Chair, Department of Art & Art History

Chair, Department of Art & Art History

Position: The University of Mississippi, a National Association of Schools of Art & Design accredited institution, invites applications for Chair of the Department of Art & Art History in the College of Liberal Arts. This is a tenured, full­time, 12-month administrative faculty position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

We welcome candidates in any discipline of studio art practice, art history, or related fields. Candidates for the position must have earned a doctoral, MFA, or other terminal degree, or equivalent, and have a track record and experience commensurate with a tenured appointment at the rank of associate professor or professor in the Department of Art & Art History at the time of appointment. Candidates will be asked to articulate an innovative vision for the future and growth of the department that values forward thinking, critical inquiry, creativity, access, and inclusion.
The successful candidate must have:

• A track record and experience commensurate with appointment as an Associate or Full Professor within the College of Liberal Arts
  
• A record of outstanding teaching; research and/or creative activity; and administrative service
  
• A commitment to the recruitment and mentorship of faculty, staff, and students
  
• Dedication to graduate and undergraduate training
  
• Knowledge of broad curricular and academic issues in the field
  
• A strong vision for the department that includes collaborations within the department as well as across departments on campus
  
• The ability to demonstrate interpersonal and leadership skills.

Responsibilities: The chair supports departmental faculty and staff in their academic, research, creative, and service activities. The chair will assume administrative responsibility for directing the department's faculty/staff hiring, annual reviews, budgeting, course planning, curriculum, and other academic duties; be committed to the professional development of faculty, staff, and students; and foster collaborations within the Department and with other appropriate campus and community units. The chair is responsible for teaching one course per semester. We seek applicants committed to access and inclusion in higher education. Charged with building these important relationships, the chair will work with a wide range of constituencies.

Application: Our Department recognizes and is committed to the importance of fostering a welcoming environment for all in teaching, research, and service and maintains an enthusiasm for making the most of the opportunities to promote inclusivity in our Department, our academic field, and the broader community. Our Departmental goals are supported by the larger mission and strategic commitment to access and opportunity at the University of Mississippi and in the College of Liberal Arts. You may submit confidential nominations and applications directly to our search consultants at Buffkin/Baker by emailing Martin Baker and Dinah DeWitt atumaahchair@buffkinbaker.com.

Applications should include:

• Cover letter that includes a discussion of research and/or artistic achievements; leadership and administrative experience and accomplishments; and work with access and inclusion initiatives
  
• Current curriculum vitae
  
• List of five references with names, titles, and contact information. References may be contacted at any stage of the search.

Application deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately, but all applications received by January 6, 2025 will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled or an adequate candidate pool is reached.

About the Department, University, and Region: The Department of Art & Art History is committed to fostering students' creativity through the development of critical-thinking skills combined with intellectual inquiry. With a focus on academic excellence, creative exploration, and scholarly investigation, our students and faculty learn, evaluate, and exchange their knowledge of art history, art, and design, in an inclusive environment. Students experience a range of perspectives that prepare them for real-world practice in today's complex world. As a community of artists and scholars we strive to be engaged global citizens as a means to propose and build new visions for the future, while examining expectations of being human in the 21st century. The department currently enrolls 130 majors with 21 full time faculty and offers a BA and BFA in Studio Art, BA in Art History, and MFA in Studio Art.

The University of Mississippi, the state's flagship university, is also its largest, with a student body of approximately 24,710 students, including 20% students of color and students from over 80 countries. UM is ranked among the nation's fastest-growing institutions and has been consistently recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The university has an R-1 Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification. The university recently launched its new strategic initiative, EmpowerNow.

Mississippi provides a rich environment for creativity and research. The university is located in Oxford, home to a vibrant literary and arts scene, about an hour south of Memphis and three hours north of Jackson, MS. Each year the community hosts the Oxford Film Festival, the Double Decker Music Festival, and the Oxford Blues Festival, among other gatherings, and UM sponsors the Oxford Conference for the Book and a yearlong performing arts series at the Gertrude C. Ford Center among its many cultural events.

• UM Department of Art and Art History: https://art.olemiss.edu/
  
• UM Department of Art and Art History Flickr Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/umartdept/
  
• UM University Museums: https://museum.olemiss.edu/
  
• Visit Oxford: https://visitoxfordms.com/
  
• Yoknapatawpha Arts Council: https://oxfordarts.com/
  
• Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce: https://oxfordms.com/chamber-of-commerce/

The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons. The University of Mississippi embraces a meaningful and holistic commitment to complying with relevant laws and non-discrimination provisions, and in doing so, to advance access and fair treatment for all in a welcoming environment. The University of Mississippi is committed to embracing a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive community that does not discriminate, harass, or treat individuals differently based on their identities including on the basis of race, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or genetic information.

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