Job Description

The School of Visual Arts (SOVA) at Virginia Tech (https://www.sova.vt.edu) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty in Graphic Design, with a start date of August 2025. We seek applicants who have expertise that aligns with the future of graphic design, marked by a deep integration of technology, focusing on enhancing user experience in various realms, such as AI, XR, motion, and web.

SOVA is housed within the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design (AAD) at Virginia Tech, a comprehensive land grant research university in Blacksburg, Virginia. SOVA has approximately 275 undergraduate majors within four areas (Graphic Design, Creative Technologies, Studio Art and Art History). The Graphic Design program currently has approximately 100 majors and has been included in GDUSA’s list of “Top Graphic Design Schools'' for each of the last six years. Virginia Tech is home to one of the largest Swiss and Polish poster collections in the Americas, due to the generous donation by the designers Dennis Ichiyama and Oscar Fernández.

Duties and responsibilities:

● Teach two undergraduate courses per semester, from introductory to advanced levels of Graphic Design (and possibly teaching non-majors, foundations, and/or graduate courses)

● Maintain a strong national/international creative research agenda

● Maintain an up-to-date proficiency with digital tools and software as they relate to teaching and creative research in design (e.g. Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma)

● Stay abreast of cutting-edge design practices, theories, ethics, AI integration, experience design, accessibility, etc., as well as advancements in design education

● Contribute to the growth of our program and school through active participation in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary work environment

● Contribute to school, college, and university-level service and outreach

● Contribute to curriculum development in the Graphic Design program

● Contribute to Graphic Design's curriculum by developing and teaching courses that align with the future of graphic design by integrating technology (such as UX/UI, AI, XR, motion, and web).

● Contribute to Graphic Design's curriculum by developing and teaching large-enrollment general education design-based courses.

Required Qualifications

● Terminal degree in Graphic Design (i.e., MFA, MDes in Graphic Design) or in a related discipline by appointment start date

● Ability to teach Graphic Design courses at the university level, including Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced levels courses

● Demonstrated record of creative research/activity

● Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and the Principles of Community

● Position requires occasional travel to attend conferences and meetings

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance . These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Julie Weaver at juliew19@vt.eduduring regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: February 26, 2025

Virginia Tech

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