As a chair of interactive design and game development, you will lead a team of faculty and staff in fulfilling the university's mission, vision, and values within the most lauded game development program in the U.S. In consultation with the dean, associate chair, and other department members, you will develop a strategic direction for the department that aligns with the university’s strategic plan to transform digital media by bridging the gap between art and tech. You will then implement strategies to strengthen the department's reputation for quality, ensuring the program remains a top-ranked choice by The Princeton Review and Animation Career Review. Among other duties, you will foster a shared vision, commitment, and a positive, respectful environment through collegiality and collaboration. By communicating shared goals and responsibilities frequently and effectively, you will build a cohesive team. Additionally, you will support academic excellence, instructional quality, and instructional engagement by documenting student achievements and work outcomes.

In this role, you will lead faculty in the effective implementation of responsibilities and expectations outlined in the Faculty Handbook. You will ensure that they continually review the curriculum for quality, currency and forward-looking industry literacy—incorporating the latest trends in AAA game design and independent development and entrepreneurship—adhere to educational outcomes statements, and participate in assessment and accreditation activities in coordination with institutional effectiveness staff. Responsibilities include curriculum development in collaboration with the dean, academic services, and program leaders, ensuring students are prepared to move the needle at companies such as Apple, Adobe, Electronic Arts, and Microsoft. The collected work will be used to showcase the program's outcomes. You will also guide faculty in following the university’s curriculum development policies and procedures. Among other duties, you will oversee the department’s academic scheduling in collaboration with academic services and assign an appropriate course schedule to faculty with deep expertise in generative and game technologies.

In this position, you will coordinate the department's use of teaching and learning resources—including superpowered tech, AR/VR labs, and professional-grade studios—to support the academic schedule. During the annual performance evaluations, which include classroom observations and a review of quarterly student evaluations, you will meet with each faculty member for a performance management session. You will include any pertinent recommendations for the school dean in the evaluations. Among other duties, you will participate in faculty recruitment trips and interviews to support academic hiring, seeking industry veterans who can mentor students in rendering the extraordinary. Responsibilities include decision-making on student matters within defined academic support processes, such as course substitutions and exemptions, applications for independent study or internships, and waivers of prerequisites. Additionally, you will work with the admission department to recruit talented students.

As a chair, you will coordinate the faculty’s review of graduate student applications to ensure applicant quality and consistency in the review process. You will lead faculty and staff in showcasing outstanding student work throughout the year, especially during SCAD Days and other high-profile events. Responsibilities include overseeing the student experience within SCADpro, where students tackle design prompts for major clients like Google, BMW, and CBS Sports. You will collaborate with the office of career and alumni success to assist students with career opportunities and coordinate student work submissions. You will also prepare quarterly and annual ad hoc reports for the department. Among other duties, you will monitor key departmental data to achieve excellence and maximum efficiency across all operations, and review, evaluate, and approve purchase and travel requests in accordance with university budget policies.

In this role, you will serve as a frontline ambassador for the department, promoting the university and its world-class interactive design offerings at every opportunity. You will maintain partnerships with professional and academic organizations and industries, and anticipate trends to inform programs and services through participation in international trade events like SIGGRAPH, GDC, and SXSW. When appropriate, you will resolve faculty and student issues with sound judgment, consulting the relevant parties. As assigned by academic services and human resources, you will teach classes in the fall, winter, and spring quarters. It is essential that you provide unconditional support and assistance to achieve success in all accreditation matters.

A department chair models academic and professional leadership and ensures that all faculty and staff work toward the university’s mission, vision, and values. Through daily operational and long-term strategic actions, they ensure the department’s intentional and measurable contribution to the university’s strategic plan and the 8Rs (responsibility, resources, recruitment, retention, recognition, revenue, research, and results).

The ideal candidate has a successful career as a faculty member or industry professional and a reputation for model leadership, excellence in the field, high standards, and innovation. They can translate a strategic vision for the gaming industry into action through measurable steps, conduct thorough, thoughtful performance evaluations, and make fair decisions in the student’s best academic interests. The candidate is committed to academic excellence and demonstrates a thorough understanding of curriculum development and assessment tools to improve student learning and academic programs. They possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.

The candidate is detail-oriented and has an exceptional work ethic, consistently meeting expectations and deadlines in academic scheduling, budgetary management and oversight, and the preparation of required reports. They possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. The candidate is dedicated to personal and professional integrity.