Assistant Professor of Illustration: Lesley University

Assistant Professor of Illustration : Lesley University

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley University is highly regarded for its graduate and undergraduate programs in education, the arts, and applied social sciences.

Lesley fosters a highly creative environment in which innovative ideas thrive, theory is integrated with practice and its 7,000 students and 83,000 alumni are empowered to improve and enrich communities.

Are you the right candidate for this opportunity Make sure to read the full description below.

We offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, life, and long-term-disability insurance. In addition, we offer generous amounts of vacation and holiday time, as well as a tuition remission policy that enables employees to expand their knowledge and skills.

Please note that all Core faculty at Lesley University are represented by the Service Employees International Union, Local 509 (SEIU).

The College of Art and Design’s Commitment to Diversity and Social Justice

We welcome students, faculty, and staff from all races, cultures, gender, and sexual identities. Diversity makes our campus stronger;

a variety of voices leads to greater understanding and cooperation. Our community has a history of social activism, and at the heart of our efforts is a commitment to social justice.

• The self-identified student body at the College of Art and Design is 34% persons of color.
• Recent visiting artists to Lesley include LaToya Ruby Frazier, Carrie Mae Weems, Nick Cave, Edwidge Danticat, Twyla Tharp, Suzanne Lacy, Judith Jamison, Sebastiao Salgado, and Luis Gonzalez Palma to mention just some.
• The Office of Community Engagement at the College of Art and Design has over 50 established community partners in Cambridge and Somerville, including Artists for Humanity, Boston Arts Academy, Boston LGBT Film Festival, Cambridge Women’s Center, ICNA Relief Muslims for Humanity, Teen Media Program, Transition House, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy to mention just some.
• The College of Art and Design created and sponsors the monthly Art & Social Justice Film Series for the university and local community.
• Recent titles include Beyond Boston, a collaborative project film has a particular focus on gentrification and homelessness in Cambridge and Greater Boston;

P.S. I Can’t Breathe by Rochelle White; Hoodie to Hijab film shorts exploring representations of Muslim American women; Happy and Gay by Lorelei Pepi to name just a few.

Job Description :

A core faculty in the Illustration Department, with 7 units of workload, teaching undergraduate required and elective courses.

Mentors and advises undergraduate students, organizes and participates in department and school activities for students, serves on school and university committees and attends meetings as required;

participates in curriculum development, and assists with student recruiting including attendance at visit days, admission open houses and portfolio reviews.

Must be enthusiastic, flexible, and collaborative, with excellent communication skills.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

• Teaching : 7 units, or the equivalent of a full-time load, per academic year; assists students with professional internships and coordinates all department Independent Studies.
• Curriculum : Develops new courses and participates in department and school curriculum development. Participates in continual and year-end department assessments, and cyclical departmental reviews.

Works with Department Chair to identify new trends in industry and develops courses to prepare students for a professional career.

Mentoring : students from foundation through senior year; maintains regular weekly office hours during the academic year.

Mentors new adjunct faculty in the department.

Service : Participates in program, school and university meetings and serves on 2 significant committees, one university-wide and one interdepartmental at the College of Art and Design.

Helps to organize departmental activities such as juries and year-end reviews, student professional organizations, student groups and academic activities (extra-curricular), and exhibitions.

• Admissions : Attends admissions events such as open houses, portfolio days, program workshops, and Accepted Students Day, and assists in recruitment, contacting potential candidates and accepted students.
• Scholarship : Maintains active creative production, research or scholarship in the field of Illustration.

Requirements :

• Earned Master of Fine Arts degree; or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree plus at least 5 years’ professional experience in Illustration.
• A minimum of three years of successful teaching experience college or university level or professional experience in Illustration.
• A strong commitment to teaching, and the ability to teach courses from foundation to senior level.
• Demonstrated meritorious professional and scholarly achievement, and a commitment to continued advancement of your professional practice and professional specialty.
• Demonstration of curriculum development experience.
• An in-depth understanding and ability to teach a broad range of contemporary practices, theories, concepts and applications in the Illustration profession.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of best practices for professional development, contemporary career tracks for Illustrators, and the ability to build program internship network and contacts.
• Demonstrated proficiency in and the ability to teach current digital techniques from introductory to advanced levels.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; if you hold a visa, your visa status must allow you to work at Lesley University.

Preferred Qualifications :

In-depth understanding of contemporary professional Illustration industry practices regarding portfolio and website development, licensing, contracts, and self-promotion.

Additional Information :

Compensation and rank will be commensurate with experience and degree obtained.

Background checks are required for all positions.

Lesley University is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to increasing the diversity of the university community and the curriculum.

Candidates who believe they can contribute to this goal are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions :

A cover letter, CV / resume, statement of teaching philosophy, a sample syllabus from a course you have taught, and links to both personal work and work of your students;

plus contact information for three references must be included for full consideration.

Applications will be reviewed upon the establishment of an appropriate pool of candidates.

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