Assistant Professor of Art History: History of Photography

The University of New Mexico•Albuquerque, NM

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The University of New Mexico’s Department of Art is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor specializing in the History of Photography. The appointment is scheduled to begin in Fall 2027, with a teaching load of two courses per semester. The successful candidate will bring scholarship that employs current methods and critical theories in the History of Photography and Art History, and maintain a robust research and publication agenda. The position includes teaching lower- and upper-division undergraduate courses, graduate-level courses in the History of Photography, and lower-division general-service survey courses as needed. The professor will serve on B.A. and B.F.A. Honors, M.A., M.F.A., and Ph.D. committees in the department and potentially in other university departments, and advise M.A. and Ph.D. students specializing in the History of Photography. The role also entails service to the Art History area, department, college, and university. A secondary specialization that expands the department’s engagement with global contexts and complements existing Art History programs is preferred. The department has a distinguished history of appointing photo historians and holds a premier collection of works spanning the history of photography. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate interest in collaborating with the UNM Art Museum; potential projects include curriculum development, student engagement programming, exhibitions, and collecting strategy. The Art History program is part of the Department of Art, alongside Studio Art and Art Education, in the College of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico. UNM is a Research 1 state university with more than 3,000 faculty members and approximately 25,000 students, and has a Carnegie Community Engagement designation. The university is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a city of approximately 600,000 people. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in the History of Art with a specialization in the History of Photography by the time of appointment and have experience teaching undergraduate and/or graduate Art History or a related discipline as instructor of record. Preferred qualifications include an active research and scholarship program appropriate to career stage; knowledge of critical theory and current methodologies; ability to teach undergraduate courses, graduate seminars, and introductory Art History; ability to advise and direct graduate work and undergraduate theses; ability to teach the history of digital and new media; interest in collaboration with the UNM Art Museum; and commitment to understanding New Mexico’s diverse cultures and serving local and global communities. Applications must be submitted through the official UNMJobs site. Required materials include a letter of application, teaching statement, up to two course syllabi, CV, writing samples totaling no more than 40 pages, unofficial academic transcripts, and complete contact information for three references. Official transcripts confirming the Ph.D. will be required upon appointment. The position remains open until filled; the posting gives differing best-consideration dates of January 1, 2027, in the application instructions and December 1, 2026, in the closing section.

Requirements

Ph.D. in the History of Art with a specialization in the History of Photography by the time of appointment.
Evidence of teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in Art History or a related discipline as instructor of record.

Nice To Haves

Evidence of an active program of research and scholarship in the History of Photography appropriate to the candidate’s career stage.
Knowledge and application of the history of critical theory in Art History and the History of Photography, as well as knowledge of current methodologies.
Ability to teach undergraduate courses and graduate seminars in the History of Photography and introductory Art History courses.
Ability to advise and direct graduate work and undergraduate theses.
Ability to teach the history of digital and new media.
Demonstrated interest in collaboration with the UNM Art Museum.
Commitment to cultivating an understanding of the rich and varied cultures of New Mexico and to serving local and global communities.
A secondary area of specialization that expands the department’s engagement with global contexts and complements existing Art History programs.

Responsibilities

Teach lower- and upper-division undergraduate courses in the History of Photography.
Teach graduate-level courses in the History of Photography.
Teach lower-division general-service survey courses in the department as needed.
Serve on B.A. and B.F.A. Honors, M.A., M.F.A., and Ph.D. committees in the department and potentially in other university departments.
Advise M.A. and Ph.D. students specializing in the History of Photography.
Maintain a robust research and publication agenda.
Provide service to the Art History area, department, college, and university.
Potentially collaborate with the UNM Art Museum on curriculum development, student engagement programming, exhibition development, or collecting strategy.