Assistant Professor, Visual Art of the African Diaspora

The School of Visual Art and Design and the African American Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Carolina invite applications for a full-time, tenure-track position that is jointly appointed in Art History and African American Studies, to commence August 16, 2022 at the rank of Assistant Professor. We seek candidates who demonstrate excellence and creativity in research that explores connections among the visual arts of African-descended peoples that extend beyond geopolitical boundaries. This includes specializations in diasporic art, architecture, and/or material culture of the Americas and the Caribbean. The position would be open to qualified candidates working in any genre or period; candidates who engage in comparative methods and interdisciplinarity in teaching and research are desired. The tenure home is the Art History program in the School of Visual Art and Design. The successful candidate must have their Ph.D. in hand by August 15, 2022.

The position is a joint appointment between two academic units, thus will teach, develop, and potentially collaborate on new and existing courses within Art History and African American Studies on a 2/2 load (two Art History and two African American Studies courses per year). New courses would broaden and enhance existing offerings in Art History and contribute to arts and humanities course offerings in the African American Studies undergraduate degree program. Existing courses in Art History include survey courses that are core to the Art History undergraduate degree and the Carolina Core, special topics at the intermediate level, and topic seminars that include graduate students. In African American Studies, the applicant hired for this position would occasionally be asked to teach AFAM 202, Introduction to African American Studies: Arts and Cultural Foundations, in addition to developing courses for African American Studies in the faculty member’s area of specialization.There are opportunities to mentor and supervise undergraduate research and the expectation to serve on master’s thesis committees in the School of Visual Art and Design.

The School of Visual Art and Design is a unit within the College of Arts and Sciences comprised of four distinct program areas—Art History, Art Education, Studio Art, and Media Arts. There are currently 7 full-time tenured/tenure-track faculty members in the Art History program, which offers an undergraduate major and minor and a terminal master’s degree. Current faculty concentrate in early modern to contemporary areas, including the art, film, architecture, and museum and historic preservation practices of Europe, Asia, and North America. The program is developing new opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in museum studies to broaden the application of skills developed in the Art History major. The building that houses the School of Visual Art and Design features McMaster Gallery, which hosts visiting artists from the Columbia community and beyond and fosters student artists. The School has space in Stormwater Studios, a work and exhibition space for students, faculty, and visiting artists in downtown Columbia.

The African American Studies Program is a vibrant interdisciplinary unit that centers the academic study of Black experiences, histories, and cultures at UofSC. Now in its 50th year on campus, the program offers a B.A. degree and an undergraduate minor, as well as cross-listed courses that are available to graduate students. The curriculum is led by award-winning core faculty with coursework across the humanities and social sciences, including specializations in African American literature, poetry, and comics, Black activism and political thought, Gospel music, modern dance, criminal justice, psychology, and anthropology of the African diaspora. In addition, the program houses the Institute for African American Research that facilitates scholarly initiatives and supports the intellectual life at the University.

UofSC offers faculty and resources to support teaching, research, and collaboration on topics in diasporic studies, with a special focus on South Carolina’s particularly rich history, culture, and connections across the Atlantic world. Highlights include the McKissick Museum and South Caroliniana Library, which collect, steward, exhibit, and research the history, natural resources, and culture of the region. The History Center, Institute of Southern Studies, and the newly launched Humanities Collaborative also offer programming and opportunities for collaboration with faculty across the humanities. There are resources to support faculty and student collaborative research and for students to pursue independent research under the supervision of faculty. These include the Magellan Scholar program, Capstone Scholars/Fellows, the Honors College, and Maxcy and Preston communities. The Walker Institute includes African Studies, Latin American Studies, and Global Studies and offers academic and community programing and research resources. The Center for Teaching Excellence supports faculty in developing new courses and pedagogical practices.

The city of Columbia offers a growing arts community that includes spaces and resources for contemporary art, historic preservation, performance, film, and museums. This includes the 701 Center for Contemporary Art, the Columbia Museum of Art, One Columbia, Historic Columbia, Trustus Theater and the Nickelodeon Theater, among many others.

Candidates should apply to https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/106940 with the following:

• Letter of interest
• Curriculum Vitae that includes dissertation title and major/minor areas of specialization
• Names and contact information of three references
• A writing/research and/or publication sample (up to 40 pages)

Review of applications will begin November 15 and continue until the position is filled. Please contact Dr. Andrew Graciano (graciano@mailbox.sc.edu) if you have any questions.

The School of Visual Art and Design, http://artsandsciences.sc.edu/art/, employs 37 full-time faculty members who teach courses for over 650 majors. The School, which is accredited with NASAD and NCATE, offers BA, BFA, MA, MAT, and MFA degrees. The University of South Carolina System (www.sc.edu) is comprised of the state's flagship university in Columbia, three regional comprehensive universities (USC Aiken, USC Beaufort and USC Upstate), and Palmetto College consisting of four two-year campuses (USC Lancaster, USC Salkehatchie, USC Sumter, USC Union, and Fort Jackson/Extended University). Together, the USC System institutions offer more than 450 degree programs on campus and online and are uniquely positioned to meet the state's educational, cultural, health and research needs. The System employs nearly 14,000 people who work daily to improve the lives of students, fellow South Carolinians and the world. Our diverse and engaged faculty and staff enjoy a dynamic and intellectually stimulating work environment.

The University of South Carolina is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.