Assistant Professor – Ceramics/Sculpture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Posted on October 31, 2024
The School of Art, Art History & Design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position in Ceramics and Sculpture at the Assistant Professor level beginning with the 2025-26 academic year. The successful candidate will teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in B.A., B.F.A., and M.F.A programs. Salary will be commensurate with experience.
We are seeking a passionate educator with an active studio practice. Candidates shall be able to mentor graduate and undergraduate students through critical dialog and aid in their conceptual development. Evidence of significant professional experience in the fields of Sculpture and Ceramics is preferred in the form of gallery and/or museum exhibitions, successful grant writing, and other creative projects. Strong written communication and organizational skills are required, as well as an ability to complement existing faculty strengths and studio practices.
The successful candidate will teach two classes per semester, including classes in Ceramics, Sculpture, and Drawing, advise and mentor graduate students in both Ceramics and Sculpture, serve on graduate thesis committees, mentor BFA and honors students, participate in both School and College service, contribute to the maintenance of the sculpture and ceramics facilities, and assist with recruiting students to our graduate program by being a visible advocate for excellence in Sculpture and Ceramics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.We seek a colleague who will enhance our community in meaningful ways, maintain our program’s high position in national rankings, and continue the tradition of excellence among our graduate and undergraduate students. UNL Ceramics has a strong tradition of supporting functional pottery and the vessel. The successful candidate will have the knowledge and ability to speak to the aesthetic concerns surrounding this mode of making.
We seek someone whose expertise will complement the knowledge and teaching skills of existing faculty, which might include expertise in one or both of these areas:
· Conceptual and interdisciplinary approaches to ceramics and sculpture.
· 3-D digital modeling, printing, and mold-making as it applies to ceramics and sculpture.
About the School
The School of Art, Art History & Design is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) with highly regarded and nationally ranked undergraduate and graduate fine arts programs. Being part of a leading land-grant research university offers our students learning opportunities across the humanities and sciences. The diversity of our educational programs, with their international activities, provides extraordinary historical and cultural engagement. Our students work closely with nationally and internationally recognized faculty to advance knowledge and culture. The School of Art, Art History & Design is part of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts that, through its endowment, funds a visiting artists and scholars lecture series, scholarships, student and faculty travel, and research/creative activity.
Lincoln, Nebraska is more than a quintessential college community. The University is situated in a dynamic downtown area that includes the state capital and a growing tech industry as well as restaurants, coffee houses, movie theaters, clubs, bike trails, and urban residences. Lincoln has notably excellent public schools and a low cost of living, and it has been nationally recognized for its high quality of life. It is a friendly, creative, intellectual, and vibrant community that loves the arts and is home to the Lied Center for Performing Arts, the Sheldon Museum of Art, the International Quilt Museum, the Nebraska State Museum with collections including anthropology, botany, and zoology, and the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, an art house cinema that is part of the College, as well as numerous alternative spaces and venues for visual art and music.
Minimum Qualifications
· MFA or equivalent terminal degree in Sculpture or Ceramics.
· Teaching experience beyond a graduate assistantship.
· An active exhibition record at a national level and an understanding of contemporary art practice and theory.
· Strong organizational and writing skills.
· Success working in a community with other artists and scholars.
· Strong knowledge of the history of ceramics and contemporary ceramic art.
· Strong knowledge of the history of sculpture and contemporary interdisciplinary art practice.
· Demonstrated knowledge in conceptual and/or interdisciplinary approaches to ceramics and sculpture, OR knowledge and experience in 3-D digital modeling, printing, and mold-making as it applies to ceramics and sculpture.
Preferred Qualifications
· Two years of teaching experience beyond graduate school.
· Experience teaching and mentoring graduate students.
· Experience in leadership roles.
· Experience with academic committees and departmental service.
· Demonstrated evidence of sustained professional creative activity of high merit and recognition at the international level.
· Experience teaching Drawing.
· Ability to maintain and repair ceramics equipment, including pottery wheels and gas and electric kilns.
· Ability to maintain and repair sculpture equipment in metal, wood, and digital fabrication.
Application Process
The search committee will begin formal review of applications on January 2, 2025 and will continue until an appointment is made. To be considered for this position, please go to https://employment.unl.edu, requisition F_240176 and click “Apply for this Job.” Complete the faculty information form and attach the following required documents:
· Cover letter addressing your qualifications.
· Curriculum vitae.
· Names and contact information for three (3) professional references.
· Both a research statement and a teaching statement that are each 1-2 pages in length. Combine into a single document for upload.
· A link to an online portfolio containing both of the following: (1) up to 20 examples of recent work and (2) up to 20 examples of recent student work.
