Assistant​/Associate Professor, Graphic Design

Title: Assistant/Associate Professor, Graphic Design

Application Review Date:Jan 15, 2027

Campus

Location:

Radford City - Main Campus

The Department of Art at Radford University invites applications for two full-time, nine-month, tenure-track positions as Assistant/Associate Professor of Graphic Design, beginning August 2027. Rank will be considered based on qualifications and years of service. The two successful candidates will join a collaborative faculty and will help shape the next phase of the graphic design curriculum.
In the graphic design program, students establish a foundation in drawing, design theory, 2D/3D design, and typography in lower-level coursework. Foundational skills are then applied and extended in upper-level courses such as interactive design, user experience design (UI/UX), motion graphics, brand identity systems, publication design, packaging, illustration, and image-making. We seek a broadly trained designer-educator whose practice is grounded in the enduring foundations of graphic design and shows proficiency in one or more emergent areas in the field.

The successful candidate will balance thoughtful innovation with sustained attention to design history, theory, craft, accessibility, and ethical practice. We welcome practices that span media, disciplines, communities, and/or technologies.
Teaching responsibilities will include graphic design courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels along with contributions to programmatic critiques and portfolio reviews. The faculty member will mentor and advise students and support internships, professional practices, and career preparation. Because the graphic design program is closely collaborative, the new faculty member will have a meaningful role in its future direction and, by extension, the digital arts and illustration curriculum.

Responsibilities include curricular assessment and development; shared oversight of design labs and resources; recruitment and retention; program visibility; and the cultivation of professional, campus, and community partnerships. As a tenure-track position, the new faculty member will be evaluated in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service and are expected to contribute to the department’s collegial, ambitious, and student-centered culture.
The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and offers BFA, BS, BA, and MFA degrees. Its primary academic areas are graphic design, digital arts and illustration, studio art, art education, and art history and museum studies. Full- and part-time faculty serve more than 200 majors, including many first-generation students. The department contributes substantially to the cultural life of the university and region through an annual artist-in-residence program, a visiting artist series, exhibitions at the Radford University Art Museum, and more.
The Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity, opened in 2024, is a 178,000-square-foot interdisciplinary facility featuring design and digital labs, art studios, makerspaces, performance venues, training suites, and classrooms. Its resources create significant opportunities for experimentation, collaboration, and curricular growth.
Radford University places student learning at the heart of the institution and serves approximately 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Radford University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. A virtual introduction to Radford and the surrounding area is available online.
The City of Radford is situated along the New River in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The region offers abundant outdoor recreation and a vibrant network of nearby…