Chair, Department of Fine Arts - VCUarts

Benefits

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Articulate a direction and goals for the department that align with School and university-level initiatives.
• Visioning and participating in cooperative collaboration efforts between VCUarts departments and across other VCU Schools and programs, including VCUarts Qatar.
• Managing and optimizing department budget and resources (facilities, faculty, etc.).
• Developing partnerships with local, national, and international organizations, institutions, and industry stakeholders to enhance the department's and School’s reputation and provide opportunities for students and faculty.
• Cooking all activities of curriculum development and discipline-specific accreditation.
• Overseeing all faculty mentoring, service assignments, promotion and tenure reviews, work plans, workloads, hiring activities, and annual reviews.
• Maintaining student affairs, including the planning of community-engaged activities and events.
• Collaborate with the VCUarts recruitment and admissions team to support student recruitment, admission, and retention activities (e.g., new student orientation, department onboarding) and in consultation with the academic advisor.
• Cooking interactions with alumni, donors, and visiting artists/scholars.
• Teaching in the Chair’s area of expertise will be expected, providing a forum for direct interaction with students in creative/academic contexts and affording opportunities to model scholarship within the department. It is expected that the Chair will have a 1/1 teaching load.

Qualifications

• MFA or PhD in one of the areas represented in the Department of Fine Arts.
• Knowledge of the higher educational landscape, research, and professional practices in fine arts.
• A minimum of five years of University-level teaching experience beyond the TA and/or adjunct level.
• Experience in academic administration or demonstrated leadership in institutional service or service to the field.
• A well-established research agenda with evidence of a significant exhibition record and/or scholarly record, external funding, and contributing to scholarship or creative practice that enhances and extends school/department expertise.
• Experience developing and leading in a highly ambitious and collegial team environment.
• Effective collaborative and communication skills are essential.
• The Chair will have demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.