Assistant/Associate Professor, Contemporary Art History (1980-present, open geographic focus)

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign•Urbana, IL

17d•Onsite

About The Position

The Art History Program in the School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, specializing in contemporary art from 1980 to the present, with an open geographic focus. The successful candidate will maintain an active research program and teach undergraduate and graduate courses on contemporary art with a global perspective, introductory courses in art history and visual culture, and upper-level seminars in their areas of expertise. The program prioritizes candidates whose work expands its methodological and geographic scope, and welcomes candidates whose research includes curatorial practice. Responsibilities include a 2/2 teaching load, mentoring students at all levels, supervising Ph.D. dissertations and M.A. theses, and contributing to the vitality and administration of the program, school, and university. The Art History Program offers B.A., B.F.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees and collaborates with studio-art, design, and art-education programs, museums, and interdisciplinary campus units. The successful candidate must hold a Ph.D. in Art History or a related field by the start of the appointment, have an active and innovative research program, demonstrate the capacity to teach contemporary art to art-history, studio-art, and design students, and mentor M.A. and Ph.D. students in art history. Candidates applying at the Associate level should have a strong publication record and ongoing research program. The appointment is for nine months, paid over 12 months, with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2027. The position is eligible for work-authorization sponsorship, except for a new H1B petition that would incur the $100,000 fee.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Art History or a related field by the start of the appointment.
An active and innovative research program.
Demonstrated capacity to teach contemporary art courses for art-history, studio-art, and design students.
Capacity to mentor M.A. and Ph.D. students in art history.
For candidates applying at the Associate level: a strong record of publication and an ongoing research program.

Nice To Haves

Research and teaching expertise that expands the program’s methodological and geographic scope.
Engagement with topics such as gender and sexuality, queer and trans theory, race, postcoloniality, decoloniality, diaspora, migration, Indigeneity, and ecology.
Research that includes curatorial practice.
Demonstrable commitments to equity and social justice through teaching, research, and/or community engagement, and a reflective approach to inclusion and anti-racism.
Experience working with under-represented and underserved communities and traditions.

Responsibilities

Maintain an active research program.
Teach undergraduate and graduate courses on contemporary art with a global perspective.
Teach introductory courses in art history and visual culture and upper-level seminars in areas of expertise.
Carry a 2/2 teaching load (two courses per semester).
Mentor students at all levels.
Supervise Ph.D. dissertations and M.A. theses.
Contribute to the vitality and administration of the program, school, and university.