmons, Associate Professor of Art, [email protected].
The Division of Art provides a challenging environment for the study of studio art within a multi-faceted arts school at a major liberal arts university. We offer a B.A., B.F.A., and M.F.A. in studio art. Each of our undergraduate degrees is based in an innovative program of Foundation studies and broad experiences in ways of seeing, ways of making, and ways of thinking. We place emphasis on the development of our students’ knowledge in ceramics, drawing, installation, new media, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, sculpture, sound, and/or time-based media. Students are encouraged to work across media and in ways that integrate with other studies to develop their awareness of the context of art today and its future possibilities. Traditionally each degree culminates in focused exhibition, based in intensive work and critical discussion that is individual and true to students’ ideas and ambitions. In addition to faculty actively engaged in exhibition and research at the highest levels, SMU’s Division of Art hosts an ongoing series of lectures, open studios, panels and studio visits by artists, critics and curators.
The Meadows School of the Arts celebrated its 50th Anniversary at Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 2019. It is one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States. The Meadows School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in advertising, art, art history, arts management and arts entrepreneurship, creative computation, music, theatre dance, film and media arts, public affairs & corporate communication, and journalism/fashion journalism. The goal of the Meadows School of the Arts, as a comprehensive educational institution, is to prepare students to meet the demands of professional careers. The Meadows School is a leader in developing innovative outreach and community engagement programs, challenging its students to make a difference locally and globally by seeking out/developing/supporting vital connections between art, entrepreneurship and change. The Meadows School of the Arts is also a convener for the arts in North Texas, serving as a catalyst for new collaborations and providing critical industry research.
Application Process
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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Southern Methodist University (SMU) will not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, education activity, or admissions on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. SMU's commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX1 Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies, including the prohibition of sex discrimination under Title IX. The Executive Director/Title IX Coordinator may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, [email protected]. Inquiries regarding the application of Title IX may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education.