Assistant Professor of Art

Overview

The Department of Art at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is accepting applications for three tenure-track faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin in August 2026. We especially welcome candidates with expertise in Art History, Ceramics, or Drawing, and encourage applications from those working in closely related areas of the visual arts. One selected candidate will also be named the Talbot-Sage Professor of Art, a three-year appointment with dedicated funding for creative activity and professional development.

Join a collaborative department where you’ll help shape the future of art education while advancing your own artistic or scholarly practice. The Department has 118 art majors pursuing BA and BFA degrees in six areas of study, and offers a one-year certificate in Graphic Design and a Minor in Art. Our mission is to empower students to use their creative abilities to make a difference in our community through a comprehensive multi-studio approach that encourages innovative thinking, strengthens creativity and technical ability, and develops broad knowledge of historic and contemporary art and design.

This position is located on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus in Anchorage, AK. It is a full-time, 9-month base, tenure-track faculty appointment with a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides retirement options, faculty time off, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and comprehensive health coverage. Salaries are based on education and experience.

• Demonstrate a commitment to student-centered teaching that supports the success of all students.
• Maintain a strong foundation in fine arts pedagogy and teach a range of courses in the candidate’s area of specialization.
• Communicate clearly in written, verbal, and visual form to support instruction, critique, and collaboration.
• Develop and deliver engaging, well-structured curriculum, including foundational and advanced-level courses.
• Engage in ongoing professional development in teaching, creative/scholarly work, and service.

• Terminal degree in a relevant field by the time of appointment:
  Ph.D. in Art History or related field for Art History applicants; MFA in the appropriate field for studio applicants.
• Demonstrated potential for ongoing scholarly or creative achievement and evidence of teaching effectiveness appropriate to appointment at the rank of assistant professor.

• Specialization in Art History, Ceramics, or Drawing.
• Ability to teach courses in Alaska Native Art, graphic design, and/or digital media.
• Experience teaching at introductory and advanced undergraduate levels, in both face-to-face and online formats.
• Experience with program coordination, studio management, or exhibition curation related to the candidate’s area of expertise.
• Active involvement in community engagement and outreach related to their specialty.

Review of applications will begin on 09/01/2025 and will continue on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified. The search and selection procedures will close when a sufficient and viable number of qualified candidates have been identified.

Please attach the following to your application:
Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae, Statement of Teaching Philosophy, and a Creative Portfolio (as a single PDF) including:

• An artist’s or curator’s statement appropriate to your specialization
• 10 to 15 images of creative or curatorial work
• Any additional evidence of creative expertise (links to exhibits, etc.)
• Contact information for three professional references

Further information about job responsibilities is available via the application portal.

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Search Committee Co-Chair at kaogilvie.

This position is represented by United Academics – AAUP/AFT (UNAC).

The University of Alaska is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution. The university is committed to a policy of non-discrimination on any legally protected status.

Final notes:
The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. All applications are subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act. All University of Alaska employees are expected to uphold high standards of ethics and professionalism.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports are available online and in paper form at designated campus locations. See the UA safety resources pages for details.