Careers at Virginia Tech

The School of Visual Arts (SOVA) at Virginia Tech (https://www.sova.vt.edu) invites applications for two full-time, tenure-track faculty positions in Graphic Design, with a start date of August, 2024. The ideal hires will complement the current faculty within the Graphic Design program in the areas of expertise, research focus, and teaching qualifications. We seek applicants who have expertise that align with the future of graphic design, marked by a deep integration of technology, focusing on enhancing user experience in various digital realms, such as AR, VR, AI, motion, and web.

SOVA is housed within the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design (AAD) at Virginia Tech, a comprehensive land grant research university in Blacksburg, Virginia. SOVA has approximately 275 undergraduate majors within four areas (Graphic Design, Creative Technologies, Studio Art and Art History). The Graphic Design program currently has approximately 90 majors and has been included in GDUSA’s list of “Top 30 Graphic Design Schools'' for each of the last five years. Virginia Tech is home to one of the largest Swiss poster collections in the Americas, due to the generous donation by the designers Dennis Ichiyama and Oscar Fernández.

Duties and responsibilities of the position include:

• Teach two undergraduate courses per semester, from introductory to advanced levels of Graphic Design (and possibly teaching occasional non-majors, foundations, and graduate courses)
• Maintain a strong national/international creative research agenda
• Maintain an up-to-date proficiency with digital tools and software as they relate to teaching and creative research in design (e.g. Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma)
• Stay abreast of cutting-edge design practices, theories, ethics, AI integration, experience design, accessibility, etc., as well as advancements in design education
• Contribute to the growth of our program and school through active participation in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary work environment
• Contribute to school, college, and university-level service and outreach
• Contribute to curriculum development in the Graphic Design program

The College of Architecture, Arts, and Design at Virginia Tech affirms our collective responsibility to encourage, build, and embrace the polyculturalism of our world. We do this by acknowledging and addressing our past, recognizing our current responsibility, and acting in the interests of building and sustaining communities that are truly safe, supportive, and inclusive for all. Our commitment is to continually and proactively engage in these processes for the benefit of our students, staff, and faculty across the college, and the communities around the world we aim to serve.

• Terminal degree in Graphic Design (i.e., MFA, MDes in Graphic Design) or in a related discipline by appointment start date
• Ability to teach Graphic Design courses at the university level, including Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced levels courses
• Demonstrated record of creative research/activity
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity
• Position requires occasional travel to attend conferences and meetings

• Record of excellence in one or more of the following areas: motion graphics, experience design, immersive experiences, AR/VR, data visualization, web/interaction design, AI integration, typography, and/or design research
• Demonstrated ability to work within private Industry (e.g. ability to work with national and/or international clients)
• Demonstrated ability to teach additional courses depending on area of specialization (e.g. electives, graduate courses)
• Demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and/or research
• Demonstrated ability to teach graphic design courses to non-majors
• Demonstrated commitment to academic leadership, including experience leading a growing and dynamic graphic design program

For full consideration, applicants will be expected to submit the following:

• Letter of intent that includes the candidate's proven experience and potential capacity to fulfil duties and responsibilities as well as required and preferred qualifications as listed above
• Curriculum Vitae
• A one page personal statement of teaching philosophy including the candidate's ideas for supporting an equitable and inclusive educational environment consistent with the Virginia Tech Principles of Community. Specific examples of experiences, activities, and plans will help us identify candidates who can support our college’s aim to sustain an equitable climate and extend our University's commitment to inclusive excellence.
• Research Statement indicating focus of past and current research and future trajectories
• Up to 20 examples of professional work
• Up to 20 examples of student work (if available)
• Three references (names and contact information only)
•  Summarized teaching evaluations in a table (preferred)

Regular

Salary range is $80,000-90,000 per year

January 5, 2024 - review of candidate submissions will commence on this date and continue until the position is filled

For additional questions about this position contact the Graphic Design Search Committee Chair, Rachael Paine (rlpaine@vt.edu).

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.