Job Details

Assistant/Associate Professor of Foundations
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Position Number: 5749924
Location: Montclair, NJ
Position Type: Fine and Applied Arts - Graphic Design

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Department of Art and Design at Montclair State University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor of Foundations to begin work on September 1, 2025. This role encompasses leadership, teaching, scholarship, and service responsibilities. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the foundational experiences of first-year students in the department.

The faculty member will teach courses within the foundations area, which currently includes Surface, Color and Light, Visual Culture, Perceptual Drawing, Space, and Time. They may also have the opportunity to teach other courses aligned with their expertise. As the Head of Foundations, the successful candidate will be responsible for developing class schedules, advising on the recruitment and retention of adjunct faculty, coordinating budgets, assessing and developing curricula, and fostering a positive and collaborative culture within the area.

This position requires a candidate who is an interdisciplinary artist, designer, or scholar with an active creative or scholarly practice. We seek an educator who is passionate about first-year pedagogy in the fields of art and design and who views foundations as a unique educational space ripe for innovative and effective curricula, projects, and learning experiences. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to interdisciplinary foundational education and possess a forward-thinking approach to teaching and leadership.

In addition to teaching and leadership, the successful candidate is expected to engage actively in faculty governance, participate in community and institutional partnerships, and contribute to the co-curricular life of the university. As Montclair State University is an R2 research institution, maintaining an active creative or scholarly practice with a record of exhibitions or publications in contemporary art or design is essential. The faculty at Montclair State University are expected to be innovative and adaptive teachers, producers of impactful creative and scholarly work, and leaders in meaningful service activities to multiple communities. We seek faculty members who are strategic thinkers capable of engaging with our dynamic and diverse communities.

The Department of Art and Design serves over 350 first-year and transfer students each year through its foundational courses. These courses deliver essential student experiences and learning across all of the department's degree programs, introducing students to perceptual, material, critical, and process-based studies. The goal of the foundation's sequences is to provide an immersive educational experience that nurtures students' abilities and encourages expansive ideas and attitudes toward creativity while building essential skills in the comprehension and execution of foundational aspects of art and design practices.

We are committed to inclusive excellence, prioritizing student and faculty success, impact, and access within an environment that inspires critical thinking and responsible citizenship.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Candidates must have an MFA or PhD in design, illustration, fashion, studio art, art history/visual studies, or arts or design education, a strong record of university-level teaching excellence, commitment to foundational pedagogy through experiential learning and teaching, experience in student mentorship, demonstrated administrative ability, and a significant record of work in the professional field.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ART AND DESIGN:

The Department of Art and Design (ARDS) offers four undergraduate degrees: a BA in Fashion Design and Merchandising, a BA in Visual Art with an optional concentration in Art Education, a BFA in Illustration, and a BFA in Visual Communication Design. The department supports its talented student body of over 1,000 majors with a range of specialized studios and facilities, including seven computer labs and analog studios for small fabrication, ceramics, 3D design, drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and apparel creation. The department's Print Center enables students to work on course projects across various surfaces, while the Finley Gallery showcases student work throughout the academic year.

All academic programs emphasize teaching and learning that fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, skill development, and an understanding of disciplinary history and cultural contexts. We also prioritize experiential learning opportunities, including internships, to prepare students for their careers. The department's full-time faculty of 17 consists of scholars, practicing designers, and visual artists who are dedicated to making a positive impact on students' lives and the broader community.

THE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS:

The College of the Arts (CART) at Montclair State University offers 50+ undergraduate and graduate programs and certificates through its four academic units: Department of Art and Design, School of Communication and Media, John J. Cali School of Music, and Department of Theatre and Dance. The College provides a comprehensive education and training to a diverse and talented student body of nearly 4,000 majors in first-rate facilities. Programs are rigorous, creative, and designed to meet the needs of students while offering rich opportunities for experiential learning, performance, and internships. The faculty includes scholars as well as working composers, designers, actors, musicians, directors, choreographers, conductors, fine artists, filmmakers and communications specialists, including Fulbright, Guggenheim, Howard, and Emmy Award winners who bring to the campus community impressive expertise. The College of the Arts also houses the University Art Galleries, Arts and Cultural Programming, Performance Operations, and Broadcast and Media Operations and thus has strong arts and corporate partnerships and is proud to offer cultural enrichment of all kinds to the campus and surrounding communities.

THE UNIVERSITY:
Montclair State University is a nationally recognized R2 research doctoral institution that empowers students, faculty, and researchers to rise above their own expectations. Building on a distinguished history dating back to 1908, the University today has 13 colleges and schools that serve more than 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students with more than 300 doctoral, master's, and baccalaureate programs. Situated on a beautiful 252-acre suburban campus just 12 miles from New York City, the university welcomes a diverse population of students, many of whom are first-generation, and delivers the instructional and research resources of a large public university in a supportive and sophisticated academic environment.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT:

Montclair State University is committed to establishing and maintaining a diverse campus community that is representative of the State of New Jersey through inclusive excellence and equal opportunity. Montclair State University's commitment to access and equity is designed to prepare each graduate to thrive as a global citizen. As an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution we are working to support a campus-wide agenda to foster a community that both values and promotes the varied voices of our students, faculty, and staff. The University encourages candidates to apply who will contribute to the cultural tapestry of Montclair State University and who value teaching a diverse student population, many of whom are first-generation students.

SALARY RANGE: Commensurate with experience

STARTING DATE: September 1, 2025

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

To be uploaded during the application process.

Cover letter

Curriculum vitae

Statement of teaching philosophy that addresses a commitment to foundational pedagogy

Samples of creative or scholarly work:

If applying as a studio artist or designer, please include a PDF of 20 examples of your current work, including title, dimension, media, and year, or a link to an online portfolio with up to 10 minutes of video.

If applying as a scholar, please include PDFs of 2-3 samples of current written work.

Teaching Portfolio: Must include 2-3 sample syllabi, with at least one 100/foundational level syllabus, and can also include representative examples of student work.

List of three professional references that we may contact during the search process.

Candidates who are shortlisted will be asked to supply 3 letters of recommendation separately.

APPLY BY: The position is open until filled, and application review begins immediately.

Department

Art and Design

Position Type

Faculty

Contact Information:

For questions or concerns, please contact Human Resources' Workday Recruiting Support at 973-655-5000 (Option 2), or email talent @montclair.edu.

EEO/AA Statement

Montclair State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution with a strong commitment to diversity.

Additional information can be found on the website at
www.montclair.edu/human-resources/about-us/eo-aa-and-diversity/

Title IX and 34 C.F.R. 106 Policy

Montclair State is required by Title IX and 34 C.F.R. 106 not to discriminate on the basis of sex or gender, and does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in the operation of education programs and activities. The requirement to not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in the operation of education programs and activities extends to admission and employment. For further details, please visit: https://www.montclair.edu/human-resources/job-seekers/