Instructor, History of Design

Working Title: Instructor, History of Design

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

College/Division: College of Visual and Performing Arts

Department: Art Design and Art History

Pay Rate: Maximum Starting

Specify Range or Amount: $63,000

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The School of Art, Design and Art History (SADAH) at James Madison University seeks to fill a one-year Fixed-term Appointment at the Instructor level to teach undergraduate courses in the History of Design. This is not tenure track appointment. This appointment may be renewed dependent on the needs of the academic unit, college, and/or university. Teaching load is the equivalent of four courses per semester. Other duties include departmental service, which will be minimal. The term begins in August 2024.

With over 100 full-time faculty and 1200 full-time majors, the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) brings together the School of Art, Design, and Art History (SADAH), Music (SOM), and Theater and Dance (STAD). CVPA also houses the Office of Creative Propulsion, which supports students and faculty in ideating, launching, and refining arts-based efforts that reimagine and disrupt traditional practices, stretch and break artistic boundaries, and promote inclusive opportunities for meaningful art and design engagement.

Our dynamic, energetic, and engaging School of Art Design and Art History employs over 40 full-time art, art education, art history, and design faculty and staff serving over 600 full-time majors enrolled in B.A., B.S., B.F.A., M.A., and M.F.A. degree programs including Studio Art, Art Education, Art History, Architectural Design, Graphic Design, and Industrial Design. Art Education licensure is available to all SADAH majors. The school also offers the Master of Fine Arts degree, a nationally ranked program by U.S. News and World Report. SADAH's mission asks us to collaborate as creators and scholars to advance diversity and independent thought through rigorous practice and research. SADAH has exceptional facilities, including the recently remodeled Duke Hall, a 115,000-square-foot facility with open and well-lit studios, dedicated critique spaces, high-teach seminar rooms, classrooms, lecture halls, and state-of-the-art equipment. The Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art is a leading contemporary art space featuring regional, national, and international exhibitions. The remodeled Studio Center houses design programs. And a fully equipped Fabrication Lab. Separate facilities are provided for photography, graduate studios, and ArtWorks, a student-run gallery. For information about the SADAH, please visit

Duties and Responsibilities:

The faculty member will teach a 4/4 load with courses that include: a History of Design class that is required for the School's Graphic Design BFA and Industrial Design BS majors; General Education course/s in Art History, including the Survey of Global Art, Renaissance to Modern (ARTH 206); and Special Topics classes related to the faculty member's area of expertise and interest; courses in Museum Studies are especially welcome. There is an expectation that the successful candidate will be on campus and available to students and for university service during the academic year. We are especially interested in candidates who have a demonstrated commitment towards building an equitable and inclusive scholarly environment.

Qualifications:

A successful applicant will have:
-Significant expertise in Art History in the sub-field of Design History and/or the Decorative Arts
-Undergraduate teaching experience
-An interest in teaching Museum Studies course/s
-A relevant graduate degree, with a focus on the History of Design and/or the Decorative Arts is required
-Candidates with an active creative/scholarly agenda are preferred

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.