Chair, Department of Fine Arts
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts
Anticipated Start: Fall 2025
Chair Appointment Term
10-months (August 2 through May 30). It is anticipated that the Chair will serve for a period of up to five years, with the option to serve as Chair for an additional period of up to three years. Upon completion of the leadership appointment, the Chair will be provided with a 9-month faculty position in their area of expertise. A semester-long research reassignment will be provided after the Chair appointment ends to facilitate a return to teaching.
Rank: Associate/full Professor
Tenure: Expedited tenure review is available to streamline the university's tenure decisions for new faculty hires who were already tenured at their previous institution and is potentially available to a new Chair of the Department of Fine Arts who has been a tenured Full or Associate Professor at their previous institution.
Salary: Commensurate with experience. Generous benefits available.
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Application Deadline: For best consideration, applications are due by March 30, 2025.
Chair of the Department of Fine Arts
The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts) is excited to announce an opportunity for an impactful, visionary, and collaboration-oriented academic leader to serve as the inaugural Chair of the Department of Fine Arts. A key position in the School of the Arts, the Department Chair reports to the Senior Director of the Fine Arts Group and the Dean and is supported by academic and administrative staff. The Chair serves as a mentor to faculty colleagues, collaborates with administrative leaders and staff members, and advocates for the department from a perspective that considers the best overall interests of the School as well as the department. The Chair leads faculty in important processes that shape the curriculum that has an impact on student learning as well as the research activities of the faculty. The Chair strives to effectively articulate both the department and the School’s missions to internal and external constituencies, and establishes an inclusive and welcoming academic environment that encourages engagement, participation, collegiality, and respect.
The Department of Fine Arts, located in the Murry N. DePillars Building, comprises Craft/Material Studies, Painting and Printmaking, and Sculpture and Extended Media. The three programs have a collective enrollment of more than 275 students and are recognized leaders in visual arts education, as recognized by the U.S. News and World Report’s graduate rankings. It is expected that the Department of Fine Arts will receive the necessary approvals needed to function as a singular department by the start of the 2025-2026 academic year. The Department of Fine Arts will continue to grant the program-specific BFA and MFA degrees that are currently granted by the fine arts programs and it will maintain the curricula unique to those programs.
Craft and Material Studies
Craft and Material Studies consists of the areas of Clay, Fiber, Glass, Metal and Wood. Craft and Material Studies has nine full time faculty, 10 graduate students and 100 undergraduate students.
Painting and Printmaking
Painting and Printmaking has nine full-time faculty, 12 graduate students and over 100 undergraduate students. The MFA program is ranked #2 in Printmaking and #12 in Painting/Drawing by U.S. News & World Report.
Sculpture and Extended Media
Sculpture and Extended Media’s MFA program is ranked 1st in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The program has 10 graduate students, 70 undergraduate students, and seven full-time studio faculty.
Fine Arts faculty are engaged in a wide range of disciplines and media, benefiting from both the richness and intellectual diversity of an R1 university and an environment where faculty research is valued and supported. The fine arts programs have an impressive roster of adjunct and visiting faculty, making for a dynamic community within the School of the Arts. Students and faculty benefit from a wide range of state-of-arts facilities that support creative practice and teaching across more than 150,000 square feet in the Murry N. DePillars Building.
Leadership and Administrative Expectations
The Department Chair holds responsibilities invested in ensuring the success of the department’s faculty, staff and students. This broad range of responsibilities includes (but is not limited to):
● Articulating a direction and goals for the department that align with School and university-level initiatives.
● Visioning and participating in cooperative collaboration efforts between VCUarts departments and across other VCU Schools and programs, including VCUarts Qatar.
● Managing and optimizing department budget and resources (facilities, faculty, etc.).
● Developing partnerships with local, national, and international organizations, institutions, and industry stakeholders to enhance the department's and School’s reputation and provide opportunities for students and faculty.
● Coordinating the activities of curriculum development and discipline-specific accreditation.
● Overseeing all faculty mentoring, service assignments, promotion and tenure reviews, work plans, workloads, hiring activities, and annual reviews.
● Managing day-to-day student affairs, including the planning of community-engaged activities and events.
● Collaborate with the VCUarts recruitment and admissions team to support student recruitment, admission, and retention activities (e.g., new student orientation, department onboarding) and in consultation with the academic advisor.
● Coordinating interactions with alumni, donors, and visiting artists/scholars.
● Teaching in the Chair’s area of expertise will be expected, providing a forum for direct interaction with students in creative/academic contexts and affording opportunities to model scholarship within the department. It is expected that the Chair will have a 1/1 teaching load.
Qualifications
● MFA or PhD in one of the areas represented in the Department of Fine Arts.
● Knowledge of the higher educational landscape, research, and professional practices in
fine arts.
● A minimum of five years of University-level teaching experience beyond the TA and/or adjunct level.
● Experience in academic administration or demonstrated leadership in institutional service
or service to the field.
● A well-established research agenda with evidence of a significant exhibition record and/or
scholarly record, external funding, and contributing to scholarship or creative practice
that enhances and extends school/department expertise.
● Experience developing and leading in a highly ambitious and collegial team environment.
● Effective collaborative and communication skills are essential.
● The Chair will have demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
Consideration Process and Instructions
To apply, please submit application materials via VCU Jobs Website. Only electronic applications will be accepted.
The following documents should be submitted:
● Cover Letter that includes an overview of professional experience and creative research interests.
● Curriculum Vitae
● Teaching statement that addresses philosophy of teaching and approach to student Mentorship.
● List of five professional references including names with titles and contact information. References will not be contacted prior to a candidate’s approval.
● Portfolio of work— a link to appropriate selections of documentation of the applicant's experience in their area(s) of expertise. This could include traditional and/or non-traditional examples of one's work from a broad cross-section and/or combination of experience from a variety of roles.
● Portfolio of student work— a link to appropriate selections of documentation of student work from the applicant's teaching experience is preferred.
For best consideration, materials must be submitted by March 30, 2025.
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Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100%
Tenure: Open
Rank: Open
Months: 10
Department: Fine Arts, School of the Arts
Contact Information:
Contact Name: VCUarts Human Resources
Contact Email: artshr@vcu.edu
Contact Phone: (804) 828-2787
