Director & Head of the Department of Art

Director & Head of the Department of Art

East Texas A&M University invites nominations and applications for the position of Director and Head of the Department of Art. This twelve-month, full-time administrative appointment carries senior faculty rank with tenure. Teaching expectations will be negotiated annually with the Dean. The successful candidate will provide strategic direction and administrative leadership for a comprehensive and dynamic department, guiding its next phase by assessing program strengths and opportunities, establishing clear priorities, strengthening alignment across the Commerce and Dallas locations, supporting faculty and student success, and building key regional partnerships.

The Director and Head will identify opportunities for sustainable growth and innovation while ensuring decisions are grounded in evidence, institutional priorities, and long-term viability.

East Texas A&M University seeks a strategic and experienced academic administrator to serve as Director and Head of the Department of Art, which encompasses Visual Communication (Dallas-based), Studio Art (Commerce-based), and Art Education. The department has strong foundations, including a nationally competitive professional design program, excellent facilities, dedicated faculty, and accomplished alumni, and is positioned for a leader who can unify programs across locations, assess future opportunities, and develop a shared vision for the department's continued success.

The department is ready to welcome a forward-thinking leader who will build on these strengths and take full-time responsibility for its academic, administrative, operational, and external-facing work. Supported by the institution's commitment to the arts, the next Director and Head will shape a unifying vision that strengthens academic programs, fosters meaningful connections across campuses, and enhances the department's impact throughout the region and beyond.

The Director and Head will serve as the Department of Art's senior academic and administrative leader, with year-round responsibility for strategic direction, operations, academic programs, personnel, facilities, enrollment, and external engagement. The Director and Head is expected to devote full professional effort to leadership of the department across its Commerce and Dallas locations. The role combines inward-facing responsibilities, including strengthening programs, faculty initiatives, and student success, with outward-facing responsibilities, including partnerships, regional presence, advancement, and visibility.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

· Conduct a comprehensive assessment of departmental programs during the initial years of leadership, with particular attention to enrollment trends, student outcomes, regional demand, resource utilization, and long-term sustainability.

· Develop and execute a strategic plan that strengthens the department's distinctive regional role by emphasizing community partnerships, clear academic pathways, and effective leadership.

· Align departmental strengths with institutional mission and market opportunities.

· Make evidence-informed recommendations regarding program enhancement, restructuring, consolidation, or other actions necessary to support long-term success.

· Identify opportunities for program innovation and strategic growth based on assessment findings, faculty expertise, student needs, and institutional priorities.

· Position art teacher preparation as a valued pathway alongside professional design and studio practice, with strategic recruitment and curriculum enhancement to serve regional workforce needs.

· Lead the department across its two active sites, the Commerce campus and the Dallas location, exercising full year-round executive responsibility for faculty, curriculum, facilities, budget, and operations at both locations.

· Lead curriculum development and program assessment in alignment with university standards and professional expectations.

Program Integration & Faculty Leadership

· Ensure program continuity by developing strong leadership…