Assistant Professor, Graphic Design and Digital Media

 The Department of Art and Design in the School of the Arts at Messiah University invites applications for an Assistant Professor faculty position in Graphic Design and Digital Media beginning August (fall) 2021.

Responsibilities: Applicants should be able to teach foundational Visual Thinking and Digital Tools courses in graphic design and digital media curriculum, a Design History and Theory course (offered to all students in the Department of Art and Design) as well as the advanced capstone Graphic Design course. We are seeking someone who specializes in Interactive Design, User Experience and Interface Design, Motion Design, and other emerging digital technologies as they relate to the creative process and professional practice of Graphic Design and Digital Media. Successful candidates will show an interest in and commitment to teaching a wide range of students across the curriculum in the Department of Art and Design and the Digital Media major (Graphic design courses are required for students in the Graphic Design, Studio Art, Art Education, and Digital Media majors). Preference will be given to applicants with Departmental administrative experience, leadership, and organizational skills.

Qualifications: MFA (or equivalent terminal degree) in Graphic Design or related fields. We seek faculty committed to undergraduate teaching, scholarship, and research in the context of a Christian University of the liberal and applied arts and sciences.

The Program: The Graphic Design and Digital Media programs are integrated within the Department of Art and Design and share curriculum with a variety of majors. Messiah University offers undergraduate degrees in Studio Art (B.A., B.F.A.), Graphic Design (B.F.A.), Art Education (B.S.), and Digital Media (B.A.). Students in Studio Art and Art Education select concentrations from Two-Dimensional Studies, Three-Dimensional Studies, or Graphic Design. Messiah University is accredited by NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art & Design).

The Department: The department consists of 6 full-time faculty members, and a variety of adjunct faculty and visiting artists and designers. We are a department of approximately 100+ majors, with alumni who have gone on to complete graduate work at RISD, MICA, School of Visual Arts, Pratt, and Cranbrook among other schools.

The University: Messiah University is a Christian university of the liberal and applied arts and sciences and has a student body of over 2,700 undergraduate students including 14.4% under-represented and 4.1% international students from 28 countries and over 600 graduate students including 16.4% of students from under-represented populations.

The University is committed to an embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church. Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society. Messiah University is a teaching institution that emphasizes instruction but values research and public service. Strong support is given to faculty development in teaching and scholarship.

Diversity: Messiah University’s commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence draws inspiration from its mission “to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society.” The university has pursued this vision through a strategic planning process that encourages diversity through employee and student composition, campus climate, and an educational program that enables educators and students to embrace diversity. Candidates should clearly articulate why diversity and cultural intelligence matter to them as persons of faith as well as in their profession. Candidates will speak to how as a potential employee, they will contribute to the advancement of this vision through their teaching-learning, research, institutional service, and public engagement.

Compensation: Salary and rank commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applications/Nominations: Application materials will be reviewed upon receipt and will be accepted until the position is filled. Please provide a current curriculum vitae or resume as well as a letter of interest that clearly explains how your Christian faith represents a strong fit with the mission of Messiah University, which is “to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society."

Curriculum Vitae must include: (1) education, (2) previous employment history, (3) scholarly and professional accomplishments (e.g., papers, publication, recitals, showings), (4) membership in scholarly, professional, or honor societies, and (5) awards and honors received.

Please submit a link to a portfolio of your design work.

Questions regarding the position may be directed to Brenton Good, Art and Design Department Chair. For more information regarding application materials and to apply, please see:  http://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/18083.  

Messiah University does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color,  sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, or veteran’s status in the recruitment and admission of students, the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, or the operation of any of its programs. Consistent with our nondiscrimination statement, the University does not tolerate abuse or harassment of employees, students or other individuals associated with the University. This includes, but is not limited to, vendors, contractors, and guests on the basis of, but not limited to, any of the above categories.