Assistant Professor - Tenure Track - Ceramics

POSITION TITLE:

Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)

DIVISION:
Academic Affairs

DEPARTMENT:
Ceramics

REPORTS TO:

Chair of Ceramics

PAY TYPE:

Exempt

WORKER TYPE:
Full-Time

UPDATED:
November 2025

PAY: $60,858.48 - $64,592.97

The Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) seeks a collaborative and visionary colleague for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Ceramics appointment, beginning August 2026. The successful candidate will join a department that values collaboration, material exploration, and conceptual rigor, contributing to an inclusive studio culture that prepares students for meaningful creative lives and professional practice.

Persons filling this position will be expected to engage in research and creative activity, provide service to the department and the Institute, and build knowledge, commitment, and motivation in undergraduate sophomores through seniors and non-majors. Teaching responsibilities span a range of skill levels and conceptual frameworks, with opportunities for co-teaching and cross-disciplinary engagement. Faculty in the department are collaboratively reimagining curricula through co-teaching models and cross-disciplinary modes of learning that foster vibrant studio culture, optimize learning spaces, and strengthen student engagement with ceramics as it relates to other disciplines and the broader art and design context.

We invite applications from artist-educators who are committed to contemporary conceptual and technical approaches within the field of ceramics while honoring the medium's rich history. The ideal candidate's research and expertise would fall within the realm of sculpture as a part of ceramic practice, which may include object-making, tile, figurative work, installation, social practice, digital or new media, or time-based and performance approaches.

A strong foundation in building methods-including mold making, a variety of handbuilding techniques, and diverse surface processes-is required.

Essential Functional Responsibilities:

Faculty at KCAI engage in teaching, creative practice, and service to both the department and the college community. The successful candidate will:

• Teach undergraduate courses across all levels of the ceramics curriculum (3/3 teaching load).
• Develop and deliver coursework integrating conceptual, technical, and professional practice components.
• Mentor students toward academic and professional success.
• Maintain an active, creative, or research practice with professional visibility.
• Participate in collaborative departmental initiatives, including co-teaching and interdisciplinary projects.
• Contribute to departmental operations such as studio management, safety, and resource development.
• Provide service to the College through Faculty Assembly participation, recruitment efforts, and other service activities.

Supervises the following:

• N/A

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications

• Deep engagement in a professional artistic practice centered in ceramic media.
• Demonstrated ability to translate conceptual and technical knowledge into effective studio instruction.
• Strong understanding of how historical and contemporary contexts inform current practice and pedagogy in ceramics.
• Facility with sculptural and fabrication processes, including mold making, slip casting, and material experimentation.
• Working knowledge of kiln technologies, firing processes, and studio safety protocols.
• Interest in integrating digital tools and emerging technologies (e.g., 3D modeling, digital fabrication) into creative and instructional practice.
• Capacity to mentor students in developing a sustainable, professional practice within the field of art and design.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Collaborative approach to teaching, learning, and departmental service that supports an inclusive and engaged studio culture.
• Strong organizational and studio management abilities.

Required Experience/Education

• MFA in Ceramics or a closely related field.
• Evidence of professional achievement and ongoing creative research in ceramics.
• Demonstrated record of college-level teaching effectiveness.
• Proficiency with ceramic processes, including mold making, handbuilding, slip casting, glazing, and operation of electric and gas kilns.
• Knowledge of historical and contemporary ceramics within art and design contexts.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students in a collegial and inclusive environment.
• Commitment to equitable, student-centered, and experiential learning practices.

Preferred Experience /

Education:

• Record of three or more years of exhibitions, publications, or presentations at regional, national, or international levels.
• Experience integrating digital tools, 3D modeling, or other emerging technologies into studio practice.
• Experience in studio management, safety oversight, or curriculum development.
• Engagement with interdisciplinary or community-based practices.

Application Materials

• Cover letter
• CV
• Artist Statement
• Teaching Philosophy
• Portfolio
• Student Images (5
  -20 supervised student…