Continuing Education Illustration Instructor, Pre-College Online

Rhode Island School of Design • Providence, RI

7d • Remote

About The Position

RISD Continuing Education seeks an Illustration Instructor for the summer of 2027 to teach in RISD Pre-College Online, a five-week immersive art and design program for students in grades 10–12 or the equivalent. The program offers intensive, collegiate-level courses to students from around the world, with an emphasis on foundational work that develops creative observation, experimentation, interpretation, critical thinking, and making skills. Students have varied levels of prior training and may create work for college applications; they can also consult instructors and teaching assistants about college and career options and attend portfolio reviews hosted by RISD Admissions.

The instructor will teach and support student learning in keeping with RISD Continuing Education’s learning-centered values and commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and equity. Successful candidates are accomplished teaching artists with ongoing studio practices who can nurture students’ interests, maintain high expectations, and support student success. Instructors use approaches such as lectures and demonstrations, connect course content with young people’s interests, lived experiences, and current events, and lead culturally responsive, inclusive learning environments.

Courses meet once per week for a three-hour live online session, with six hours of live sessions per week overall. Students are expected to spend about seven hours per week on assignments for each course and approximately 20 hours per week on the program. The instructor should be prepared to teach asynchronously to a diverse student group through online content development, including recorded video demonstrations and/or lectures. The work modality is remote and asynchronous. The term runs from June 21, 2027, to July 28, 2027.

Applicants must submit a link to a professional portfolio and student work samples, a sample assignment and/or teaching philosophy, and a statement of interest or cover letter indicating the course(s) they wish to teach. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The successful candidate must meet pre-employment background screening requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Teaching experience in a collegiate and/or high school setting.
• Ability to meet RISD’s technology requirements.
• Experience developing courses that challenge students creatively and intellectually while maintaining age-appropriate pedagogy.
• Demonstrated ability to generate high-caliber student work.
• Ability to keep students engaged throughout full-day studio courses.
• Experience leading classes and critiques that model constructive, inclusive discussions in an environment of diverse learners.
• Ability to tailor instruction to meet the needs of students with a wide range of pre-existing skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in Illustration.
• Ongoing professional creative practice.
• Proficiency with online collaborative tools such as Google Suite.
• Proficiency with learning management systems such as Canvas.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to contribute to RISD’s strategic priorities of just societies, sustainability, and creating new knowledge.
• Experience developing inclusive curriculum that centers artists of historically underrepresented backgrounds.
• Interest in collaborative curriculum planning.
• Ability to keep students engaged in three-hour online class meetings and the online learning portal.
• Master of Fine Arts or equivalent in established professional practice in the area of study.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and teach Illustration coursework that promotes and directs student learning.
• Develop online course content for asynchronous learning, including recorded video demonstrations and/or lectures.
• Lead weekly three-hour online sessions that may include demonstrations, presentations, and group discussions.
• Provide feedback and support students’ creative and intellectual development.
• Use inclusive, culturally responsive teaching approaches and lead constructive discussions and critiques.
• Adapt instruction to students with varied abilities, prior experience, and interests.
• Connect course content to students’ lived experiences and current events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level