Tenure-Track Assistant Professor – Illustration

Founded in 1873, having celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (Mass Art), is the nation’s first and only independent, free-standing public college of art and design in the country. Mass Art is an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, makers, educators, innovators and leaders striving to shape the future through art and design. We’ve spent 150 years demonstrating the truly amazing things that happen when a world‑class art and design education is an option for every deserving student.

Located in Boston’s hub of arts and culture along the Avenue of the Arts, Mass Art enrolls 2,000 students and offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in 18 disciplines, as well as continuing education and youth programs.

Mass Art strives to be a model of diversity and inclusion; the campus community reflects the layers of cultural and self‑identity that proudly make up our region, nation, and world. We build effective partnerships with co‑workers throughout the College by freely sharing appropriate information and providing assistance to all and maintain an environment that is welcoming to persons of all backgrounds, nationalities, and roles.

Salary: $68,000 – $75,000 commensurate with experience.

Collective Bargaining Agreement:
This position is governed by the MSCA bargaining agreement

Hours:

37.5

The Illustration Department at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design invites applications for a full‑time, tenure‑track faculty position at the level of Assistant Professor.

We seek a devoted artist educator, with an active multidisciplinary studio practice, proficient in both traditional and digital media, with first‑hand knowledge of the evolving field of illustration and the ability to teach across a broad curriculum – from foundational skill‑building courses to innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.

The ideal candidate should have proven teaching experience, a thriving studio practice demonstrating a diverse skill set, and the capacity to engage students critically while supporting their artistic growth. They should be experienced in course development and assessment, capable of teaching at all levels within the department, and committed to working effectively with a diverse student body. Additionally, the candidate should be prepared to provide academic advising, contribute to the department’s ongoing growth and vision, participate in various departmental activities and demonstrate potential for future leadership.

Historically, illustrators were most often commissioned to create artwork to enhance and appear alongside the written word. Today, however, the boundaries of illustration are blurred, encompassing a vast range of forms and purposes. Mass Art’s Illustration Department embraces this ever changing evolution by fostering a multidisciplinary approach to visual expression and communication that ranges from traditional to digital media to static to interactive to 2D to 3D.

While the power of an illustrator remains grounded in a foundational ability to draw from observation, it is through this foundation that students cultivate their unique personal voice to create compelling images that communicate ideas and unforgettable stories. At Mass Art, “we believe in the power of art, creativity, and self exchange to drive meaningful change and transform our world.”

• MFA or equivalent terminal degree from accredited university
• Demonstrated minimum of 3+ years professional experience across diverse illustration and/or related fields
• Demonstrated minimum of 3+ years full time college‑level teaching experience across all levels of undergraduate illustration courses
• Examples of pedagogical approaches that align with the institution’s mission and values, along with evidence of effective and inclusive teaching that highly values a diverse student body.

• Experience in communication design, and/or skills in related fields, such as animation/time‑based, printmaking, graphic design, sequential art, game design, and/or other multi‑disciplinary approaches to…