Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Position In Photography

TENURE-TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITION IN PHOTOGRAPHY The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

36 S Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60603

Rolling

Oct 23, 2025

The Department of Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for a full‑time, tenure‑track Assistant Professor. The position begins in August of 2026 subject to final budgetary approval. Salary is competitive with peer institutions and commensurate with quality of practice, scholarship, academic research, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.

Compensation: $79,690 - $83,998 per year.

The Department of Photography at SAIC fosters an expansive approach to photographic practice grounded in experimentation, critical inquiry, and interdisciplinary dialogue. Offering over 60 courses annually, the department serves approximately 600 undergraduates enrolled in photography courses, with 16–20 MFA students in photography each year.

They support a wide range of media and methods, encouraging students to develop individual practices informed by research, history, and emerging technologies. Their curriculum cultivates self‑directed artists, scholars, and cultural participants prepared to challenge conventions, engage contemporary issues, and shape visual culture across global contexts.

Photography students at SAIC work within a diverse and collaborative community that values innovation, critical thinking, and respectful critique. Cross‑disciplinary exploration is central to their pedagogy, reinforcing a learning environment rooted in curiosity, civic responsibility, and creative exchange across cultures and disciplines.

Full‑time faculty at SAIC teach undergraduate and graduate studio courses, seminars, and tutorials within a highly interdisciplinary art and design environment. Photography faculty are expected to teach across the curriculum, maintain an active professional practice, and contribute to the SAIC community through curricular development, departmental service, and school‑wide governance.

A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers undergraduate, graduate, and post‑baccalaureate programs to students from across the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, the School is one of the largest and oldest private schools of art and design in the country with programs reflecting current practices in art.

SAIC’s educational philosophy is built upon a transdisciplinary approach to art and design that provides unparalleled opportunities for students to develop their creative and critical abilities with renowned faculty who are leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC’s resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its Modern Wing, and numerous special collections and programming venues that provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances.

The campus is located on Chicago’s magnificent lakefront amid the city’s cultural and architectural treasures.

Degree tracks include the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio; BFA with Emphasis in Art Education or Writing; BA degrees in Art History and Visual and Critical Studies;
Master of Architecture;
Master of Design (MDes) in Designed Objects; MFA in Fashion, Body, and Garment; MFA in Studio or Writing; MA degrees in Arts Administration;
Art Education;
Art History, Theory, and Criticism;
Art Therapy;
Teaching;
Visual and Critical Studies; and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation.

MFA or equivalent terminal degree preferred. Candidates should have a minimum of three years of independent, college‑level teaching experience as instructor of record. Candidates should be accomplished artists with an active studio practice, a deep understanding of photographic history and theory, and technical fluency across analog, digital, and hybrid lens‑based practices. Approaches that connect interdisciplinary methods to foster transferable skills and introduce students to varied creative and professional pathways are especially welcome.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate a commitment to the evolving…