The Tyler School of Art and Architecture invites applications for an Associate or Full Professor to serve as Chair of the Art Department beginning in fall 2026. We seek an outstanding artist and educator who will bring vision, experience, management skills, and imagination to the leadership of a large, multi-faceted department.
The successful candidate will hold the MFA or equivalent degree and have a record of research and teaching that aligns with one or more of the program areas in the Art Department: ceramics, fibers and material studies, glass, metals/jewelry/CAD-CAM, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. We seek an outstanding artist/scholar and teacher who will be an engaged presence on campus and will foster a culture of collaboration across disciplines. The candidate will have a broad knowledge of historical and contemporary art practices, as well as an understanding of critical and theoretical issues of the field. They will have the demonstrated experience, ability, and commitment to effectively teach and mentor students with a broad range of experience levels within our studio art BFA and MFA degree programs.
We seek an artist whose work evidences a curiosity and active engagement with the ways art reflects and intersects with our larger shared culture. A record of professional accomplishment is required that may include but is not limited to such achievements as exhibitions, screenings, performances, publications, new media, or experimental work.
We seek a candidate with a demonstrated record of leadership in higher education; strong management ability, including the use of administrative tools; excellent communication and collaboration skills; and the ability to successfully navigate university systems. The ideal candidate will be excited to join our thriving community of artists and scholars creatively supporting the school’s competitive edge in teaching and research.
Tyler School of Art and Architecture is located on Temple University’s Main Campus in Philadelphia and is housed in a state-of-the-art facility.
Rank: Associate or Full
Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership in the successful realization of the department’s vision, priorities, and academic direction.
- Oversee curriculum development and program reviews.
- Support faculty research, teaching, and creative activity.
- Manage departmental faculty affairs, including mentoring junior faculty.
- Manage course scheduling and adjunct faculty hiring.
- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Art Department.
- Conduct scholarly and creative research and maintain a strong record of exhibitions and/or publications.
- Seek external funding to support research activities.
- Mentor and advise students from different backgrounds.
- Contribute to departmental, college, and university service.
Qualifications:
Must have an MFA or terminal degree in appropriate discipline, record of professional accomplishment, demonstrated excellence in teaching and scholarship. Dedicated commitment to creating inclusive, accessible spaces for students. Experience and desire to teach and mentor students from different backgrounds. The ability to communicate and work effectively, collegially, and collaboratively with students, faculty and administrators. A minimum of 10 years of full-time college-level teaching experience and at least five years in a leadership role, or the equivalent, is preferred.
The position involves leading the Art Department as Chair for a full term of five years, and teaching at the BFA and MFA levels within the department and across the school. The workload is comprised of an administrative component, teaching, research and creative work, and service to the program, department, and college.
Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
How to apply: Please visit https://temple.slideroom.com/#/Login to create an account and freely upload the following materials:
Applicants should submit:
- Cover letter addressing qualifications.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Statement of teaching philosophy.
- Statement of research interests.
- Statement of contributions working effectively in an urban environment
- Contact information for three professional references.
- Portfolio of work - 20 examples of your work
- Portfolio of student work - 20 examples of student work
- Sample Course Syllabi
* Finalists must also be prepared to submit official course evaluations, official terminal degree transcripts and three signed letters of recommendation on letterhead. No letters are required in the initial application. If notifying references, please advise them that a letter of reference will be required if you are a finalist for the position. The additional finalist requirements are due two weeks after the campus visit.
Review of applications begins on December 1, 2025. The position remains open until filled.
Questions can be directed to Search Committee Chair, Amze Emmons, amze.emmons@temple.edu
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About the Tyler School of Art and Architecture
Since 1935, Tyler School of Art and Architecture has offered students instruction from a world-renowned faculty combined with the resources of Temple University, a large, urban research institution. Tyler’s programs encompass a wide range of areas in the study of art, design, art history, art education, architecture, and environmental design. In each program, students work in small learning communities, while also benefiting from dynamic synergies, state-of-the-art facilities, a rigorous curriculum and a large, diverse campus community. In addition, the newly constructed Charles Library houses the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio, a space for student and collaborative research in digital humanities, digital arts, cultural analytics, and critical making. The Tyler School of Art and Architecture is located on Temple University’s Main Campus in Philadelphia, a culturally rich city with deep artistic traditions and a thriving contemporary art scene. Beyond Philadelphia, the city makes for an affordable and convenient home base to access other major cities with flourishing arts, culture, and architectural communities such as New York City and Washington, DC.
