Chair of Art and Art History
Position Description
The University of Mississippi invites applications for Chair of the Department of Art & Art History in the College of Liberal Arts. This is a tenured, fulltime, 12-month administrative faculty position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. We welcome candidates in any discipline of studio art practice, art history, or related fields. Candidates for the position must have earned a doctoral, MFA, or other terminal degree, or equivalent, and have a track record and experience commensurate with a tenured appointment at the rank of associate professor or professor in the Department of Art & Art History at the time of appointment. Candidates will be asked to articulate an innovative vision for the future and growth of the department that values forward thinking, critical inquiry, creativity, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The successful candidate must have a strong record of effective teaching; research and creative activity; administrative service; a commitment to the recruitment and mentorship of diverse faculty, staff, and students; dedication to graduate and undergraduate training; knowledge of broad curricular and academic issues in the field; and demonstrate interpersonal and leadership skills.
Responsibilities:
The chair supports departmental faculty and staff in their academic, research, creative, and service activities. The chair will assume administrative responsibility for directing the department’s faculty/staff hiring, annual reviews, budgeting, course planning, curriculum, and other academic duties; be committed to the professional development of faculty, staff, and students; and foster collaborations within the Department and with other appropriate campus and community units. We seek applicants committed to diversity and inclusion in higher education, including but not limited to recruiting and retaining diverse faculty, staff, and students. Charged with building these important relationships, the chair will work with a wide range of constituencies. Application: The department strongly encourages applications from candidates who are from traditionally underrepresented groups in academia and from all candidates who are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. As a department, we recognize that an inclusive environment facilitates job satisfaction, sharing of ideas, and impactful community engagement. To apply, visit the University of Mississippi online employment site at https://careers.olemiss.edu.
Applications should include:
• Cover letter that includes a discussion of research and/or artistic achievements; leadership and administrative experience and accomplishments; and work with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
• Current curriculum vitae
• List of five references with names, titles, and contact information. References may be contacted at any stage of the search.
Some candidates may be asked at a later date to submit a statement of vision for the department and/or leadership philosophy as well as research publication(s) or a selection of creative work. Application deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately, but all applications received by December 20, 2022 will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled or an adequate candidate pool is reached.
Position Details
Appointment (12 Month)
Assignment Type (Tenure Track)
Position Description Continued
About the Department, University, and Region: The Department of Art & Art History is committed to fostering students’ creativity through the development of critical-thinking skills combined with intellectual inquiry. With a focus on academic excellence, creative exploration, and scholarly investigation, our students and faculty learn, evaluate, and exchange their knowledge of art history, art, and design, in an inclusive environment. Students experience a range of perspectives that prepare them for real-world practice in today’s complex world. As a community of artists and scholars we strive to be engaged global citizens as a means to propose and build new visions for the future, while examining expectations of being human in the 21st century. The Department offers a BA and BFA in Studio Art, BA in Art History, and MFA in Studio Art.
The University of Mississippi, the state’s flagship university, is also its largest, with a student body of approximately 20,000 students, including 24% students of color and 4% international students from over 80 countries. UM is ranked among the nation’s fastest-growing institutions and has been
consistently recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The university has an R-1 Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification. This Fall, the university launches its new strategic initiative, EmpowerNow. Mississippi provides a rich environment for creativity and research. The university is located in Oxford, home to a vibrant literary and arts scene, about an hour south of Memphis and three hours north of Jackson, MS. Each year the community hosts the Oxford Film Festival, the Double Decker Music Festival, and the Oxford Blues Festival, among other gatherings, and UM sponsors the Oxford Conference for the Book and a yearlong performing arts series at the Gertrude C. Ford Center among its many cultural events.
• UM Department of Art and Art History: https://art.olemiss.edu/
• UM University Museums: https://museum.olemiss.edu/
• Visit Oxford: https://visitoxfordms.com/
• Yoknapatawpha Arts Council: https://oxfordarts.com/
• Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce: https://oxfordms.com/chamber-of-commerce/
Application Procedures
Combine the documents into two individual documents and utilize the “cover letter” and “resume” upload feature.
Background Check Statement
The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safe campus community. UM conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.