Assistant Professor of Art: Photography

Assistant Professor of Art, tenure track, Photography (Position #6574): The Division of Art at SMU, Meadows School of the Arts invites nominations  and applications in photography, 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 an extensive record of creative practice with some teaching  experience at the college or university level. 

As a faculty committed to interdisciplinary dialogue, we seek an artist and educator working dynamically within photography and its position within contemporary art. Creative responsibilities include active artistic presence on a national level through exhibition or other kinds of publication. Teaching responsibilities include introductory and advanced undergraduate courses and graduate courses. Other responsibilities include university service, especially but not limited to supervision of the darkroom and digital photography labs with the support of the Art Technical Manager. 

Qualifications
Minimum qualifications: 
–An MFA or equivalent in Art 
–An extensive creative portfolio in photography with an active exhibition record 
–Proficiency in both black and white darkroom techniques and digital photographic processes
–An understanding of contemporary art and the theory and history of photography  
–One year full-time teaching at university level 
–An interest in curriculum development 

Preferred qualifications: 
–A demonstration of an artistic practice and teaching that can integrate  photography with the broad practices of contemporary art and digital technologies 
–Expertise in darkroom and digital labs 
–Two years full-time teaching at university level 

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 photographic 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 here. To ensure full consideration for the position, the application must be received by December 15, 2023, 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: August 2024. Contact for further questions: Melanie Clemmons, Associate Professor of Art, mclemmons [​at​] smu.edu.

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 BA, BFA, and MFA 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.