Assistant Professor of Animation

Delta State University

Assistant Professor of Animation

Position Type: Faculty

Department: Art

Posting Number: 201201129

Full or Part Time: Full Time

Tenure/Non-Tenure: Tenure Track

Salary Basis: 12 month

Responsibilities:
JOB SUMMARY

The Department of Art at Delta State University invites actively engaged artists to apply for one tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor rank for a Studio Artist with specialization and studio practice in our new Digital Art / Animation concentration. A minimum of two-years teaching experience and strong evidence of a developed professional studio career is required. This full-time appointment offers a competitive salary and benefits package and will commence August 2021. Applicants with diverse cultural, ethnic and national perspectives are encouraged to apply.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The ideal candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate-level courses, mentor students within the context of an interdisciplinary art and design program and advise graduate students in a low-residency program that is being initiated in 2022. Teaching responsibilities include all introductory and upper-level animation and motion graphics courses, as well as alternate courses in the graphic design and digital media art concentrations like introduction to digital art, computer graphics, digital video, and/or lighting design. The position carries a 3:3 teaching load and with the expectation of service to the department and the university.
Upper-level courses may be stacked with graduate courses and some independent studies may be included, as well as alternating summer school responsibilities. In addition to our Art majors, these courses may also interest students from the Delta Music Institute. The candidate will maintain facilities, keep an active professional practice, and participate in the University community. All faculty members are required to participate in the university through teaching, service, and scholarship.
As a professor of animation, you will develop and extend students' awareness of story, design, audience, and collaboration in production. Therefore, a keen understanding of commercial or independent animation and/or video production would be a major asset to the position. Apply your industry experience and expert technical proficiency in the classroom teaching a unique curriculum that explores animation styles ranging from stop-motion to 3-D animation and includes digital modeling, rigging, lighting, character animation, and look development. An in-depth knowledge and ability to teach in multiple platforms of the Adobe CC Suite is essential to success in this position.
Applicants should have professional expertise and teaching experience in two or more of the following areas: digital animation and video, motion and broadcast graphics, digital audio design, data visualization, virtual or augmented reality, or game development. The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to teaching and to fostering the creative growth of undergraduates at a regional university, and an enthusiasm for contributing to the university community. Service responsibilities include student advising, mentoring, and recruitment, taking an active role in curriculum development and assessment, aiding in the management of classroom equipment and resources, and making connections with related programs on campus.


Qualifications:
QUALIFICATIONS:

• MFA in animation or a related field
• Professional experience and two years of college-level teaching experience required.
• Experience in developing new courses that engage with contemporary practices, techniques, and issues in the fields of motion graphics, animation, gaming, innovation, and creativity.
• Ability to communicate effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities.
• Strong portfolio of work that reflects a high degree of knowledge in animation.
• Ability to teach and focus on animation mechanics/principles of animation
• Basic knowledge of MEL scripting and its application and uses during an animation production pipeline
• Strong understanding of gesture drawing for animation
• Strong understanding of the animation production pipeline
• In-depth knowledge of the Adobe suite, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, Animate, Flash, After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Final Cut Pro
• Knowledge of traditional and digital 2D/3D animation and digital video
• Experience with all the aspects of the 3D production process, including modeling, texturing, lighting, animating, and rendering
• Experience creating original storyboard art for different kinds of projects
• Experience working in multiple computer platforms and system configurations
• Industry experience either in a design studio or freelancing
• Ability to demonstrate, by providing an online demo reel, expertise in character animation (multiple mediums preferred: 2-D, 3-D, stop-motion, hybrid)

MFA or other terminal degree required, professional experience and two years of college-level teaching experience required. A focus on teaching animation mechanics or principles of animation is vital.

Strong candidates will have some experience developing new courses that engage with contemporary practices, techniques, and issues in the fields of motion graphics, animation, gaming, innovation, and creativity.


Salary:
12 monthCommensurate with experience, qualifications, and university’s resources.

Minimum Qualifications:
MFA or other terminal degree required, professional experience and two years of college-level teaching experience required. A focus on teaching animation mechanics or principles of animation is vital.


Preferred Qualifications:
Strong candidates will have some experience developing new courses that engage with contemporary practices, techniques, and issues in the fields of motion graphics, animation, gaming, innovation, and creativity.


Special Instructions to Applicants:

• Please note that candidate reviews will begin on June 1st, 2021

• Cover letter addressing unique qualifications for the position
• Curriculum vitae including names and contact information for three references
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Digital portfolio submission or link to a curated website containing a digital portfolio showcasing your work and student work (10-20 images of each) including course syllabi
•Note: For the portfolio, you have the option to upload electronic documents/images, or a URL


Additional Information:
ABOUT THE INSTITUTION:
One of the oldest public programs in the Southeast, the Delta State Art Department has a long tradition of helping students become successful, practicing creative individuals. Our department is grounded in the belief that art, design and problem solving go hand-in-hand, and that committed studio practice with inspiring collaborations are key to a long-lasting creative career.

Our facilities are spread across three buildings on campus; the Fielding L. Wright Art Gallery which houses a dedicated exhibit space of over 2000 square feet along with the University’s permanent art collection. It also is the home of one digital lab as well as a fibers studio. Next door is the Holcombe-Norwood Hall, home to a dedicated ceramics facility, a sculpture and wood working space with the largest educational foundry in Mississippi, a 3500+ square foot painting studio and a the largest darkroom in the state.

Down the street is the Odelier-Morgan Building and home to our newly installed Digital Media Art Center, a 6,000 square foot collaborative space between the Art Department and the Delta Music Institute that houses a state of the art computer labs, a digital maker’s space with laser cutters and 3D printers, video post production room, and a voice-over booth. In addition, we boast a sculpture garden that stretches from campus to the neighboring GRAMMY Museum to historic Downtown Cleveland less than a mile away - encompassing forty-two works from artists all over the country.

In addition to outstanding facilities, we are proud of the low student-to-teacher ratio maintained in our department. Students seeking a hands-on experience with significant interaction from instructors are well-suited to our program. Degrees with concentrations in painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, graphic design, digital media arts, animation, and art education are offered.


Open Date: 05/20/2021

Close Date:

Open Until Filled: Yes

To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: Click Here

Delta State University is committed to a policy of equal employment and educational opportunity. Delta State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. This policy extends to all programs and activities supported by the University.

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