Director, School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) at Oregon State University (OSU) seeks an experienced, visionary academic leader to serve as the Director of the School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts (SVPDA).

The School, one of seven in CLA, is the home of the University’s programs in Art, Music, Theatre, and Graphic Design, which offer an array of studio, workshop, history, and theory courses. The School also presents arts content to the campus and region in the form of performances, gallery exhibitions, lectures, and other events. The Director of the School leads the faculty and staff; supervises the development and maintenance of new and established academic programs; serves as budget authority and chief administrative officer; works with the OSU Foundation to develop and maintain the School’s relationships with alums and supporters; and acts as an advocate for the School and the arts at the institutional, regional, and national levels.

It is a pivotal, transformational moment for the arts at Oregon State University. For one, the School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts has only just been created as a standalone academic unit; until spring of 2021, a larger entity – the School of Arts and Communication – housed the arts programs. The evolution of the School into a standalone entity brings focus to the mission and was intended to galvanize discipline-specific innovation. For two, construction has begun on a new $70M arts facility, the Arts and Education Complex (AEC), featuring a 500-seat recital hall, new black box theatre, 3000-square-foot gallery, outdoor stage, and a variety of other spaces for arts display and presentation. The Arts and Education Complex has its own Director and administrative structure, but the visibility of the facility and the operational, programming, and experiential learning relationships expected between the AEC and SVPDA are part of an institutional strategy to elevate the arts to a new level of prominence at Oregon State University. The new Director of SVPDA will be expected to work closely with AEC administration to realize the vision of transforming OSU from a STEM-identified to a STEAM-identified University. Finally, historic Fairbanks Hall, the campus home of Studio Art and Art History, is undergoing a top-to-bottom renovation that brings visionary new concepts to teaching and studio spaces, modern facilities for collections storage, and new art galleries to the School. 

SVPDA offers an Art Major with options in Studio Art (BFA, BA or BS), Photography and Digital Studio (BFA, BA or BS), and Art History (BA or BS), Major in Graphic Design (BFA), Music (BA, BS, or BM), and Theatre Arts (BA or BS). The School also offers a range of Minors, including those in the programs in which there are also Majors as well as standalone programs in Music Performance, Popular Music, Guitar. Additionally, the School is a key partner in the development, now underway, of a degree in Engineering for Design and Society, a collaboration with the College of Engineering. Oregon State University and the College of Liberal Arts in particular have achieved national distinction in Ecampus education – including a recent #1 ranking for the College as Best Online Liberal Arts College – and the portfolio of SVPDA involves both in-person and Ecampus offerings.  

Potential applicants consulting the website should be aware that, while the formal reorganization of the School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts has just been completed, a unique website for the School is still under construction and the School’s operations continue to appear as part of the School of Arts and Communication.

Qualifications and Characteristics

The SVPDA Director will possess innovation, energy, integrity, and facility with budget management and administrative decision-making in a complex, multidisciplinary environment. The Director will bring the personal qualities and professional profile to inspire and lead.

Required Qualifications:

Terminal degree in one of the disciplines represented within the School, or in a related field

A record of professional accomplishments that merits a tenured appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at OSU

Leadership and administrative experience

Knowledge of and experience in academic systems, including curriculum, program evaluation, and assessment

A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion

 Preferred Qualifications

Skills and understanding to manage a complex budget

Demonstrable record of practicing, fostering, and promoting outstanding research, creative activity, teaching, advising, and/or mentoring

Demonstrable record of leading collaborative decision making

 Successful record of fundraising, alumni relations, and/or grant funding

Experience with online education, precollege programs, and/or arts events

 Experience with undergraduate and graduate recruitment

Inquiries and Applications

Nominations and expressions of interest are welcome. Contact Dr. Peter Betjemann, Patricia Valian Reser Director of Arts and Education, Search Chair, at peter.betjemann@oregonstate.edu

Applications will include:

1. A letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position

Candidates who are advanced in the selection process may be asked to provide additional materials.

Please submit your materials at https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/110006. Strict

confidentiality will be maintained, and references will not be contacted without permission.

Submit application materials no later than January 14, 2022 for full consideration. The position will

remain open until a new director is appointed.

OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members

of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans,

LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve its vision of a

diverse and inclusive community.