The School of Art in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas invites applications for a tenure-track Endowed Assistant or Associate Professor in Arts of the Americas to start in August 2024.

The Art History Program seeks a faculty member with expertise in research areas integral to the arts of the Americas. The position is open in terms of chronological specialization, and scholars may focus on any aspect of North, Central and/or South American artistic production, or trace cultural convergences linking the Americas to the wider world. Interdisciplinary, intersectional, and transregional approaches centering overlooked or marginalized histories are particularly welcome, as is scholarship that extends beyond current program strengths, including African American, Afro-Latin, Asian American, Indigenous, Latino, and Native American artistic production.

This position is considered fundamental to the implementation of a new MA program in the arts of the Americas, developed in partnership with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and its contemporary arts satellite, the Momentary. For this and future hires, we seek creative thinkers who will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the intellectual community in the School of Art, Crystal Bridges, and the growing arts ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas. Northwest Arkansas is home to Hispanic, Asian, Black, Pacific Islander, and Native American populations, among them significant Marshallese, Vietnamese, Hmong, and Mexican communities. The Art History Program in the School of Art is actively committed to diversifying art historical knowledge and approaches, embracing new methodologies, and educating students in a multivocal and inclusive art history. Applications are encouraged from those invested in making art history accessible and compelling to first-generation students and students from communities underrepresented in U.S. arts institutions. Scholars with a passion for collaboration, program-building, and partnership-development are also encouraged to apply.

Endowed positions come with an annual research budget of up to $60,000 to support scholarship, the expectation of a research record appropriate to the prominence of the appointment, and the requirement of at least one community outreach effort per year. This is a nine-month faculty appointment, with a standard workload of 40% research, 40% teaching (2 courses per semester, 4 courses total per year), and 20% service. Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others. Expected start date is August 12, 2024.

The successful candidate will teach courses at the masters and undergraduate level, play an active role in the new MA program in arts of the Americas, help to guide future faculty and student recruitment, and regularly collaborate with staff at Crystal Bridges and the Momentary. Candidates may also teach in the Honors College and at the university’s Rome Center, and co-design courses with colleagues in Studio and other units. Art history faculty have ties to African and African American Studies, Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, and the Indigenous Studies Program, among other departments and initiatives. There are also opportunities to lead travel courses both domestically and abroad. Additional resources include the Arkansas Archaeological Survey, the Fine Arts Center Gallery, the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, and the many museums in the region, including the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, OK, the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, OK, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, MO.

About the School of Art:
In 2017, the University of Arkansas was awarded a $120 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation to establish a School of Art in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. The gift created the first and only school of art in the state of Arkansas, and is helping to advance art education, design, art history and studio art in the state while providing unparalleled access and opportunity to students. In addition, in 2017, the School of Art also received a $40 million gift from the Windgate Foundation to develop and build a new Studio Art and Graphic Design facility. Most recently, in 2021, the Windgate Foundation gave a $30 million partial challenge grant to develop and build a facility to house a professional gallery, auditorium, the foundations program, as well as idea fabrication and arts entrepreneurship labs. The mission of the School of Art is to develop one of the highest quality educational, research and service programs in the visual arts available nationally. The School of Art is a fully accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). There are currently 8 degree options: BFA in Art Education, BFA in Graphic Design, BFA in Studio Art, BA in Art History, BA in Studio Art, MA in Art Education, MFA in Studio Art, and MDES in Communication Design. The MA degree in Art History of the Americas launched this Fall 2023.

Duties will include:
- 40% Teaching
- 40% Research
- 20% Service

Minimum Qualifications:
With submitted materials, the candidate must demonstrate
- PhD, or terminal degree, in Art History or an allied field from an accredited institution of higher education conferred by the start of appointment,
- an established record of innovative scholarship integral to the arts of the Americas,
- demonstrated commitment to inclusive pedagogy,
- demonstrated commitment to or interest in mentoring undergraduate, honors, and/or graduate students.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated Interest or experience in interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and cross-campus collaborations.
- Demonstrated commitment to or interest in program building and partnership development.
- Demonstrated commitment to or interest in community outreach.
- Research or teaching expertise that complements or expands existing faculty strengths.

Application instructions:
Completed applications received by 12/01/2023, will be assured full consideration. Late applications will be reviewed as necessary to fill the position. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

For a complete position announcement and information regarding how to apply, visit https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UASYS/job/Endowed-Assistant-or-Associate-Professor-in-Arts-of-the-Americas_R0047175?locations=17a66cdad98201f7890cfb48ca00e249.

Applicants must submit:
- a curriculum vitae,
- a cover letter/letter of application addressing research and teaching,
- two scholarly writing samples (preferably published or forthcoming research, submitted in a single PDF),
- a list of three professional references (name, title, email address, and phone number) willing to provide letters of recommendation if requested during the application process. Letters of recommendation will be requested only for candidates selected for interviews.

Annual Salary/Benefits Package: Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Employer information:
The University of Arkansas: Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance Arkansas and build a better world through education, research and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, promoting an inclusive and diverse culture and climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery and the spread of new ideas and innovations.
Fulbright College: The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus with 3 schools, 16 departments, and 43 academic programs and research centers. The University of Arkansas is committed to providing an educational and work environment in which thought, creativity, and growth are stimulated, and in which individuals are free to realize their full potential. The Fulbright College promotes these ideals and welcomes applicants who foster an inclusive environment through an open exchange of voices and ideas from populations of diverse backgrounds.

The Community:
Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas campus, and is known for its spectacular views and ample green spaces. Fayetteville is considered one of the country’s finest college towns, and the surrounding northwest Arkansas region is regularly ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. Some of the nation’s best outdoor amenities and most spectacular hiking trails are within a short drive of campus. For more information, visit: https://www.experiencefayetteville.com/ and https://diversitynwa.com/.
Culture in Northwest Arkansas About Fayetteville About University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas is an Affirmative Action/EOE institution committed to achieving diversity in its faculty and staff. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, especially individuals who contribute to diversity of our campus community. The university welcomes applications without regard to race/color, sex, gender, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability, religion, marital or parental status, protected veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law. Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. All applicant information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

For additional inquiries, please contact the search committee chairs Jennifer Greenhill at greenhiluark.edu and John Blakinger at johnrbuark.edu.