Benefits All full-time university staff are eligible for VCUs robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits paid annual and holiday leave granted up front generous tuition benefits retirement planning and savings options tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs employee discounts well-being resources abundant opportunities for career development and advancement and more.
Unit: School Of The Arts MBU Department: Deans Office Arts Duties & Responsibilities Chair Department of Fine Arts Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts Anticipated Start: August 2, 2026 Chair Appointment Term: 10-months August 2 through May 30. It is anticipated that the Chair will serve for a period of up to five years with the option to serve as Chair for an additional period of up to three years. Upon completion of the leadership appointment, the Chair will be provided with a 9-month faculty position in their area of expertise. A semester-long research reassignment will be provided after the Chair appointment ends to facilitate a return to teaching.
Rank: Associate full Professor Tenure: Expedited tenure review is available to streamline the universitys tenure decisions for new faculty hires who were already tenured at their previous institution and is potentially available to a new Chair of the Department of Fine Arts who has been a tenured Full or Associate Professor at their previous institution.
Salary: Commensurate with experience. Generous benefits available.
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Application Deadline: For best consideration, applications materials due November 24, 2025.
Chair of the Department of Fine Arts The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts) is excited to announce an opportunity for an impactful, visionary, and collaboration-oriented academic leader to serve as the inaugural Chair of the Department of Fine Arts, pending approval of the department by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).
A key position in the School of the Arts, the Department Chair reports to the Senior Director of the Fine Arts Group and the Dean and is supported by academic and administrative staff. The Chair serves as a mentor to faculty colleagues, collaborates with administrative leaders and staff members, and advocates for the department from a perspective that considers the best overall interests of the School as well as the department.
The Chair leads faculty in important processes that shape the curriculum, that has an impact on student learning as well as the research activities of the faculty. The Chair strives to effectively articulate both the department and the Schools missions to internal and external constituencies and establishes a welcoming academic environment that encourages engagement, participation, collegiality, and respect.
Pending approval by SCHEV, the Department of Fine Arts is located in the Murry N. DePillars Building, comprising Craft, Material Studies, Painting and Printmaking, and Sculpture and Extended Media. The three programs have a collective enrollment of more than 275 students and are recognized leaders in visual arts education, as recognized by the U.S. News and World Reports graduate rankings.
It is expected that the Department of Fine Arts will receive the necessary approvals needed to function as a singular department by the start of the 2026-2027 academic year. The Department of Fine Arts will continue to grant the program-specific BFA and MFA degrees that are currently granted by the fine arts programs and will maintain the curricula unique to those programs.
Craft and Material Studies • Craft and Material Studies consists of the areas of Clay, Fiber, Glass, Metal, and Wood. • Craft and Material Studies has nine full-time faculty, 10 graduate students, and 100 undergraduate students.
Painting and Printmaking • Painting and Printmaking has nine full-time faculty, 12 graduate students, and over 100 undergraduate students. • The MFA program is ranked 2nd in Printmaking and 12th in Painting/Drawing by U.S. News & World Report.
Sculpture and Extended Media • Sculpture and Extended Medias MFA program is ranked 1st in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. • The program has 10 graduate students, 70 undergraduate students, and seven full-time studio faculty.
Fine Arts Faculty Fine arts faculty are engaged in a wide range of disciplines and media, benefiting from both the richness and intellectual diversity of an R1 university and an environment where faculty research is valued and supported.
Fine arts programs have an impressive roster of adjunct and visiting faculty, making for a dynamic community within the School of the Arts. Students and faculty benefit from a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities that support creative practice and teaching across more than 150,000 square feet in the Murry N. DePillars Building.
Leadership and Administrative Expectations The Department Chair holds responsibilities invested in ensuring the success of the departments faculty, staff, and students. This broad range of responsibilities includes but is not limited to:
• Articulating a direction and goals for the department that align with School and university-level initiatives. • Visioning and participating in cooperative collaboration efforts between VCUarts departments and across other VCU Schools and programs, including VCUarts Qatar. • Managing and optimizing department budget and resources, facilities, faculty, etc. • Developing partnerships with local, national, and international organizations, institutions, and industry stakeholders to enhance the departments and Schools reputation and provide opportunities for students and faculty. • Coordinating the activities of curriculum development and discipline-specific accreditation. • Overseeing all faculty mentoring, service assignments, promotion, and tenure reviews, work plans, workloads, hiring activities, and annual reviews. • Managing day-to-day student affairs, including the planning of community-engaged activities and events. • Collaborating with the VCUarts recruitment and admissions team to support student recruitment, admission, and retention activities, e.g., new student orientation, department onboarding, and in consultation with the academic advisor. • Coordinating interactions with alumni, donors, and visiting artists/scholars. • Teaching in the Chairs area of expertise will be expected, providing a forum for direct interaction with students in creative, academic contexts, and affording opportunities to model scholarship within the department. It is expected that the Chair will have an 11 teaching load.
Consideration Process and Instructions To apply, please submit application materials via VCU Jobs Website. Only electronic applications will be accepted.
The following documents should be submitted:
• Cover Letter that includes an overview of professional experience and creative research interests. • Curriculum Vitae. • Teaching statement that addresses philosophy of teaching and approach to student mentorship. • List of five professional references, including names, titles, and contact information. References will not be contacted prior to a candidates approval. • Portfolio of work- a link to appropriate selections of documentation of the applicants experience in their areas of expertise. This could include traditional and/or non-traditional examples of ones work from a broad cross-section and/or combination of experience from a variety of roles. • Portfolio of student work- a link to appropriate selections of documentation of student work from the applicants teaching experience is preferred.
For best consideration, application materials due November 24, 2025.
Qualifications • MFA or PhD in one of the areas represented in the Department of Fine Arts. • Knowledge of the higher educational landscape, research, and professional practices in fine arts. • A minimum of five years of university-level teaching experience beyond the TA and/or adjunct level. • Experience in academic administration or demonstrated leadership in institutional service or service to the field. • A well-established research agenda with evidence of a significant exhibition record and/or scholarly record, external funding, and contributing to scholarship or creative practice that enhances and extends school/department expertise. • Experience developing and leading in a highly ambitious and collegial team environment. • Effective collaborative and communication skills are essential. • The Chair will have demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from diverse backgrounds and experiences or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience. Generous benefits available.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt. Restricted Position: No. ORP Eligible: Yes.