Director of Foundations, School of Art & Design

Alfred University School of Art & Design invites applications for Director of Foundations. Appointment to begin August 2022.

The establishment of the new Director of Foundation position will provide focused leadership within the arts in addition to initiating broader programmatic strategies. The position offers a unique opportunity for a motivated individual with vision to work collaboratively with arts faculty to generate a measurable and decidedly positive impact. This newly created role will cultivate a first-year arts experience that is robust, relates to the character and legacy of our programs while also sustaining a focus on the future- the next generation of culture creators. The Foundations experience at Alfred has historically been one that emphasized a progressive educational approach. We value experimentation, problem solving, critical thinking, written and verbal communication skills, collaboration, idea generation, and a wide array of skills (digital, hand, embodied). The program builds confidence while introducing students to being a university student, creative opportunities, and ways of working/thinking/knowing as they begin developing their individual voice through a fundamental understanding of the elements and principles of art and design while introducing them to diverse media and creative processes.

We seek a highly energetic, creative, organized, and collaborative leader with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary art and design practice, as well a passion for Foundations. We value and promote the incorporation of both traditional and emerging technologies and teaching practices that provide our students with stimulating learning experiences that are relevant and essential for their success, confidence, and ability to pursue their passions. The successful candidate will thrive in a creative community through a multi-disciplinary approach to teaching arts & design fundamentals and student programming to support an inclusive, diverse, and multicultural student population.

We seek candidates with a demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of diverse communities and related pedagogical approaches. Diversity is highly valued at Alfred University including a broad range of ability, age, gender, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic and academic experience, and veteran status. The successful candidate will have demonstrated an overall commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity including the ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

The Director of Foundations position is a twelve-month staff position with an initial three-year contract. The Director will report directly to the dean, work closely with the Associate Dean, the Division leadership, faculty committee, and support staff. The Director will teach three courses a year including Foundations and a summer term or portfolio course. As a key member of academic leadership, the Director will serve on the Curriculum & Teaching Committee, Portfolio Review Committee, the Division Head Committee, and support MFA teaching assistants within Foundations. They will support efforts to hire part-time faculty as needed and oversee their mentoring and review.

Duties

The successful candidate will manage the Foundations Program, implement innovative, inspirational, and sustainable curriculum developed with faculty through initially working with a task force and then a formal committee, supervise other instructors, manage budget, oversee scheduling, facilities, appropriate resources, record keeping, provide program assessment and manage the daily operations. The Director will work closely with enrollment management, the university wide First Year Experience Program, and the Dean’s office on recruitment and retention efforts including but not limited to Scholastic Art Awards, recruitment events, orientation, and special programming.

Minimum Qualifications

• Terminal degree in art and/or design or related or professional experience equivalent.
• Knowledge of skills and practices across multiple disciplines.
• Demonstrable experience in academic leadership.
• A creative research practice and record at the national level.

• A history of interdisciplinary program development

• Two years of demonstrated teaching success in Foundations.
• Experience with strategic planning, budget, facilities, personnel, and assessment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead an innovative Foundations Studio program.
• Demonstrated ability in collaborative curriculum development

• Familiarity with the scholarly discourse on Foundation theory and practices in teaching and learning
• Demonstrated personnel management.
• Experience with on-line course delivery models

Additional Information for Applicants

To ensure full consideration please apply by April 15, 2022. However, applications will be received until the position is filled.

Please upload the following documents when completing your application:

• Letter of interest
• Curriculum Vitae
• Sample syllabi
• Contact information for 3 references (email and phone).
• Submit a link to professional website or provide 20 work samples in a single PDF.
• Submit a link to student work samples or provide a minimum of 20 work samples in a single PDF.
• Statement of teaching and leadership philosophy.
• Diversity statement that describes your effectiveness in promoting inclusive excellence among diverse populations in teaching, research, and/or practice.

*All PDFs must be 10MB or less*

About Alfred University
One of the first co-educational institutions in the United States, Alfred University is a top-­ranked, small, comprehensive university committed to both teaching and research, and is devoted to the pursuit of technical expertise, artistic creativity, and humanistic learning. Located in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in western New York State, Alfred University has a current enrollment of around 1800 full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students, and 150 full­time faculty.

The School of Art and Design at Alfred University is an accredited member of NASAD, with 35 full­time faculty serving more than 500 students. The school is unique among institutions of higher education, with an open curriculum, allowing a robust and diverse experience in studio art, design, and art history courses. Students and faculty alike thrive in an intensive and supportive learning environment. School of Art and Design students are fully integrated into Alfred University's community of 2000 students. The New York State College of Ceramics (NYSCC) includes the School of Art and Design, the lnamori School of Engineering, and Scholes Library. The NYSCC was established in 1900 to advance research in art, design, and engineering. That intellectual and creative legacy exists in all the areas of study in the School of Art and Design.

Questions: Lauren Lake, Dean / lakel@alfred.edu / 607-871-2946

Alfred University actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee, student or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Protected veterans, minorities and women are encouraged to apply.