Assistant Professor, Photography and Media Art
Department of Art
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Overview
The Department of Art at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor in Photography and Media Art beginning August 1, 2025. Review of applications will begin January 10, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.
The ideal candidate’s research and pedagogy will demonstrate material, formal, and theoretical engagement with photography and media art, informed by a broad knowledge of the history of the discipline and its contemporary practice. Engagement with critical issues related to the field is assumed (e.g., theories of representation, visual culture, feminism, ecology, labor, artificial intelligence, social and cultural anthropology), as is a conception of photography and media art that allows for interdisciplinary approaches across a range of media (e.g., photography, video, sound, web-based art, bookmaking, physical computing). Thorough knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Adobe Premiere is required. The candidate will also have expertise in analogue and digital image capture techniques, along with both darkroom- and digital-printing methods. Teaching assignments will include beginning and advanced photography and media art courses. Candidates’ research and teaching expertise should complement that of current tenured faculty in Photography and Media Art. Service often includes overseeing the Photography and Media Art labs and studios; serving on departmental, college, and university committees; and mentoring students.
The position is tenure-track, carrying a 3/3 teaching load. An MFA and teaching experience at or beyond the graduate assistant level is required.
Salary is competitive and includes a full benefits package along with access to professional development funds within the department and competitive college- and university-level grants for research and professional development.
Please send inquiries to the Search Committee Chair, Shane Ward at shane-ward@utc.edu.
Qualifications
Successful candidates will possess the following requirements:
- MFA in Photography, Media Art, or closely related field
- Two years of teaching experience at the graduate teaching assistant level (instructor of record) or beyond
- Evidence of a strong professional record of creative research
- Demonstrated record of teaching effectiveness
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate as a member of a team
- Proven experience in analogue and digital photography, videography, interdisciplinary studio practice, and the history and theory of photography
- Willingness to engage in assisting the UTC campus in its ability to reach additional goals as specified in UTC’s Strategic Plan
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated capacity to teach the history and theory of Photography and/or Media Art
- Experience developing coursework
- Experience mentoring undergraduate students
Application Materials
To apply, please include the following materials combined as a single PDF file:
- A cover letter describing professional background and interest in the position
- CV
- Artist statement (1 page)
- 20 Personal work samples
- 15-20 Student work samples
- Names and complete contact information for three references (references will only be contacted for finalists)
About the Department of Art
The Department of Art at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has 16 full-time faculty and approximately 300 majors pursuing BA degrees in Art History, Studio Art, and Art Education, as well as BFA degrees in Art with concentrations in Graphic Design, Painting and Drawing, Photography and Media Art, and Sculpture. UTC is an accredited member institution of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The Fine Arts Center also houses the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at UTC, the first ICA in the state of Tennessee, inaugurated in Spring 2021. The ICA at UTC operates in conjunction with and in support of the Department of Art. The ICA is led by a full-time curator and director who coordinates an ambitious contemporary program of exhibitions and events.
About the University
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga proudly calls Chattanooga home—a city lauded by U.S. News and World Report, Money Magazine and Southern Living (to name a few!) for its unique blend of historic charm and modern vibrancy.
Nestled between scenic Lookout Mountain and the Tennessee River, Chattanooga offers breathtaking natural beauty, lively city amenities and a small-town feel.
Our city has it all, with historic cultural institutions like the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra and the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, iconic attractions like Rock City and Ruby Falls, opportunities for epic outdoor adventures, and an eclectic contemporary art, music and food scene.
Chattanooga's robust economy fosters an environment where tech start-ups thrive alongside established industries and corporations. It’s where innovation meets tradition, creating endless opportunities for growth and success.
UTC embodies Chattanooga’s dynamic spirit, serving as one of the city’s most vital institutions where progressive transformation and community thrive. UTC is where Chattanooga goes to build the future.
