Assistant Professor, Graphic Design

Overview

Job no: 497835

Work type: Faculty 9-Month

Location: Jacksonville, AL (Main Campus)

Categories: Faculty

Jacksonville State University
Professor of Art, Graphic Design
Named Alabama's #1 employer for 2025 by Forbes Magazine! Read more here!

Jacksonville State University is seeking applicants for a tenure-track position in Visual Communication/Graphic Design at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor. The selected candidate will be expected to teach a 3/3 load at all levels of visual communication design from undergraduate to graduate, fully engage in departmental duties, committee work, campus activities, and scholarship/creative activity.

The Department of Art + Design at Jacksonville State University, is accredited by NASAD, and offers an MFA in Visual Communication Design and a BFA degrees in Studio Art with concentrations in Ceramics, Illustration, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, and Printmaking. The department also offers a BA in Art History and Art Minors in Studio Art, Photography, and Art History.

The Visual Communication/Graphic Design program at JSU is competitive, and fosters a culture of passion, craftsmanship, and an atmosphere of play. Both graduate and undergraduate design students are winning regional, national, and international awards.

Teaching requires time with students in the studio and labs. Candidates should be able to prepare and present assignments and evaluate students’ work in progress. A successful candidate should be available for advising and mentoring students during office hours and as needed. Candidates should be able to move between art buildings and administrative buildings on campus for meetings.

Successful candidates must demonstrate a broad understanding of contemporary design practice and theory, as well as proficiency with current industry-standard software. They should show mastery of formal design principles, typography, and layout in both their own work and their students’ work.

This position requires an MFA or MDes from a regionally accredited institution in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or similar design degree.

Experience using current Adobe Creative Suite is required.

To demonstrate a record of professional and creative accomplishment, creative work samples are required to be submitted in a digital portfolio. Submission of 20 samples of creative work in pdf or URL format, and 20 samples of students  work in pdf or URL format are required. Send pdf or URL to blafferty. If samples of student work are unavailable, please explain in the cover letter.

Application must be made online at with a curriculum vita, research statement, teaching philosophy, cover letter, and unofficial copies of transcripts.

Review of applications will begin November 17, 2025, with on-campus interviews beginning in January 2026.

The position has an anticipated start date of August 1, 2026.

Located in the Appalachian foothills of northeast Alabama, midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State is home to more than 10,300 students representing 63 countries. As a learning-centered university, it strives to challenge students academically in a responsive environment, meeting their educational, career and personal goals. As an academic institution, it seeks to produce broadly educated graduates prepared for global engagement.

As a public, comprehensive university, it promotes excellence in scholarly and service activities consistent with its academic and professional strengths. For a complete list of Goals, Core Values and Strategies to fulfill this Mission, go to the JSU Strategic Plan home page.

Academically Jax State offers 113 academic programs and concentrations, including bachelor s, master s, post-baccalaureate, doctoral and advanced certificate programs in a variety of disciplines that prepare graduates for meaningful careers and ongoing education. More than 40 online programs are offered. The University features six colleges on its 459-acre campus – Arts, Humanities and Sciences;
Business and Industry;
Education and Professional Studies;
…