Assistant/Associate Professor, Graphic Design
About The Position
Radford University’s Department of Art seeks two full-time, nine-month, tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professors of Graphic Design, beginning August 2027. Rank will depend on qualifications and years of service. The successful candidates will join a collaborative faculty and help shape the future of the graphic design curriculum. The program’s foundation includes drawing, design theory, 2D/3D design, and typography, with advanced coursework in areas such as interactive design, UI/UX, motion graphics, brand identity, publication design, packaging, illustration, and image-making. The department seeks broadly trained designer-educators grounded in graphic design fundamentals and proficient in one or more emerging areas. Their work should balance innovation with attention to design history, theory, craft, accessibility, and ethical practice, and may span media, disciplines, communities, and technologies. The role includes teaching undergraduate and graduate graphic design courses, contributing to critiques and portfolio reviews, mentoring and advising students, and supporting internships, professional practice, and career preparation. The faculty member will contribute to curriculum assessment and development, shared oversight of design labs and resources, recruitment and retention, program visibility, and partnerships with professional, campus, and community organizations. The position also contributes to the future direction of the graphic design program and the digital arts and illustration curriculum. As a tenure-track faculty member, the successful candidate will be evaluated in teaching, scholarship, and service and is expected to contribute to a collegial, ambitious, student-centered department culture. The NASAD-accredited Department of Art offers BFA, BS, BA, and MFA degrees across graphic design, digital arts and illustration, studio art, art education, and art history and museum studies. The department serves more than 200 majors and contributes to university and regional cultural life through an artist-in-residence program, visiting artist series, and exhibitions. The Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity is a 178,000-square-foot interdisciplinary facility with design and digital labs, studios, makerspaces, performance venues, training suites, and classrooms.
Requirements
- A terminal degree, such as an MFA, in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution, completed by the start date.
- College-level teaching experience in graphic design, visual communication, or a closely related discipline.
- A portfolio demonstrating strong design foundations and engagement with contemporary practices across digital and/or physical media.
Nice To Haves
- A record of effective college-level teaching and mentoring, supported by examples of student work and achievement.
- Ability to teach students with varied backgrounds and levels of preparation, from beginner through graduate level.
- Professional industry experience in graphic design, visual communication design, or a related discipline.
- Evidence of creative scholarship, professional practice, and/or research.
- Expertise in one or more emerging areas such as interaction and UX/UI design, motion and time-based media, information and data visualization, web design, computational or generative design, immersive media, environmental or experiential graphics, or illustration.
- Ability to integrate new technologies, including AI-enabled tools, critically and ethically into design pedagogy.
- Experience with curriculum development, program assessment, accreditation, and/or program building.
- Experience supporting internships, portfolio development, client- or community-engaged projects, and students’ transition into professional practice or graduate study.
- Evidence of interdisciplinary collaboration and ability to build partnerships across the university, profession, and community.
- Evidence of university and/or professional service.
Responsibilities
- Teach undergraduate and graduate graphic design courses.
- Contribute to programmatic critiques and portfolio reviews.
- Mentor and advise students.
- Support internships, professional practices, and student career preparation.
- Contribute to the future direction of the graphic design program and the digital arts and illustration curriculum.
- Participate in curricular assessment and development.
- Share oversight of design labs and resources.
- Contribute to recruitment and retention and increase program visibility.
- Cultivate professional, campus, and community partnerships.
- Contribute to teaching, scholarship, and service as a tenure-track faculty member.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
