Assistant/Associate Professor, Graphic Design

Job Description

The Department of Art at Radford University invites applications for two full-time, nine-month, tenure-track positions as Assistant/Associate Professor of Graphic Design, beginning August 2027. Rank will be considered based on qualifications and years of service. The two successful candidates will join a collaborative faculty and will help shape the next phase of the graphic design curriculum.

In the graphic design program, students establish a foundation in drawing, design theory, 2D/3D design, and typography in lower-level coursework. Foundational skills are then applied and extended in upper-level courses such as interactive design, user experience design (UI/UX), motion graphics, brand identity systems, publication design, packaging, illustration, and image-making. We seek a broadly trained designer-educator whose practice is grounded in the enduring foundations of graphic design and shows proficiency in one or more emergent areas in the field. The successful candidate will balance thoughtful innovation with sustained attention to design history, theory, craft, accessibility, and ethical practice. We welcome practices that span media, disciplines, communities, and/or technologies.

Teaching responsibilities will include graphic design courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels along with contributions to programmatic critiques and portfolio reviews. The faculty member will mentor and advise students and support internships, professional practices, and career preparation. Because the graphic design program is closely collaborative, the new faculty member will have a meaningful role in its future direction and, by extension, the digital arts and illustration curriculum. Responsibilities include curricular assessment and development; shared oversight of design labs and resources; recruitment and retention; program visibility; and the cultivation of professional, campus, and community partnerships. As a tenure-track position, the new faculty member will be evaluated in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service and are expected to contribute to the department’s collegial, ambitious, and student-centered culture.

The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and offers BFA, BS, BA, and MFA degrees. Its primary academic areas are graphic design, digital arts and illustration, studio art, art education, and art history and museum studies. Full- and part-time faculty serve more than 200 majors, including many first-generation students. The department contributes substantially to the cultural life of the university and region through an annual artist-in-residence program, a visiting artist series, exhibitions at the Radford University Art Museum, and more.

The Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity, opened in 2024, is a 178,000-square-foot interdisciplinary facility featuring design and digital labs, art studios, makerspaces, performance venues, training suites, and classrooms. Its resources create significant opportunities for experimentation, collaboration, and curricular growth.

Radford University places student learning at the heart of the institution and serves approximately 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Radford University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. A virtual introduction to Radford and the surrounding area is available online.

The City of Radford is situated along the New River in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The region offers abundant outdoor recreation and a vibrant network of nearby communities, including Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Floyd, and Roanoke. Radford is also within driving distance of Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina; Bristol and Knoxville, Tennessee; Richmond, Virginia; and Washington, D.C.

Required Qualifications

• A terminal degree, such as a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution, completed by the start date.
• College-level teaching experience in graphic design, visual communication, or a closely related discipline.
• A portfolio demonstrating strong design foundations and engagement with contemporary practices across digital and/or physical media.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A record of effective college-level teaching and mentoring, supported by examples of student work and achievement.
• Demonstrated ability to teach graphic design to students with varied backgrounds and different levels of preparation, from beginner to graduate.
• Professional industry experience in graphic design, visual communication design, or a related discipline.
• Evidence of creative scholarship, professional practice, and/or research.
• Expertise in one or more emergent areas of design, such as interaction and UX/UI design, motion and time-based media, information and data visualization, web design, computational or generative design, immersive media, environmental or experiential graphics, or illustration, to name a few.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate new technologies, such as AI-enabled tools, critically and ethically into design pedagogy.
• Experience with curriculum development, program assessment, accreditation, and/or program building.
• Experience supporting internships, portfolio development, client- or community-engaged projects, and students’ transition into professional practice or graduate study.
• Evidence of interdisciplinary collaboration and the ability to build partnerships across the university, profession, and community.
• Evidence of university and/or professional service.

Radford University does not discriminate with regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation in the administration of its educational programs, activities, admission or employment practices.