Job Details

The Hartford Art School invites applications for a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Graphic Design beginning August 2026. Candidates are expected to teach three courses each semester, spanning introductory subjects to capstone projects. Courses in students third year include motion and interactive design. Expectations include an active role in the department and school, such as engagement in extracurricular activities, student advising, committee service, and program assessment and development, as well as producing a record of creative and/or scholarly activities that meet tenure and promotion requirements.

The successful applicant will teach courses that prepare students competencies in the fundamentals of Visual Communication Design, as well as technical subjects (e.g., user experience or moving narratives). Applicants should be professionals who have an interest in emerging fields in design. There may also be opportunities to teach our innovative general education and interdisciplinary courses. Faculty are expected to maintain an active creative and/or scholarly agenda, add to innovative programming in the department, and sustain currency in the industry. The successful candidate will serve on department, college, and university-level committees and show an overall commitment to creating and maintaining a sense of community within the department. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a commitment to inclusive excellence, which the University defines as an unwavering commitment to fostering a vibrant campus community where every student, staff member, and faculty colleague feels deeply rooted, empowered to flourish, and inspired to achieve their highest potential.

The Visual Communication Design BFA major is within Hartford Art Schools comprehensive undergraduate program, which is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and renowned for rigorous studio-based and academic programs.

Required:
MFA in Visual Communication Design (or related terminal degree in new design media) by August 2026.

A minimum of two years teaching at the college or university level in courses specifically relevant to the position.

Evidence of relevant industry experience with a record of creative and/or scholarly achievement that includes either motion design or interactive design.

A strong interest in emerging fields in graphic design.
A commitment to teaching and advancing the curriculum.
Evidence demonstrating the ability and desire to work effectively with a wide and culturally diverse range of students, faculty, staff, administration, and public.

As an institution of higher learning, the University of Hartford strives to be more than merely a mirror of the larger society; it should foster learning and encourage the personal growth of students, faculty, and staff in an environment that promotes and celebrates diversity in all of its forms regardless of identifying factors including but not limited to race, sex, age, religion, national origin, socioeconomic status, physical and learning differences, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity.

Accordingly, our commitment is to:
Foster an inclusive, equitable, just, and caring community where the unique identities of
each person are fully appreciated, respected, and celebrated
Engage in civil discourse, that values diverse intellectual perspectives
Cultivate a campus community reflective of the intersectionality of the larger society while
maintaining an environment of safety and respect where all members experience a sense of belonging
Institutionally, stand against acts of hate, intimidation, discrimination, bigotry, violence, and
harassment of any kind
Uphold the values of the institution, so that all our members are treated with dignity and
respect

Our commitment to Inclusive Excellence and Belonging is a strength that results in a vibrant and more engaged campus culture.

Students at the University of Hartford find success in a learning environment that both challenges and mentors them. Our academic mission is to engage students in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to thrive in, and contribute to, a pluralistic, complex world. At the University of Hartford, we are committed to community. We are an academic community that values integrity, curiosity, creativity, excellence, responsibility, and accomplishment. Enriched by our engagement with, and understanding of, one another, we take pride in our shared traditions and experiences. We are dedicated to building a culture that respects all of its members and celebrates their contributions as we work together to strengthen our community. The full text of our academic mission, vision, and values can be seen at www.hartford.edu. Opportunities for faculty development and support can be found at https://www.hartford.edu/about/campus-leadership/office-provost/faculty-development/and a listing of Affinity Networks can be found at https://www.hartford.edu/about/inclusive-excellence/affinity-groups.aspx

The Hartford Art School, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, is committed to educating the whole artist-citizen through rigorous studio-based disciplines in a liberal arts university setting. With an enrollment of approximately 300 undergraduates, students receive specialized personal attention from professional artists, designers, and historians. BFA majors include Studio Arts (with concentrations in ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture), Animation and Game Arts, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design. We also offer a BA in Art History and two low-residency MFA programs in Illustration and Photography.

Provide links to 15 samples of authored work demonstrating expertise in visual communication design, and links to 10 student projects that reflect the applicants teaching philosophy and design standards. Reference letters (3) for candidates who succeed to the interview level of the search process will be automatically requested by the system upon advancement, so should be available on short notice. Priority review of applications will begin January 9, 2026.